Consumption-based CO₂ emissions in Zambia
Zambia: Consumption-based CO₂ emissions was 12.71 million tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Consumption-based CO₂ emissions in Zambia, 1990–2023
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 12.71 million tonnes for consumption-based co₂ emissions in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 8.3% on the previous year and up 45.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, consumption-based co₂ emissions in Zambia peaked at 12.71 million tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 1.58 million tonnes, in 1990.
Zambia ranks 98th of 120 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Consumption-based CO₂ emissions in Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.58 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 1.85 million tonnes | +17.2% |
| 1992 | 2.01 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1993 | 2.09 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1994 | 2.09 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 1.97 million tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1996 | 1.76 million tonnes | -10.4% |
| 1997 | 2.28 million tonnes | +29.4% |
| 1998 | 2.48 million tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1999 | 2.00 million tonnes | -19.4% |
| 2000 | 3.69 million tonnes | +85.0% |
| 2001 | 3.98 million tonnes | +7.7% |
| 2002 | 3.98 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 3.89 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2004 | 3.97 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 4.17 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2006 | 4.92 million tonnes | +18.1% |
| 2007 | 5.70 million tonnes | +15.9% |
| 2008 | 6.93 million tonnes | +21.5% |
| 2009 | 5.87 million tonnes | -15.3% |
| 2010 | 5.91 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 7.69 million tonnes | +30.1% |
| 2012 | 8.13 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2013 | 8.71 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 9.91 million tonnes | +13.8% |
| 2015 | 9.57 million tonnes | -3.4% |
| 2016 | 9.26 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 10.11 million tonnes | +9.2% |
| 2018 | 10.63 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2019 | 11.14 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 9.88 million tonnes | -11.4% |
| 2021 | 9.90 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2022 | 11.73 million tonnes | +18.5% |
| 2023 | 12.71 million tonnes | +8.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 12.71 million tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 22.41 million tonnes, 57% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 12.71 million tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.71 million tonnes, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Consumption-based CO₂ emissions in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | +85.0% | 2.00 million tonnes | 3.69 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.01 million tonnes | 1.58 million tonnes | 2.48 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.71 million tonnes | 3.69 million tonnes | 6.93 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.11 million tonnes | 5.91 million tonnes | 11.14 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.05 million tonnes | 9.88 million tonnes | 12.71 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
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 consumption-based co₂ emissions in Zambia?
- Consumption-based co₂ emissions in Zambia was 12.71 million tonnes in 2023, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest consumption-based co₂ emissions recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.71 million tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest consumption-based co₂ emissions recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.58 million tonnes in 1990.
- How does Zambia rank for consumption-based co₂ emissions?
- Zambia ranks 98th out of 120 countries with data for 2023.
- Is consumption-based co₂ emissions rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 45.8%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Consumption-based CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual consumption-based emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), measured in tonnes.