Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector in Zambia
Zambia: Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector was 3.38 kilograms per person in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
3.38 kilograms per person
Change on year
up 36.1%
World rank
170th
of 187 countries
All-time high
28.26 kilograms per person
in 1990
All-time low
1.53 kilograms per person
in 2021
Years of data
34
1990–2023
Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector in Zambia, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per person.
Analysis
In 2023, per capita co₂ emissions by sector in Zambia stood at 3.38 kilograms per person.
That represents a change of up 36.1% on the previous year and down 62.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita co₂ emissions by sector in Zambia peaked at 28.26 kilograms per person in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.53 kilograms per person, in 2021.
Zambia ranks 170th of 187 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Per capita CO₂ emissions by sector in Zambia, year by year
| Year | kilograms per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 28.26 kilograms per person | — |
| 1991 | 25.06 kilograms per person | -11.3% |
| 1992 | 23.24 kilograms per person | -7.3% |
| 1993 | 20.3 kilograms per person | -12.6% |
| 1994 | 17.49 kilograms per person | -13.8% |
| 1995 | 18.21 kilograms per person | +4.1% |
| 1996 | 12.22 kilograms per person | -32.9% |
| 1997 | 20.57 kilograms per person | +68.4% |
| 1998 | 17.93 kilograms per person | -12.8% |
| 1999 | 13.35 kilograms per person | -25.6% |
| 2000 | 12.98 kilograms per person | -2.8% |
| 2001 | 12.59 kilograms per person | -3.0% |
| 2002 | 13.15 kilograms per person | +4.4% |
| 2003 | 13.66 kilograms per person | +3.9% |
| 2004 | 14.11 kilograms per person | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 13.65 kilograms per person | -3.2% |
| 2006 | 5.77 kilograms per person | -57.7% |
| 2007 | 3.98 kilograms per person | -31.0% |
| 2008 | 5.38 kilograms per person | +35.1% |
| 2009 | 5.19 kilograms per person | -3.5% |
| 2010 | 5.73 kilograms per person | +10.4% |
| 2011 | 6.23 kilograms per person | +8.8% |
| 2012 | 6.71 kilograms per person | +7.6% |
| 2013 | 9.09 kilograms per person | +35.6% |
| 2014 | 6.29 kilograms per person | -30.8% |
| 2015 | 5.49 kilograms per person | -12.8% |
| 2016 | 4.73 kilograms per person | -13.8% |
| 2017 | 5.16 kilograms per person | +9.1% |
| 2018 | 6.68 kilograms per person | +29.4% |
| 2019 | 3.24 kilograms per person | -51.5% |
| 2020 | 3.67 kilograms per person | +13.3% |
| 2021 | 1.53 kilograms per person | -58.3% |
| 2022 | 2.48 kilograms per person | +62.1% |
| 2023 | 3.38 kilograms per person | +36.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 3.38 kilograms per person is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 53.95 kilograms per person, 6% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 3.38 kilograms per person is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 18.63 kilograms per person, 18% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.66 kilograms per person | 12.22 kilograms per person | 28.26 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.05 kilograms per person | 3.98 kilograms per person | 14.11 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.93 kilograms per person | 3.24 kilograms per person | 9.09 kilograms per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.77 kilograms per person | 1.53 kilograms per person | 3.67 kilograms per person | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 167 Madagascar 5.45 kilograms per person compare
- 168 Mozambique 4.76 kilograms per person compare
- 169 Ethiopia 4.43 kilograms per person compare
- 171 Malawi 3.32 kilograms per person compare
- 172 Uganda 2.67 kilograms per person compare
- 173 South Sudan 2.61 kilograms per person 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 per capita co₂ emissions by sector in Zambia?
- Per capita co₂ emissions by sector in Zambia was 3.38 kilograms per person in 2023, according to Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita co₂ emissions by sector recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 28.26 kilograms per person in 1990.
- What is the lowest per capita co₂ emissions by sector recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.53 kilograms per person in 2021.
- How does Zambia rank for per capita co₂ emissions by sector?
- Zambia ranks 170th out of 187 countries with data for 2023.
- Is per capita co₂ emissions by sector rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 62.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Climate Watch (2026); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita CO₂ 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 kilograms per person.