Nitrous oxide emissions in Zambia
Zambia: Nitrous oxide emissions was 14.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
14.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 0.9%
World rank
41st
of 201 countries
All-time high
14.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2024
All-time low
435,137 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Nitrous oxide emissions in Zambia, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
The most recent figure for nitrous oxide emissions in Zambia is 14.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 175 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.9% on the previous year and up 12.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, nitrous oxide emissions in Zambia peaked at 14.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024 and was at its lowest, 435,137 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
That places Zambia 41st out of 201 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Nitrous oxide emissions in Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 435,137 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 443,786 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1852 | 452,222 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1853 | 460,314 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1854 | 467,929 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1855 | 474,937 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1856 | 481,205 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1857 | 486,602 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1858 | 490,997 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1859 | 494,257 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1860 | 496,251 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1861 | 497,449 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1862 | 498,444 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1863 | 499,289 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1864 | 500,035 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1865 | 500,734 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1866 | 501,440 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1867 | 502,204 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1868 | 503,077 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1869 | 504,114 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1870 | 505,365 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1871 | 513,428 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 1872 | 533,078 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1873 | 561,631 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1874 | 596,403 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1875 | 634,711 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.4% |
| 1876 | 673,870 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1877 | 711,198 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1878 | 744,010 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1879 | 769,622 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 1880 | 785,352 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1881 | 794,443 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1882 | 802,122 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1883 | 808,672 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1884 | 814,376 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1885 | 819,520 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1886 | 824,387 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1887 | 829,262 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1888 | 834,428 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1889 | 840,171 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1890 | 881,775 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1891 | 890,177 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1892 | 898,990 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1893 | 908,195 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1894 | 917,778 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1895 | 927,720 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1896 | 938,005 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1897 | 948,617 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1898 | 959,538 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1899 | 970,752 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1900 | 982,242 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1901 | 993,596 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1902 | 1.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1903 | 1.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1904 | 1.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1905 | 1.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1906 | 1.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1907 | 1.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1908 | 1.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1909 | 1.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1910 | 1.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1911 | 1.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1912 | 1.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1913 | 1.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1914 | 1.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1915 | 1.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1916 | 1.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1917 | 1.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1918 | 1.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.0% |
| 1919 | 1.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1920 | 1.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1921 | 1.82 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1922 | 1.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1923 | 1.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1924 | 2.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1925 | 2.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1926 | 2.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1927 | 2.28 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1928 | 2.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1929 | 2.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1930 | 2.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1931 | 2.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 1932 | 2.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1933 | 2.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.8% |
| 1934 | 2.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1935 | 2.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1936 | 2.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1937 | 2.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1938 | 2.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1939 | 2.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1940 | 2.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1941 | 2.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.8% |
| 1942 | 3.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +22.7% |
| 1943 | 3.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +26.9% |
| 1944 | 4.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +25.6% |
| 1945 | 6.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +22.2% |
| 1946 | 7.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.2% |
| 1947 | 8.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.2% |
| 1948 | 8.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.3% |
| 1949 | 9.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1950 | 9.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1951 | 9.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1952 | 9.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1953 | 9.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.8% |
| 1954 | 8.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.9% |
| 1955 | 8.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.7% |
| 1956 | 7.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.0% |
| 1957 | 7.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.9% |
| 1958 | 6.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.0% |
| 1959 | 6.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1960 | 6.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1961 | 6.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1962 | 6.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1963 | 7.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1964 | 7.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 7.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1966 | 7.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 1967 | 7.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1968 | 7.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1969 | 7.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 1970 | 11.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +45.5% |
| 1971 | 6.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -46.0% |
| 1972 | 6.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.2% |
| 1973 | 7.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.9% |
| 1974 | 6.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.8% |
| 1975 | 7.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +20.2% |
| 1976 | 6.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.5% |
| 1977 | 8.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.9% |
| 1978 | 8.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1979 | 11.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +32.5% |
| 1980 | 9.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -17.8% |
| 1981 | 7.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.5% |
| 1982 | 9.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.3% |
| 1983 | 8.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.7% |
| 1984 | 6.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -26.4% |
| 1985 | 7.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.2% |
| 1986 | 6.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 1987 | 9.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +38.8% |
| 1988 | 6.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -31.0% |
| 1989 | 7.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.1% |
| 1990 | 10.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +44.8% |
| 1991 | 10.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1992 | 10.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1993 | 10.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1994 | 10.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1995 | 10.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1996 | 10.05 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.7% |
| 1997 | 9.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.5% |
| 1998 | 10.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.0% |
| 1999 | 10.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.9% |
| 2000 | 9.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.3% |
| 2001 | 9.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 10.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.7% |
| 2003 | 11.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.9% |
| 2004 | 11.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 2005 | 12.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 2006 | 11.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -10.2% |
| 2007 | 11.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 2008 | 11.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 10.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.2% |
| 2010 | 11.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.7% |
| 2011 | 11.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 2012 | 12.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.0% |
| 2013 | 13.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 2014 | 12.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.8% |
| 2015 | 13.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 13.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 12.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 2018 | 12.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 13.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 2020 | 12.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 2021 | 12.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 2022 | 13.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.8% |
| 2023 | 14.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 2024 | 14.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 14.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 3.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 4.1× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 14.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 5.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 2.4× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Nitrous oxide 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | -46.0% | 11.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1970 | +45.5% | 7.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1990 | +44.8% | 7.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1987 | +38.8% | 6.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1988 | -31.0% | 9.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1979 | +32.5% | 8.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 468,739 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 435,137 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 494,257 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 500,304 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 496,251 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 504,114 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 624,332 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 505,365 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 769,622 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 815,273 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 785,352 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 840,171 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 924,155 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 881,775 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 970,752 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 1.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 982,242 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 1.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 2.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 2.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 5.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 8.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 7.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 11.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 13.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.54 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 14.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 38 Belarus 15.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 39 Italy 15.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 40 Mongolia 14.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 42 Niger 14.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 43 Mali 13.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 44 South Korea 13.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 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 nitrous oxide emissions in Zambia?
- Nitrous oxide emissions in Zambia was 14.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest nitrous oxide emissions recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 14.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024.
- What is the lowest nitrous oxide emissions recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 435,137 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Zambia rank for nitrous oxide emissions?
- Zambia ranks 41st out of 201 countries with data for 2024.
- Is nitrous oxide emissions rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Nitrous oxide 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).
About this data
Measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.