Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Zambia
Zambia: Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels was 12.5% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of 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 %.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 12.5% for share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in 2024.
That represents a change of up 13.9% on the previous year and up 343.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Zambia peaked at 15.4% in 2018 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2011.
Zambia ranks 185th of 213 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.5% | — |
| 2001 | 0.6% | +21.4% |
| 2002 | 0.7% | +16.8% |
| 2003 | 0.7% | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 0.6% | -18.5% |
| 2005 | 0.7% | +14.2% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | -84.6% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | +0.4% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | -3.6% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | -5.4% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | -9.1% |
| 2012 | 0.2% | +85.8% |
| 2013 | 0.2% | -7.0% |
| 2014 | 2.8% | +1777.8% |
| 2015 | 3.0% | +4.9% |
| 2016 | 5.7% | +92.3% |
| 2017 | 13.7% | +140.1% |
| 2018 | 15.4% | +12.4% |
| 2019 | 15.3% | -0.1% |
| 2020 | 14.5% | -5.5% |
| 2021 | 8.0% | -44.8% |
| 2022 | 11.1% | +38.4% |
| 2023 | 11.0% | -0.9% |
| 2024 | 12.5% | +13.9% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 12.5% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 63.9%, 20% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 12.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 67.9%, 18% of the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of 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 | +1777.8% | 0.2% | 2.8% |
| 2017 | +140.1% | 5.7% | 13.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.7% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.6% | 0.1% | 15.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.4% | 8.0% | 14.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 182 El Salvador 13.5% compare
- 183 Afghanistan 13.1% compare
- 184 Belize 12.8% compare
- 186 New Zealand 11.5% compare
- 187 Brazil 11.3% compare
- 188 Kenya 10.0% 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)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel imports 22.9% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 4.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Zambia?
- Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Zambia was 12.5% in 2024, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 15.4% in 2018.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2011.
- How does Zambia rank for share of electricity generation from fossil fuels?
- Zambia ranks 185th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 343.6%. 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 Share 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 as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.