Electricity generation from fossil fuels in Zambia
Zambia: Electricity generation from fossil fuels was 2.47 terawatt-hours in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Electricity generation from fossil fuels in Zambia, 2000–2024
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for electricity generation from fossil fuels in Zambia is 2.47 terawatt-hours, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 15.4% on the previous year and up 502.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from fossil fuels in Zambia peaked at 2.5 terawatt-hours in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.01 terawatt-hours, in 2006.
That places Zambia 112th out of 214 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity generation from fossil fuels in Zambia, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.04 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2001 | 0.05 terawatt-hours | +25.0% |
| 2002 | 0.06 terawatt-hours | +20.0% |
| 2003 | 0.06 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.05 terawatt-hours | -16.7% |
| 2005 | 0.06 terawatt-hours | +20.0% |
| 2006 | 0.01 terawatt-hours | -83.3% |
| 2007 | 0.01 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.01 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.01 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.01 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 0.01 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 0.02 terawatt-hours | +100.0% |
| 2013 | 0.02 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2014 | 0.41 terawatt-hours | +1950.0% |
| 2015 | 0.4 terawatt-hours | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 0.67 terawatt-hours | +67.5% |
| 2017 | 1.99 terawatt-hours | +197.0% |
| 2018 | 2.5 terawatt-hours | +25.6% |
| 2019 | 2.27 terawatt-hours | -9.2% |
| 2020 | 2.21 terawatt-hours | -2.6% |
| 2021 | 1.42 terawatt-hours | -35.7% |
| 2022 | 2.16 terawatt-hours | +52.1% |
| 2023 | 2.14 terawatt-hours | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 2.47 terawatt-hours | +15.4% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 2.47 terawatt-hours is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 2.47 terawatt-hours, 1.0× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 2.47 terawatt-hours is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.945 terawatt-hours, 2.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Electricity generation from fossil fuels 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +1950.0% | 0.02 terawatt-hours | 0.41 terawatt-hours |
| 2017 | +197.0% | 0.67 terawatt-hours | 1.99 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.036 terawatt-hours | 0.01 terawatt-hours | 0.06 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.83 terawatt-hours | 0.01 terawatt-hours | 2.5 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.08 terawatt-hours | 1.42 terawatt-hours | 2.47 terawatt-hours | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More energy & mining data for Zambia
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 0.0312 % change on previous year (2024)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 22.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from fossil fuels in Zambia?
- Electricity generation from fossil fuels in Zambia was 2.47 terawatt-hours in 2024, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.5 terawatt-hours in 2018.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.01 terawatt-hours in 2006.
- How does Zambia rank for electricity generation from fossil fuels?
- Zambia ranks 112th out of 214 countries with data for 2024.
- Is electricity generation from fossil fuels rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 502.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation from fossil fuels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured in terawatt-hours.