Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Zambia
Zambia: Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry was 21.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
21.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
101st
of 198 countries
All-time high
21.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2024
All-time low
205,624 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Zambia, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
In 2024, total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Zambia stood at 21.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents. That is the highest value across all 175 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 69.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Zambia peaked at 21.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024 and was at its lowest, 205,624 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
Zambia ranks 101st of 198 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.
Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 205,624 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 206,355 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1852 | 207,081 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1853 | 207,800 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1854 | 208,509 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1855 | 209,206 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1856 | 209,887 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1857 | 210,551 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1858 | 211,194 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1859 | 211,813 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1860 | 212,406 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1861 | 213,169 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1862 | 213,928 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.4% |
| 1863 | 214,927 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1864 | 216,354 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1865 | 217,800 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1866 | 219,266 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1867 | 220,756 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1868 | 222,270 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1869 | 223,810 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1870 | 225,378 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1871 | 227,118 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1872 | 229,123 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1873 | 231,339 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1874 | 233,711 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1875 | 236,184 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1876 | 238,702 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1877 | 241,210 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1878 | 243,654 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1879 | 245,977 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1880 | 248,126 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1881 | 250,174 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1882 | 252,225 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1883 | 254,286 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1884 | 256,365 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1885 | 258,467 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1886 | 260,600 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1887 | 262,770 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1888 | 264,986 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1889 | 267,253 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1890 | 270,514 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.2% |
| 1891 | 273,119 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1892 | 275,792 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1893 | 278,533 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1894 | 281,343 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1895 | 284,223 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1896 | 287,176 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1897 | 290,201 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1898 | 293,300 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1899 | 296,476 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1900 | 299,728 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1901 | 305,676 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.0% |
| 1902 | 311,943 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1903 | 318,512 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 1904 | 325,365 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1905 | 332,487 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1906 | 339,861 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1907 | 347,470 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1908 | 355,300 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1909 | 363,334 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1910 | 371,558 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.3% |
| 1911 | 382,601 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1912 | 393,924 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1913 | 405,548 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1914 | 417,493 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1915 | 429,778 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1916 | 442,424 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1917 | 455,454 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1918 | 468,888 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1919 | 482,748 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1920 | 497,059 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1921 | 512,396 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1922 | 528,225 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1923 | 544,532 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1924 | 561,340 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1925 | 578,675 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1926 | 596,561 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1927 | 615,025 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1928 | 634,093 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1929 | 653,793 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1930 | 674,152 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1931 | 699,658 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 1932 | 732,620 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1933 | 771,877 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 1934 | 816,269 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1935 | 864,637 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1936 | 915,822 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.9% |
| 1937 | 968,779 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.8% |
| 1938 | 1.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1939 | 1.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.2% |
| 1940 | 1.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1941 | 1.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.8% |
| 1942 | 1.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1943 | 1.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1944 | 1.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1945 | 1.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 1946 | 1.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1947 | 1.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.5% |
| 1948 | 1.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1949 | 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1950 | 3.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +148.8% |
| 1951 | 4.25 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1952 | 4.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.6% |
| 1953 | 4.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.6% |
| 1954 | 5.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.3% |
| 1955 | 5.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.6% |
| 1956 | 6.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 1957 | 6.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1958 | 6.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.7% |
| 1959 | 6.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.6% |
| 1960 | 6.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1961 | 5.86 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.1% |
| 1962 | 5.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1963 | 5.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1964 | 5.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.4% |
| 1965 | 6.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.1% |
| 1966 | 6.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.6% |
| 1967 | 7.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +23.2% |
| 1968 | 7.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1969 | 7.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1970 | 6.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -9.0% |
| 1971 | 6.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1972 | 7.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1973 | 7.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.3% |
| 1974 | 7.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1975 | 7.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1976 | 7.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1977 | 7.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 1978 | 6.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 1979 | 7.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 7.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1981 | 7.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1982 | 7.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.6% |
| 1983 | 7.38 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 6.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.8% |
| 1985 | 6.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1986 | 7.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.3% |
| 1987 | 7.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 1988 | 7.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1989 | 7.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.4% |
| 1990 | 7.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1991 | 6.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1992 | 6.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1993 | 7.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 7.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1995 | 7.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 6.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1997 | 7.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.5% |
| 1998 | 7.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 1999 | 7.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.3% |
| 2000 | 7.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 7.48 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 7.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 7.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 2004 | 7.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 8.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 2006 | 8.22 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 2007 | 8.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 8.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 2009 | 9.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.4% |
| 2010 | 9.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 2011 | 10.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 2012 | 11.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.8% |
| 2013 | 11.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.9% |
| 2014 | 12.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.5% |
| 2015 | 13.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 13.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 15.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.5% |
| 2018 | 17.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.9% |
| 2019 | 17.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 18.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.3% |
| 2021 | 18.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 2022 | 20.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.0% |
| 2023 | 21.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 2024 | 21.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 21.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 20.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 1.0× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 21.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 2.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +148.8% | 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 208,802 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 205,624 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 211,813 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 217,469 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 212,406 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 223,810 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 235,240 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 225,378 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 245,977 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 257,525 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 248,126 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 267,253 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 283,068 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 270,514 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 296,476 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 329,968 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 299,728 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 363,334 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 425,042 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 371,558 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 482,748 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 572,170 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 497,059 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 653,793 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 854,113 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 674,152 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.08 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 1.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.13 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 5.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 6.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 7.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 7.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 9.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.45 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 19.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 18.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 21.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 98 Bosnia and Herzegovina 24.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 99 Cameroon 23.76 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 100 Congo 22.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 102 Croatia 21.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 103 Zimbabwe 20.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 104 Lebanon 19.83 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 total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Zambia?
- Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry in Zambia was 21.60 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 total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 21.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024.
- What is the lowest total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 205,624 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Zambia rank for total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry?
- Zambia ranks 101st out of 198 countries with data for 2024.
- Is total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 69.5%. 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 Total greenhouse gas emissions, excluding land use and forestry. 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
Greenhouse gas emissions are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.