Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Zambia
Zambia: Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions was 239,970 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
239,970 tonnes
Change on year
up 126.8%
World rank
37th
of 220 countries
All-time high
1.91 million tonnes
in 1974
All-time low
50.26 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Zambia, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 239,970 tonnes for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 126.8% on the previous year and down 49.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Zambia peaked at 1.91 million tonnes in 1974 and was at its lowest, 50.26 tonnes, in 1750.
Zambia ranks 37th of 220 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 50.26 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 50.27 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1752 | 50.28 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1753 | 50.29 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1754 | 50.3 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1755 | 50.31 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1756 | 50.31 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1757 | 50.32 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1758 | 50.33 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1759 | 50.34 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1760 | 50.35 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1761 | 50.36 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1762 | 50.36 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1763 | 50.37 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1764 | 50.38 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1765 | 50.39 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1766 | 50.4 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1767 | 50.4 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1768 | 50.41 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1769 | 50.42 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1770 | 50.43 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1771 | 50.43 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1772 | 50.44 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1773 | 50.45 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1774 | 50.45 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1775 | 50.46 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1776 | 50.47 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1777 | 50.47 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1778 | 50.48 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1779 | 50.49 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1780 | 50.49 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1781 | 50.5 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1782 | 50.51 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1783 | 50.51 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1784 | 50.52 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1785 | 50.52 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1786 | 50.53 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1787 | 50.54 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1788 | 50.54 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1789 | 50.55 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1790 | 50.55 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 50.56 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 50.56 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 50.57 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 50.57 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 50.58 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 50.58 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 50.59 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 50.59 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 50.6 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 50.6 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 50.61 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1802 | 50.61 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1803 | 50.61 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1804 | 50.62 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1805 | 50.62 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1806 | 50.62 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1807 | 50.63 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1808 | 50.63 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1809 | 50.63 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1810 | 50.64 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1811 | 50.67 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1812 | 50.69 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1813 | 50.72 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1814 | 50.75 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1815 | 50.78 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1816 | 50.81 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1817 | 50.83 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1818 | 50.86 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1819 | 50.89 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1820 | 50.92 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1821 | 50.94 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1822 | 50.97 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1823 | 51 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1824 | 51.02 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1825 | 51.05 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1826 | 51.08 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1827 | 51.1 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1828 | 51.13 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1829 | 51.16 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1830 | 51.18 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1831 | 51.21 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1832 | 51.23 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1833 | 51.26 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1834 | 51.28 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1835 | 51.31 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1836 | 51.33 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1837 | 51.36 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1838 | 51.38 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1839 | 51.41 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1840 | 51.43 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1841 | 51.46 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1842 | 51.48 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1843 | 51.51 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1844 | 51.53 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1845 | 51.55 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1846 | 51.58 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1847 | 51.6 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1848 | 51.62 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1849 | 51.65 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1850 | 51.67 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1851 | 51.71 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1852 | 51.75 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1853 | 51.79 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1854 | 51.83 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1855 | 51.88 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1856 | 51.92 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1857 | 51.96 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1858 | 52 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1859 | 52.05 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1860 | 52.09 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1861 | 52.2 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1862 | 52.3 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1863 | 52.9 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1864 | 54.39 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1865 | 55.91 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1866 | 57.48 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1867 | 59.09 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1868 | 60.75 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1869 | 62.46 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1870 | 64.21 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1871 | 66.01 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1872 | 67.86 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1873 | 69.77 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1874 | 71.73 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1875 | 73.74 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1876 | 75.81 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1877 | 77.94 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1878 | 80.13 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1879 | 82.38 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1880 | 84.7 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1881 | 87.08 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1882 | 89.53 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1883 | 92.04 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1884 | 94.63 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1885 | 97.29 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1886 | 100.03 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1887 | 102.84 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1888 | 105.73 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1889 | 108.7 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1890 | 111.76 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1891 | 114.9 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1892 | 118.13 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1893 | 121.46 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1894 | 124.87 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1895 | 128.39 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1896 | 132 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1897 | 135.72 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1898 | 139.53 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1899 | 143.46 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1900 | 147.5 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1901 | 151.67 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1902 | 155.95 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1903 | 160.36 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1904 | 164.89 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1905 | 169.54 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1906 | 174.33 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1907 | 179.25 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1908 | 184.31 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1909 | 189.52 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1910 | 194.87 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1911 | 200.37 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1912 | 206.03 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1913 | 211.85 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1914 | 217.83 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1915 | 223.99 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1916 | 230.31 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1917 | 236.82 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1918 | 243.51 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1919 | 250.38 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1920 | 257.46 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1921 | 264.73 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1922 | 272.25 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1923 | 279.99 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1924 | 287.95 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1925 | 296.13 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1926 | 15,914 tonnes | +5274.1% |
| 1927 | 1,233 tonnes | -92.3% |
| 1928 | 26,622 tonnes | +2058.8% |
| 1929 | 27,021 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1930 | 34,821 tonnes | +28.9% |
| 1931 | 9,020 tonnes | -74.1% |
| 1932 | 13,910 tonnes | +54.2% |
| 1933 | 288,490 tonnes | +1973.9% |
| 1934 | 376,541 tonnes | +30.5% |
| 1935 | 383,862 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1936 | 383,293 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1937 | 551,128 tonnes | +43.8% |
| 1938 | 561,334 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1939 | 561,790 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1940 | 691,937 tonnes | +23.2% |
| 1941 | 604,084 tonnes | -12.7% |
| 1942 | 650,721 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1943 | 602,438 tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1944 | 532,836 tonnes | -11.6% |
| 1945 | 470,824 tonnes | -11.6% |
| 1946 | 446,036 tonnes | -5.3% |
| 1947 | 473,659 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1948 | 523,581 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1949 | 631,464 tonnes | +20.6% |
| 1950 | 666,740 tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1951 | 668,076 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1952 | 672,826 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1953 | 675,625 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1954 | 678,534 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1955 | 681,111 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1956 | 1.06 million tonnes | +55.2% |
| 1957 | 1.12 million tonnes | +5.6% |
| 1958 | 1.01 million tonnes | -9.4% |
| 1959 | 1.41 million tonnes | +39.9% |
| 1960 | 1.49 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1961 | 1.49 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1962 | 1.45 million tonnes | -3.1% |
| 1963 | 1.53 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1964 | 1.71 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 1965 | 1.82 million tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1966 | 1.80 million tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1967 | 1.80 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1968 | 1.78 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1969 | 1.85 million tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1970 | 1.83 million tonnes | -1.5% |
| 1971 | 1.70 million tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1972 | 1.86 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1973 | 1.84 million tonnes | -1.1% |
| 1974 | 1.91 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1975 | 1.77 million tonnes | -7.3% |
| 1976 | 1.87 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1977 | 1.75 million tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1978 | 1.74 million tonnes | -0.7% |
| 1979 | 1.55 million tonnes | -10.9% |
| 1980 | 1.61 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1981 | 1.50 million tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1982 | 1.56 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1983 | 1.50 million tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1984 | 1.41 million tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1985 | 1.38 million tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1986 | 680,539 tonnes | -50.6% |
| 1987 | 960,667 tonnes | +41.2% |
| 1988 | 1.07 million tonnes | +11.8% |
| 1989 | 1.11 million tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1990 | 875,635 tonnes | -21.0% |
| 1991 | 791,399 tonnes | -9.6% |
| 1992 | 934,562 tonnes | +18.1% |
| 1993 | 800,045 tonnes | -14.4% |
| 1994 | 627,915 tonnes | -21.5% |
| 1995 | 606,863 tonnes | -3.4% |
| 1996 | 636,863 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1997 | 558,472 tonnes | -12.3% |
| 1998 | 516,139 tonnes | -7.6% |
| 1999 | 447,898 tonnes | -13.2% |
| 2000 | 377,821 tonnes | -15.6% |
| 2001 | 671,263 tonnes | +77.7% |
| 2002 | 687,481 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 421,405 tonnes | -38.7% |
| 2004 | 474,395 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 2005 | 268,322 tonnes | -43.4% |
| 2006 | 391,379 tonnes | +45.9% |
| 2007 | 295,461 tonnes | -24.5% |
| 2008 | 251,386 tonnes | -14.9% |
| 2009 | 351,884 tonnes | +40.0% |
| 2010 | 462,792 tonnes | +31.5% |
| 2011 | 492,350 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2012 | 470,337 tonnes | -4.5% |
| 2013 | 466,240 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 308,631 tonnes | -33.8% |
| 2015 | 137,756 tonnes | -55.4% |
| 2016 | 148,534 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 2017 | 173,273 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 2018 | 187,146 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 2019 | 150,769 tonnes | -19.4% |
| 2020 | 175,783 tonnes | +16.6% |
| 2021 | 105,792 tonnes | -39.8% |
| 2022 | 239,970 tonnes | +126.8% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 239,970 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 27,967 tonnes, 8.6× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 239,970 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 13,590 tonnes, 17.7× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | +5274.1% | 296.13 tonnes | 15,914 tonnes |
| 1928 | +2058.8% | 1,233 tonnes | 26,622 tonnes |
| 1933 | +1973.9% | 13,910 tonnes | 288,490 tonnes |
| 2022 | +126.8% | 105,792 tonnes | 239,970 tonnes |
| 1927 | -92.3% | 15,914 tonnes | 1,233 tonnes |
| 2001 | +77.7% | 377,821 tonnes | 671,263 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 50.3 tonnes | 50.26 tonnes | 50.34 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 50.38 tonnes | 50.35 tonnes | 50.42 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 50.46 tonnes | 50.43 tonnes | 50.49 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 50.52 tonnes | 50.49 tonnes | 50.55 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 50.58 tonnes | 50.55 tonnes | 50.6 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 50.62 tonnes | 50.6 tonnes | 50.63 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 50.76 tonnes | 50.64 tonnes | 50.89 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 51.04 tonnes | 50.92 tonnes | 51.16 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 51.3 tonnes | 51.18 tonnes | 51.41 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 51.54 tonnes | 51.43 tonnes | 51.65 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 51.86 tonnes | 51.67 tonnes | 52.05 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 55.96 tonnes | 52.09 tonnes | 62.46 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 72.96 tonnes | 64.21 tonnes | 82.38 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 96.26 tonnes | 84.7 tonnes | 108.7 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 127.02 tonnes | 111.76 tonnes | 143.46 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 167.73 tonnes | 147.5 tonnes | 189.52 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 221.6 tonnes | 194.87 tonnes | 250.38 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 7,245 tonnes | 257.46 tonnes | 27,021 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 316,419 tonnes | 9,020 tonnes | 561,790 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 562,758 tonnes | 446,036 tonnes | 691,937 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 864,111 tonnes | 666,740 tonnes | 1.41 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.67 million tonnes | 1.45 million tonnes | 1.85 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.78 million tonnes | 1.55 million tonnes | 1.91 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.28 million tonnes | 680,539 tonnes | 1.61 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 679,579 tonnes | 447,898 tonnes | 934,562 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 419,080 tonnes | 251,386 tonnes | 687,481 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 299,783 tonnes | 137,756 tonnes | 492,350 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 173,848 tonnes | 105,792 tonnes | 239,970 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
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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 coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Zambia?
- Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions in Zambia was 239,970 tonnes in 2022, according to Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 1.91 million tonnes in 1974.
- What is the lowest coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 50.26 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Zambia rank for coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions?
- Zambia ranks 37th out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Coal consumption and sulphur dioxide emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 273 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Sulfur dioxide (SO₂) is an air pollutant formed from the burning of fuels that contain sulfur, such as coal. SO₂ is one of the main chemicals that forms acid rain.