Energy intensity in Zambia
Zambia: Energy intensity was 0.5848 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
0.5848 kilowatt-hours per dollar
Change on year
down 6.3%
World rank
141st
of 166 countries
All-time high
2.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar
in 1980
All-time low
0.437 kilowatt-hours per dollar
in 2010
Years of data
43
1980–2022
Energy intensity in Zambia, 1980–2022
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per dollar.
Analysis
In 2022, energy intensity in Zambia stood at 0.5848 kilowatt-hours per dollar.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.3% on the previous year and up 23.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Zambia peaked at 2.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1980 and was at its lowest, 0.437 kilowatt-hours per dollar, in 2010.
That places Zambia 141st out of 166 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Energy intensity in Zambia, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar | — |
| 1981 | 2.15 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -13.7% |
| 1982 | 2.25 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +4.9% |
| 1983 | 2.25 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.1% |
| 1984 | 2.17 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.5% |
| 1985 | 2.07 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.6% |
| 1986 | 2.07 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.1% |
| 1987 | 2.03 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.1% |
| 1988 | 2.02 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.3% |
| 1989 | 1.79 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -11.4% |
| 1990 | 1.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -6.9% |
| 1991 | 1.51 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -9.8% |
| 1992 | 1.53 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 1.37 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -10.9% |
| 1994 | 1.51 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +10.4% |
| 1995 | 1.28 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -14.8% |
| 1996 | 1.17 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -8.8% |
| 1997 | 1.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.4% |
| 1998 | 1.15 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.2% |
| 1999 | 0.9725 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -15.4% |
| 2000 | 0.9066 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -6.8% |
| 2001 | 0.8868 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.2% |
| 2002 | 0.8722 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 0.8358 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.2% |
| 2004 | 0.784 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -6.2% |
| 2005 | 0.7468 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.7% |
| 2006 | 0.679 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -9.1% |
| 2007 | 0.5484 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -19.2% |
| 2008 | 0.5361 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.2% |
| 2009 | 0.479 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -10.6% |
| 2010 | 0.437 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -8.8% |
| 2011 | 0.4602 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +5.3% |
| 2012 | 0.4735 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.9% |
| 2013 | 0.4703 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 0.4946 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 0.4946 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.4904 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.9% |
| 2017 | 0.5538 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +12.9% |
| 2018 | 0.5799 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +4.7% |
| 2019 | 0.5581 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.8% |
| 2020 | 0.6083 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +9.0% |
| 2021 | 0.6238 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.5% |
| 2022 | 0.5848 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -6.3% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 0.5848 kilowatt-hours per dollar is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 0.8261 kilowatt-hours per dollar, 71% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 0.5848 kilowatt-hours per dollar is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 0.6483 kilowatt-hours per dollar, 90% of the median. (44 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 2.13 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.79 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.33 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.9725 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.7275 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.479 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.9066 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.5012 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.437 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.5799 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.6056 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.5848 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 0.6238 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 138 Burkina Faso 0.6103 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 139 Hong Kong 0.6095 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 140 Bangladesh 0.5943 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 142 Costa Rica 0.5829 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 143 Nepal 0.5637 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 144 Niger 0.546 kilowatt-hours per dollar 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 0.5848 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 2.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1980.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.437 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2010.
- How does Zambia rank for energy intensity?
- Zambia ranks 141st out of 166 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing 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
Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per international-$ of GDP.