Electricity production by source in Zambia
Zambia: Electricity production by source was 1.3% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Electricity production by source in Zambia, 1990–2021
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of total.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 1.3% for electricity production by source in 2021.
That represents a change of down 14.9% on the previous year and down 65.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity production by source in Zambia peaked at 14.1% in 2001 and was at its lowest, -4.2%, in 2004.
That places Zambia 154th out of 208 countries with data for 2021, 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 production by source in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % of total | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 0.0% | — |
| 1991 | 0.0% | — |
| 1992 | 0.0% | — |
| 1993 | 0.0% | — |
| 1994 | 0.0% | — |
| 1995 | 0.0% | — |
| 1996 | 0.0% | — |
| 1997 | 0.0% | — |
| 1998 | 0.0% | — |
| 1999 | 0.0% | — |
| 2000 | 1.1% | — |
| 2001 | 14.1% | +1176.5% |
| 2002 | 2.9% | -79.6% |
| 2003 | 1.1% | -62.0% |
| 2004 | -4.2% | -485.6% |
| 2005 | -1.4% | -65.9% |
| 2006 | 2.1% | -243.5% |
| 2007 | 3.0% | +46.2% |
| 2008 | 3.6% | +18.5% |
| 2009 | 7.2% | +102.6% |
| 2010 | 4.3% | -40.1% |
| 2011 | 3.9% | -9.3% |
| 2012 | 0.6% | -85.8% |
| 2013 | 0.5% | -9.4% |
| 2014 | 0.5% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 0.5% | -5.4% |
| 2016 | 0.5% | +13.8% |
| 2017 | 0.4% | -32.2% |
| 2018 | 0.4% | +4.2% |
| 2019 | 1.0% | +157.0% |
| 2020 | 1.6% | +60.2% |
| 2021 | 1.3% | -14.9% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 1.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 4.7%, 29% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 1.3% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 3.5%, 38% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Electricity production by source 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | +1176.5% | 1.1% | 14.1% |
| 2004 | -485.6% | 1.1% | -4.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.0% | 0.0% | 0.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.9% | -4.2% | 14.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.3% | 0.4% | 4.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.6% | 2 |
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 production by source in Zambia?
- Electricity production by source in Zambia was 1.3% in 2021, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity production by source recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 14.1% in 2001.
- What is the lowest electricity production by source recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was -4.2% in 2004.
- How does Zambia rank for electricity production by source?
- Zambia ranks 154th out of 208 countries with data for 2021.
- Is electricity production by source rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 65.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity production by source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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