Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Zambia
Zambia: Greenhouse gas emissions by sector was 680,000 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Zambia, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2023, greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Zambia stood at 680,000 tonnes. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
The figure is up 9.7% on the previous year and up 183.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Zambia peaked at 680,000 tonnes in 2023 and was at its lowest, 40,000 tonnes, in 2004.
Zambia ranks 68th of 179 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.
Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 120,000 tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 50,000 tonnes | -58.3% |
| 1992 | 60,000 tonnes | +20.0% |
| 1993 | 50,000 tonnes | -16.7% |
| 1994 | 50,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 140,000 tonnes | +180.0% |
| 1996 | 120,000 tonnes | -14.3% |
| 1997 | 50,000 tonnes | -58.3% |
| 1998 | 50,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 50,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 50,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 50,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 50,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 50,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 40,000 tonnes | -20.0% |
| 2005 | 50,000 tonnes | +25.0% |
| 2006 | 120,000 tonnes | +140.0% |
| 2007 | 100,000 tonnes | -16.7% |
| 2008 | 150,000 tonnes | +50.0% |
| 2009 | 110,000 tonnes | -26.7% |
| 2010 | 120,000 tonnes | +9.1% |
| 2011 | 120,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 140,000 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 2013 | 240,000 tonnes | +71.4% |
| 2014 | 180,000 tonnes | -25.0% |
| 2015 | 270,000 tonnes | +50.0% |
| 2016 | 280,000 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2017 | 380,000 tonnes | +35.7% |
| 2018 | 410,000 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 2019 | 410,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 500,000 tonnes | +22.0% |
| 2021 | 480,000 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2022 | 620,000 tonnes | +29.2% |
| 2023 | 680,000 tonnes | +9.7% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 680,000 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 190,000 tonnes, 3.6× the median. (43 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 680,000 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 80,000 tonnes, 8.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas emissions by sector 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +180.0% | 50,000 tonnes | 140,000 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 74,000 tonnes | 50,000 tonnes | 140,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 77,000 tonnes | 40,000 tonnes | 150,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 255,000 tonnes | 120,000 tonnes | 410,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 570,000 tonnes | 480,000 tonnes | 680,000 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 greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Zambia?
- Greenhouse gas emissions by sector in Zambia was 680,000 tonnes in 2023, according to Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest greenhouse gas emissions by sector recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 680,000 tonnes in 2023.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions by sector recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 40,000 tonnes in 2004.
- How does Zambia rank for greenhouse gas emissions by sector?
- Zambia ranks 68th out of 179 countries with data for 2023.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions by sector rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 183.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Greenhouse gas emissions by sector. 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
Emissions are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents.