Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Zambia
Zambia: Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP was 0.1598 kilograms per international-$ in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.1598 kilograms per international-$
Change on year
up 13.1%
World rank
108th
of 164 countries
All-time high
1.21 kilograms per international-$
in 1955
All-time low
0.0717 kilograms per international-$
in 2011
Years of data
73
1950–2022
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Zambia, 1950–2022
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per international-$.
Analysis
The most recent figure for carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Zambia is 0.1598 kilograms per international-$, measured in 2022.
That represents a change of up 13.1% on the previous year and up 94.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Zambia peaked at 1.21 kilograms per international-$ in 1955 and was at its lowest, 0.0717 kilograms per international-$, in 2011.
Zambia ranks 108th of 164 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP in Zambia, year by year
| Year | kilograms per international-$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 0.866 kilograms per international-$ | — |
| 1951 | 0.8971 kilograms per international-$ | +3.6% |
| 1952 | 0.9489 kilograms per international-$ | +5.8% |
| 1953 | 0.9732 kilograms per international-$ | +2.6% |
| 1954 | 1 kilograms per international-$ | +3.3% |
| 1955 | 1.21 kilograms per international-$ | +20.8% |
| 1956 | 1.18 kilograms per international-$ | -2.5% |
| 1957 | 1.17 kilograms per international-$ | -1.3% |
| 1958 | 1.07 kilograms per international-$ | -8.3% |
| 1959 | 0.9874 kilograms per international-$ | -7.7% |
| 1960 | 0.8748 kilograms per international-$ | -11.4% |
| 1961 | 0.7435 kilograms per international-$ | -15.0% |
| 1962 | 0.7258 kilograms per international-$ | -2.4% |
| 1963 | 0.6828 kilograms per international-$ | -5.9% |
| 1964 | 0.573 kilograms per international-$ | -16.1% |
| 1965 | 0.5794 kilograms per international-$ | +1.1% |
| 1966 | 0.5479 kilograms per international-$ | -5.4% |
| 1967 | 0.6955 kilograms per international-$ | +27.0% |
| 1968 | 0.6544 kilograms per international-$ | -5.9% |
| 1969 | 0.6155 kilograms per international-$ | -5.9% |
| 1970 | 0.518 kilograms per international-$ | -15.8% |
| 1971 | 0.5214 kilograms per international-$ | +0.7% |
| 1972 | 0.5118 kilograms per international-$ | -1.8% |
| 1973 | 0.5834 kilograms per international-$ | +14.0% |
| 1974 | 0.4939 kilograms per international-$ | -15.3% |
| 1975 | 0.499 kilograms per international-$ | +1.0% |
| 1976 | 0.4647 kilograms per international-$ | -6.9% |
| 1977 | 0.4537 kilograms per international-$ | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 0.4193 kilograms per international-$ | -7.6% |
| 1979 | 0.4481 kilograms per international-$ | +6.8% |
| 1980 | 0.4257 kilograms per international-$ | -5.0% |
| 1981 | 0.3824 kilograms per international-$ | -10.2% |
| 1982 | 0.4115 kilograms per international-$ | +7.6% |
| 1983 | 0.3896 kilograms per international-$ | -5.3% |
| 1984 | 0.3365 kilograms per international-$ | -13.6% |
| 1985 | 0.3222 kilograms per international-$ | -4.2% |
| 1986 | 0.3355 kilograms per international-$ | +4.1% |
| 1987 | 0.3052 kilograms per international-$ | -9.0% |
| 1988 | 0.3338 kilograms per international-$ | +9.4% |
| 1989 | 0.2731 kilograms per international-$ | -18.2% |
| 1990 | 0.2348 kilograms per international-$ | -14.0% |
| 1991 | 0.2266 kilograms per international-$ | -3.5% |
| 1992 | 0.2192 kilograms per international-$ | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 0.2161 kilograms per international-$ | -1.4% |
| 1994 | 0.2341 kilograms per international-$ | +8.4% |
| 1995 | 0.1972 kilograms per international-$ | -15.8% |
| 1996 | 0.1542 kilograms per international-$ | -21.8% |
| 1997 | 0.1843 kilograms per international-$ | +19.5% |
| 1998 | 0.1735 kilograms per international-$ | -5.8% |
| 1999 | 0.1253 kilograms per international-$ | -27.8% |
| 2000 | 0.1173 kilograms per international-$ | -6.4% |
| 2001 | 0.1141 kilograms per international-$ | -2.7% |
| 2002 | 0.11 kilograms per international-$ | -3.6% |
| 2003 | 0.1053 kilograms per international-$ | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 0.0967 kilograms per international-$ | -8.3% |
| 2005 | 0.093 kilograms per international-$ | -3.8% |
| 2006 | 0.0829 kilograms per international-$ | -10.8% |
| 2007 | 0.0762 kilograms per international-$ | -8.1% |
| 2008 | 0.076 kilograms per international-$ | -0.3% |
| 2009 | 0.0775 kilograms per international-$ | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 0.0722 kilograms per international-$ | -6.9% |
| 2011 | 0.0717 kilograms per international-$ | -0.7% |
| 2012 | 0.0823 kilograms per international-$ | +14.9% |
| 2013 | 0.0831 kilograms per international-$ | +0.9% |
| 2014 | 0.0947 kilograms per international-$ | +14.0% |
| 2015 | 0.0962 kilograms per international-$ | +1.6% |
| 2016 | 0.1003 kilograms per international-$ | +4.3% |
| 2017 | 0.1209 kilograms per international-$ | +20.6% |
| 2018 | 0.1349 kilograms per international-$ | +11.6% |
| 2019 | 0.1359 kilograms per international-$ | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 0.1579 kilograms per international-$ | +16.2% |
| 2021 | 0.1413 kilograms per international-$ | -10.5% |
| 2022 | 0.1598 kilograms per international-$ | +13.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 0.1598 kilograms per international-$ is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.1835 kilograms per international-$, 87% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 0.1598 kilograms per international-$ is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.158 kilograms per international-$, 1.0× the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1.03 kilograms per international-$ | 0.866 kilograms per international-$ | 1.21 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1960s | 0.6693 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5479 kilograms per international-$ | 0.8748 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1970s | 0.4913 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4193 kilograms per international-$ | 0.5834 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.3516 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2731 kilograms per international-$ | 0.4257 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.1965 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1253 kilograms per international-$ | 0.2348 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.0949 kilograms per international-$ | 0.076 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1173 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0992 kilograms per international-$ | 0.0717 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1359 kilograms per international-$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.153 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1413 kilograms per international-$ | 0.1598 kilograms per international-$ | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 105 Finland 0.1607 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 106 Gabon 0.1605 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 107 Mauritius 0.1599 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 109 New Zealand 0.1593 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 110 Italy 0.1592 kilograms per international-$ compare
- 111 Hungary 0.1586 kilograms per international-$ compare
More climate change data for Zambia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 303.19 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 7,547 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,795 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 4,752 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 10.55 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 169.71 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 2,153 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 2,033 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 120.21 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 7.67 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Zambia?
- Carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp in Zambia was 0.1598 kilograms per international-$ in 2022, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.21 kilograms per international-$ in 1955.
- What is the lowest carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0717 kilograms per international-$ in 2011.
- How does Zambia rank for carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp?
- Zambia ranks 108th out of 164 countries with data for 2022.
- Is carbon intensity: co₂ emissions per dollar of gdp rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 94.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025); Bolt and van Zanden – Maddison Project Database 2023 – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Carbon intensity: CO₂ emissions per dollar of GDP. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 73 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, measured in kilograms per dollar of GDP (2011 international-$).