Energy intensity in Zambia
Zambia: Energy intensity was 7.82 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ▼ Falling
Energy intensity in Zambia, 2000–2021
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
In 2021, energy intensity in Zambia stood at 7.82 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices.
That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and down 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Zambia peaked at 12.77 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000 and was at its lowest, 7.5 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2019.
That places Zambia 22nd out of 201 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Energy intensity in Zambia, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 12.77 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 12.53 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.9% |
| 2002 | 12.37 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.3% |
| 2003 | 11.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.5% |
| 2004 | 11.47 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.9% |
| 2005 | 11.04 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.7% |
| 2006 | 10.47 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -5.2% |
| 2007 | 9.84 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.0% |
| 2008 | 9.45 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 8.88 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.0% |
| 2010 | 8.31 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.4% |
| 2011 | 8.28 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 8.07 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.5% |
| 2013 | 7.9 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.1% |
| 2014 | 7.86 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 7.83 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 7.73 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 7.77 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 7.69 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.0% |
| 2019 | 7.5 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.5% |
| 2020 | 7.88 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +5.1% |
| 2021 | 7.82 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 11.08 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 8.88 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 12.77 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 7.89 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 7.5 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 8.31 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.85 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 7.82 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 7.88 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 19 Russian Federation 8.46 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 20 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 8.32 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 21 Central African Republic 8.31 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 23 Kuwait 7.75 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 24 Uzbekistan 7.55 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 25 Burundi 7.4 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
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 energy intensity in Zambia?
- Energy intensity in Zambia was 7.82 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021, according to International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.77 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2000.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.5 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2019.
- How does Zambia rank for energy intensity?
- Zambia ranks 22nd out of 201 countries with data for 2021.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of energy needed to produce one unit of economic output. A lower number means that economies produce economic value in a less energy-intensive way. This data is measured in megajoules per dollar, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.