Methane emissions in Zambia
Zambia: Methane emissions was 21.14 million in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
21.14 million
Change on year
up 2.6%
World rank
74th
of 199 countries
All-time high
21.14 million
in 2024
All-time low
525,427
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in Zambia, 1850–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for methane emissions in Zambia is 21.14 million, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 175 years on record.
The figure is up 2.6% on the previous year and up 16.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions in Zambia peaked at 21.14 million in 2024 and was at its lowest, 525,427, in 1850.
Zambia ranks 74th of 199 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.
Methane emissions in Zambia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 525,427 | — |
| 1851 | 525,867 | +0.1% |
| 1852 | 526,307 | +0.1% |
| 1853 | 526,748 | +0.1% |
| 1854 | 527,189 | +0.1% |
| 1855 | 527,629 | +0.1% |
| 1856 | 528,070 | +0.1% |
| 1857 | 528,512 | +0.1% |
| 1858 | 528,953 | +0.1% |
| 1859 | 529,395 | +0.1% |
| 1860 | 529,836 | +0.1% |
| 1861 | 530,916 | +0.2% |
| 1862 | 531,996 | +0.2% |
| 1863 | 533,320 | +0.2% |
| 1864 | 535,072 | +0.3% |
| 1865 | 536,845 | +0.3% |
| 1866 | 538,639 | +0.3% |
| 1867 | 540,455 | +0.3% |
| 1868 | 542,292 | +0.3% |
| 1869 | 544,153 | +0.3% |
| 1870 | 546,036 | +0.3% |
| 1871 | 547,965 | +0.4% |
| 1872 | 549,919 | +0.4% |
| 1873 | 551,898 | +0.4% |
| 1874 | 553,903 | +0.4% |
| 1875 | 555,936 | +0.4% |
| 1876 | 557,996 | +0.4% |
| 1877 | 560,084 | +0.4% |
| 1878 | 562,201 | +0.4% |
| 1879 | 564,349 | +0.4% |
| 1880 | 566,528 | +0.4% |
| 1881 | 568,760 | +0.4% |
| 1882 | 571,024 | +0.4% |
| 1883 | 573,322 | +0.4% |
| 1884 | 575,655 | +0.4% |
| 1885 | 578,024 | +0.4% |
| 1886 | 580,428 | +0.4% |
| 1887 | 582,871 | +0.4% |
| 1888 | 585,352 | +0.4% |
| 1889 | 587,873 | +0.4% |
| 1890 | 590,435 | +0.4% |
| 1891 | 593,061 | +0.4% |
| 1892 | 595,730 | +0.5% |
| 1893 | 598,443 | +0.5% |
| 1894 | 601,202 | +0.5% |
| 1895 | 604,008 | +0.5% |
| 1896 | 606,863 | +0.5% |
| 1897 | 609,767 | +0.5% |
| 1898 | 612,722 | +0.5% |
| 1899 | 615,730 | +0.5% |
| 1900 | 618,792 | +0.5% |
| 1901 | 623,627 | +0.8% |
| 1902 | 628,682 | +0.8% |
| 1903 | 633,963 | +0.8% |
| 1904 | 639,480 | +0.9% |
| 1905 | 645,242 | +0.9% |
| 1906 | 651,258 | +0.9% |
| 1907 | 657,538 | +1.0% |
| 1908 | 664,092 | +1.0% |
| 1909 | 670,930 | +1.0% |
| 1910 | 678,063 | +1.1% |
| 1911 | 695,549 | +2.6% |
| 1912 | 713,352 | +2.6% |
| 1913 | 731,485 | +2.5% |
| 1914 | 749,961 | +2.5% |
| 1915 | 768,792 | +2.5% |
| 1916 | 787,991 | +2.5% |
| 1917 | 807,573 | +2.5% |
| 1918 | 827,552 | +2.5% |
| 1919 | 847,942 | +2.5% |
| 1920 | 868,758 | +2.5% |
| 1921 | 892,250 | +2.7% |
| 1922 | 916,242 | +2.7% |
| 1923 | 940,714 | +2.7% |
| 1924 | 965,683 | +2.7% |
| 1925 | 991,168 | +2.6% |
| 1926 | 1.02 million | +2.6% |
| 1927 | 1.04 million | +2.6% |
| 1928 | 1.07 million | +2.6% |
| 1929 | 1.10 million | +2.6% |
| 1930 | 1.13 million | +2.6% |
| 1931 | 1.16 million | +2.8% |
| 1932 | 1.19 million | +2.8% |
| 1933 | 1.22 million | +2.8% |
| 1934 | 1.26 million | +2.8% |
| 1935 | 1.29 million | +2.7% |
| 1936 | 1.47 million | +13.6% |
| 1937 | 1.65 million | +12.3% |
| 1938 | 1.83 million | +11.3% |
| 1939 | 2.03 million | +10.5% |
| 1940 | 2.23 million | +9.8% |
| 1941 | 2.44 million | +9.5% |
| 1942 | 2.65 million | +9.0% |
| 1943 | 2.88 million | +8.3% |
| 1944 | 3.10 million | +7.8% |
| 1945 | 3.33 million | +7.4% |
| 1946 | 3.57 million | +7.1% |
| 1947 | 3.81 million | +6.8% |
| 1948 | 4.06 million | +6.5% |
| 1949 | 4.31 million | +6.3% |
| 1950 | 4.57 million | +6.1% |
| 1951 | 4.88 million | +6.7% |
| 1952 | 5.20 million | +6.6% |
| 1953 | 5.54 million | +6.5% |
| 1954 | 5.89 million | +6.4% |
| 1955 | 6.27 million | +6.3% |
| 1956 | 6.66 million | +6.2% |
| 1957 | 7.07 million | +6.1% |
| 1958 | 7.50 million | +6.1% |
| 1959 | 7.95 million | +6.0% |
| 1960 | 8.42 million | +6.0% |
| 1961 | 8.06 million | -4.3% |
| 1962 | 8.10 million | +0.5% |
| 1963 | 8.15 million | +0.6% |
| 1964 | 8.18 million | +0.4% |
| 1965 | 8.26 million | +0.9% |
| 1966 | 8.32 million | +0.7% |
| 1967 | 8.44 million | +1.4% |
| 1968 | 8.50 million | +0.7% |
| 1969 | 8.68 million | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 12.87 million | +48.3% |
| 1971 | 7.13 million | -44.6% |
| 1972 | 7.78 million | +9.1% |
| 1973 | 8.43 million | +8.4% |
| 1974 | 7.39 million | -12.2% |
| 1975 | 8.89 million | +20.3% |
| 1976 | 8.19 million | -7.9% |
| 1977 | 9.41 million | +14.9% |
| 1978 | 9.91 million | +5.3% |
| 1979 | 12.92 million | +30.4% |
| 1980 | 10.76 million | -16.8% |
| 1981 | 9.56 million | -11.1% |
| 1982 | 10.87 million | +13.7% |
| 1983 | 10.70 million | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 8.31 million | -22.3% |
| 1985 | 8.76 million | +5.4% |
| 1986 | 8.70 million | -0.7% |
| 1987 | 11.75 million | +35.0% |
| 1988 | 8.70 million | -26.0% |
| 1989 | 9.79 million | +12.5% |
| 1990 | 13.67 million | +39.5% |
| 1991 | 13.83 million | +1.2% |
| 1992 | 13.93 million | +0.7% |
| 1993 | 13.84 million | -0.7% |
| 1994 | 13.71 million | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 13.61 million | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 12.94 million | -5.0% |
| 1997 | 13.24 million | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 14.35 million | +8.4% |
| 1999 | 13.80 million | -3.8% |
| 2000 | 13.40 million | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 13.68 million | +2.0% |
| 2002 | 14.87 million | +8.7% |
| 2003 | 15.86 million | +6.7% |
| 2004 | 15.77 million | -0.6% |
| 2005 | 16.55 million | +4.9% |
| 2006 | 15.61 million | -5.7% |
| 2007 | 15.99 million | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 16.11 million | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 15.59 million | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 16.71 million | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 16.08 million | -3.8% |
| 2012 | 17.89 million | +11.3% |
| 2013 | 18.29 million | +2.2% |
| 2014 | 18.08 million | -1.1% |
| 2015 | 18.32 million | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 18.19 million | -0.7% |
| 2017 | 17.53 million | -3.6% |
| 2018 | 17.89 million | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 18.63 million | +4.1% |
| 2020 | 18.21 million | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 18.62 million | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 20.42 million | +9.7% |
| 2023 | 20.60 million | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 21.14 million | +2.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 21.14 million is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 11.48 million, 1.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 21.14 million is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13.22 million, 1.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Methane 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | +48.3% | 8.68 million | 12.87 million |
| 1971 | -44.6% | 12.87 million | 7.13 million |
| 1990 | +39.5% | 9.79 million | 13.67 million |
| 1987 | +35.0% | 8.70 million | 11.75 million |
| 1979 | +30.4% | 9.91 million | 12.92 million |
| 1988 | -26.0% | 11.75 million | 8.70 million |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 527,410 | 525,427 | 529,395 | 10 |
| 1860s | 536,352 | 529,836 | 544,153 | 10 |
| 1870s | 555,029 | 546,036 | 564,349 | 10 |
| 1880s | 576,984 | 566,528 | 587,873 | 10 |
| 1890s | 602,796 | 590,435 | 615,730 | 10 |
| 1900s | 643,360 | 618,792 | 670,930 | 10 |
| 1910s | 760,826 | 678,063 | 847,942 | 10 |
| 1920s | 980,532 | 868,758 | 1.10 million | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.42 million | 1.13 million | 2.03 million | 10 |
| 1940s | 3.24 million | 2.23 million | 4.31 million | 10 |
| 1950s | 6.15 million | 4.57 million | 7.95 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 8.31 million | 8.06 million | 8.68 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 9.29 million | 7.13 million | 12.92 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 9.79 million | 8.31 million | 11.75 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 13.69 million | 12.94 million | 14.35 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 15.34 million | 13.40 million | 16.55 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.76 million | 16.08 million | 18.63 million | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.80 million | 18.21 million | 21.14 million | 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 methane emissions in Zambia?
- Methane emissions in Zambia was 21.14 million in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest methane emissions recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.14 million in 2024.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 525,427 in 1850.
- How does Zambia rank for methane emissions?
- Zambia ranks 74th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Methane emissions. 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).