Fossil fuel consumption in Zambia
Zambia: Fossil fuel consumption was 36.73 terawatt-hours in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
36.73 terawatt-hours
Change on year
up 1.6%
World rank
116th
of 220 countries
All-time high
36.73 terawatt-hours
in 2024
All-time low
7.05 terawatt-hours
in 2007
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Fossil fuel consumption in Zambia, 1980–2024
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fossil fuel consumption in Zambia is 36.73 terawatt-hours, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 45 years on record.
That represents a change of up 1.6% on the previous year and up 151.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fossil fuel consumption in Zambia peaked at 36.73 terawatt-hours in 2024 and was at its lowest, 7.05 terawatt-hours, in 2007.
Zambia ranks 116th of 220 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.
Fossil fuel consumption in Zambia, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 14.32 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1981 | 12.17 terawatt-hours | -15.0% |
| 1982 | 12.49 terawatt-hours | +2.6% |
| 1983 | 12.08 terawatt-hours | -3.3% |
| 1984 | 11.36 terawatt-hours | -5.9% |
| 1985 | 10.79 terawatt-hours | -5.0% |
| 1986 | 11.1 terawatt-hours | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 10.91 terawatt-hours | -1.6% |
| 1988 | 12.04 terawatt-hours | +10.3% |
| 1989 | 11.65 terawatt-hours | -3.2% |
| 1990 | 10.86 terawatt-hours | -6.7% |
| 1991 | 9.59 terawatt-hours | -11.7% |
| 1992 | 10.78 terawatt-hours | +12.4% |
| 1993 | 9.41 terawatt-hours | -12.7% |
| 1994 | 9.22 terawatt-hours | -2.0% |
| 1995 | 7.64 terawatt-hours | -17.1% |
| 1996 | 8.19 terawatt-hours | +7.2% |
| 1997 | 8.38 terawatt-hours | +2.3% |
| 1998 | 8.73 terawatt-hours | +4.2% |
| 1999 | 7.71 terawatt-hours | -11.7% |
| 2000 | 7.46 terawatt-hours | -3.2% |
| 2001 | 7.82 terawatt-hours | +4.8% |
| 2002 | 8.24 terawatt-hours | +5.3% |
| 2003 | 8.71 terawatt-hours | +5.8% |
| 2004 | 8.84 terawatt-hours | +1.5% |
| 2005 | 9.37 terawatt-hours | +6.0% |
| 2006 | 9.11 terawatt-hours | -2.8% |
| 2007 | 7.05 terawatt-hours | -22.6% |
| 2008 | 8.32 terawatt-hours | +18.1% |
| 2009 | 8.86 terawatt-hours | +6.5% |
| 2010 | 9.02 terawatt-hours | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 10.12 terawatt-hours | +12.3% |
| 2012 | 12.49 terawatt-hours | +23.3% |
| 2013 | 12.79 terawatt-hours | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 14.6 terawatt-hours | +14.2% |
| 2015 | 15.55 terawatt-hours | +6.5% |
| 2016 | 16.6 terawatt-hours | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 21.77 terawatt-hours | +31.1% |
| 2018 | 24.39 terawatt-hours | +12.0% |
| 2019 | 24.47 terawatt-hours | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 26.57 terawatt-hours | +8.6% |
| 2021 | 27.01 terawatt-hours | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 25.65 terawatt-hours | -5.0% |
| 2023 | 36.15 terawatt-hours | +41.0% |
| 2024 | 36.73 terawatt-hours | +1.6% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 36.73 terawatt-hours is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 37.49 terawatt-hours, 98% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 36.73 terawatt-hours is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 17.75 terawatt-hours, 2.1× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 11.89 terawatt-hours | 10.79 terawatt-hours | 14.32 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 9.05 terawatt-hours | 7.64 terawatt-hours | 10.86 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.38 terawatt-hours | 7.05 terawatt-hours | 9.37 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 16.18 terawatt-hours | 9.02 terawatt-hours | 24.47 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.42 terawatt-hours | 25.65 terawatt-hours | 36.73 terawatt-hours | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 113 Armenia 39.26 terawatt-hours compare
- 114 Costa Rica 38.06 terawatt-hours compare
- 115 Kyrgyzstan 37.49 terawatt-hours compare
- 117 Moldova 35.3 terawatt-hours compare
- 118 Malta 35.03 terawatt-hours compare
- 119 Tajikistan 34.89 terawatt-hours 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 fossil fuel consumption in Zambia?
- Fossil fuel consumption in Zambia was 36.73 terawatt-hours in 2024, 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 fossil fuel consumption recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 36.73 terawatt-hours in 2024.
- What is the lowest fossil fuel consumption recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.05 terawatt-hours in 2007.
- How does Zambia rank for fossil fuel consumption?
- Zambia ranks 116th out of 220 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fossil fuel consumption rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 151.6%. 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 Fossil fuel consumption. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours. Fossil fuels include coal, oil, and gas.