Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Zambia
Zambia: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 6.41 billion tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
6.41 billion tonnes
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
29th
of 197 countries
All-time high
6.41 billion tonnes
in 2024
All-time low
14.31 million tonnes
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Zambia, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Zambia is 6.41 billion tonnes, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 175 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Zambia peaked at 6.41 billion tonnes in 2024 and was at its lowest, 14.31 million tonnes, in 1850.
Zambia ranks 29th of 197 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 14.31 million tonnes | — |
| 1851 | 27.30 million tonnes | +90.8% |
| 1852 | 39.54 million tonnes | +44.8% |
| 1853 | 51.62 million tonnes | +30.6% |
| 1854 | 63.18 million tonnes | +22.4% |
| 1855 | 74.39 million tonnes | +17.7% |
| 1856 | 85.31 million tonnes | +14.7% |
| 1857 | 96.12 million tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1858 | 106.66 million tonnes | +11.0% |
| 1859 | 117.05 million tonnes | +9.7% |
| 1860 | 127.31 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 1861 | 137.38 million tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1862 | 147.29 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1863 | 157.10 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1864 | 166.79 million tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1865 | 176.54 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1866 | 186.11 million tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1867 | 195.58 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1868 | 205.03 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1869 | 214.41 million tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1870 | 223.79 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1871 | 233.15 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1872 | 242.60 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1873 | 252.21 million tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1874 | 261.71 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1875 | 271.13 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1876 | 280.58 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1877 | 290.00 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1878 | 299.41 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1879 | 308.90 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1880 | 319.13 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1881 | 329.82 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1882 | 340.83 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1883 | 352.40 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1884 | 364.00 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1885 | 375.74 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1886 | 387.65 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1887 | 400.16 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1888 | 412.56 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1889 | 424.97 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1890 | 436.48 million tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1891 | 447.41 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1892 | 457.92 million tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1893 | 468.13 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1894 | 478.08 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1895 | 487.83 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1896 | 497.40 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1897 | 506.82 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1898 | 516.11 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1899 | 525.27 million tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1900 | 534.03 million tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1901 | 542.38 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1902 | 550.31 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1903 | 557.87 million tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1904 | 565.06 million tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1905 | 571.92 million tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1906 | 578.46 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1907 | 584.71 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1908 | 590.67 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1909 | 596.38 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1910 | 601.99 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1911 | 607.53 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1912 | 613.00 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1913 | 618.44 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1914 | 623.83 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1915 | 629.17 million tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1916 | 634.47 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1917 | 639.72 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1918 | 644.92 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1919 | 650.04 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1920 | 662.72 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1921 | 679.77 million tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1922 | 699.85 million tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1923 | 722.18 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1924 | 746.25 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1925 | 771.73 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1926 | 798.38 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1927 | 826.04 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1928 | 854.54 million tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1929 | 883.78 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1930 | 914.21 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1931 | 945.47 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1932 | 977.42 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1933 | 1.01 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1934 | 1.04 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1935 | 1.08 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1936 | 1.11 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1937 | 1.15 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1938 | 1.18 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1939 | 1.22 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1940 | 1.26 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1941 | 1.30 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1942 | 1.35 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1943 | 1.40 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1944 | 1.44 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1945 | 1.50 billion tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1946 | 1.55 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1947 | 1.60 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1948 | 1.65 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1949 | 1.70 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1950 | 1.75 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1951 | 1.80 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 1952 | 1.86 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1953 | 1.91 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1954 | 1.97 billion tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1955 | 2.03 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1956 | 2.09 billion tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1957 | 2.16 billion tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1958 | 2.23 billion tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1959 | 2.31 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1960 | 2.39 billion tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1961 | 2.45 billion tonnes | +2.7% |
| 1962 | 2.50 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1963 | 2.56 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1964 | 2.60 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 2.65 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1966 | 2.71 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1967 | 2.75 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1968 | 2.81 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1969 | 2.86 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1970 | 2.92 billion tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1971 | 2.99 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1972 | 3.04 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1973 | 3.09 billion tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1974 | 3.14 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1975 | 3.19 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1976 | 3.23 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1977 | 3.26 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1978 | 3.28 billion tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1979 | 3.31 billion tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1980 | 3.34 billion tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1981 | 3.37 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1982 | 3.41 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1983 | 3.45 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1984 | 3.49 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1985 | 3.54 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1986 | 3.59 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 3.63 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 3.69 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 3.73 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1990 | 3.77 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1991 | 3.82 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 3.88 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 3.94 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1994 | 4.00 billion tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1995 | 4.06 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1996 | 4.11 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 4.17 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1998 | 4.23 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1999 | 4.28 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2000 | 4.32 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2001 | 4.39 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2002 | 4.47 billion tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2003 | 4.55 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 4.62 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 4.71 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 4.79 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2007 | 4.89 billion tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2008 | 5.03 billion tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 5.15 billion tonnes | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 5.27 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 5.40 billion tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2012 | 5.50 billion tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2013 | 5.60 billion tonnes | +1.7% |
| 2014 | 5.68 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2015 | 5.76 billion tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 5.85 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 5.94 billion tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 6.01 billion tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2019 | 6.09 billion tonnes | +1.2% |
| 2020 | 6.16 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 6.22 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2022 | 6.29 billion tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 6.35 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2024 | 6.41 billion tonnes | +1.0% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 6.41 billion tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 1.89 billion tonnes, 3.4× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 6.41 billion tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1.56 billion tonnes, 4.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | +90.8% | 14.31 million tonnes | 27.30 million tonnes |
| 1852 | +44.8% | 27.30 million tonnes | 39.54 million tonnes |
| 1853 | +30.6% | 39.54 million tonnes | 51.62 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 67.55 million tonnes | 14.31 million tonnes | 117.05 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 171.35 million tonnes | 127.31 million tonnes | 214.41 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 266.35 million tonnes | 223.79 million tonnes | 308.90 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 370.73 million tonnes | 319.13 million tonnes | 424.97 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 482.15 million tonnes | 436.48 million tonnes | 525.27 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 567.18 million tonnes | 534.03 million tonnes | 596.38 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 626.31 million tonnes | 601.99 million tonnes | 650.04 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 764.52 million tonnes | 662.72 million tonnes | 883.78 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.06 billion tonnes | 914.21 million tonnes | 1.22 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.47 billion tonnes | 1.26 billion tonnes | 1.70 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.01 billion tonnes | 1.75 billion tonnes | 2.31 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.63 billion tonnes | 2.39 billion tonnes | 2.86 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.15 billion tonnes | 2.92 billion tonnes | 3.31 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.52 billion tonnes | 3.34 billion tonnes | 3.73 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.02 billion tonnes | 3.77 billion tonnes | 4.28 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.69 billion tonnes | 4.32 billion tonnes | 5.15 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.71 billion tonnes | 5.27 billion tonnes | 6.09 billion tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.29 billion tonnes | 6.16 billion tonnes | 6.41 billion tonnes | 5 |
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 cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Zambia?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change in Zambia was 6.41 billion tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.41 billion tonnes in 2024.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.31 million tonnes in 1850.
- How does Zambia rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- Zambia ranks 29th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.9%. 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 Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 175 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Cumulative emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from land-use change since the first year of available data, measured in tonnes.