Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre in Zambia
Zambia: Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre was 388.48 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
388.48 tonnes per square kilometre
Change on year
up 4.3%
World rank
184th
of 204 countries
All-time high
388.48 tonnes per square kilometre
in 2023
All-time low
59.53 tonnes per square kilometre
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre in Zambia, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in tonnes per square kilometre.
Analysis
In 2023, cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre in Zambia stood at 388.48 tonnes per square kilometre. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.3% on the previous year and up 40.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre in Zambia peaked at 388.48 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, 59.53 tonnes per square kilometre, in 1961.
That places Zambia 184th out of 204 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 63 years of available data.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre in Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 59.53 tonnes per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | 64.35 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.1% |
| 1963 | 68.98 tonnes per square kilometre | +7.2% |
| 1964 | 73.39 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.4% |
| 1965 | 78.65 tonnes per square kilometre | +7.2% |
| 1966 | 83.36 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.0% |
| 1967 | 89.8 tonnes per square kilometre | +7.7% |
| 1968 | 95.94 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.8% |
| 1969 | 101.69 tonnes per square kilometre | +6.0% |
| 1970 | 106.75 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.0% |
| 1971 | 111.85 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.8% |
| 1972 | 117.31 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.9% |
| 1973 | 123.48 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.3% |
| 1974 | 129.13 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.6% |
| 1975 | 134.61 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.2% |
| 1976 | 140.02 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.0% |
| 1977 | 145.04 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 1978 | 149.71 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1979 | 154.55 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.2% |
| 1980 | 159.29 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.1% |
| 1981 | 163.81 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 1982 | 168.53 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 172.91 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 176.69 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 1985 | 180.36 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 1986 | 184.22 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 1987 | 187.81 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 192 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 1989 | 195.46 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 1990 | 198.69 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 201.9 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 1992 | 205.16 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 208.47 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 1994 | 211.69 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 214.58 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 1996 | 217.05 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 1997 | 220.22 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 223.28 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 1999 | 225.67 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 228.07 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 230.61 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2002 | 233.25 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2003 | 236.04 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 238.87 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 241.88 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 244.88 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.2% |
| 2007 | 247.97 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 2008 | 251.41 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.4% |
| 2009 | 255.36 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 259.56 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 264.11 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 269.73 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.1% |
| 2013 | 275.68 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 282.79 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2015 | 290.22 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 298.26 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 308.29 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.4% |
| 2018 | 319.94 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 331.84 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 345.28 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 357.86 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.6% |
| 2022 | 372.57 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.1% |
| 2023 | 388.48 tonnes per square kilometre | +4.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 388.48 tonnes per square kilometre is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1,488 tonnes per square kilometre, 26% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 388.48 tonnes per square kilometre is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 582.93 tonnes per square kilometre, 67% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 79.52 tonnes per square kilometre | 59.53 tonnes per square kilometre | 101.69 tonnes per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | 131.25 tonnes per square kilometre | 106.75 tonnes per square kilometre | 154.55 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 178.11 tonnes per square kilometre | 159.29 tonnes per square kilometre | 195.46 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 212.67 tonnes per square kilometre | 198.69 tonnes per square kilometre | 225.67 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 240.83 tonnes per square kilometre | 228.07 tonnes per square kilometre | 255.36 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 290.04 tonnes per square kilometre | 259.56 tonnes per square kilometre | 331.84 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 366.05 tonnes per square kilometre | 345.28 tonnes per square kilometre | 388.48 tonnes per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 181 Vanuatu 438.87 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 182 Guinea 414.74 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 183 Solomon Islands 404.25 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 185 Tanzania 366.71 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 186 Afghanistan 355.41 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 187 Burkina Faso 326.32 tonnes per square kilometre 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 cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre in Zambia?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre in Zambia was 388.48 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 388.48 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 59.53 tonnes per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does Zambia rank for cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre?
- Zambia ranks 184th out of 204 countries with data for 2023.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions, per square kilometre rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 40.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Cumulative CO₂ emissions, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Cumulative CO₂ emissions divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Cumulative CO₂ emissions divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.