Zambia Electricity Mix
Zambia generated 87.5% of its electricity from renewable sources in 2024, above the world average of 33.8%. Each kilowatt-hour produced emitted about 120 grams of CO₂.
Data year 2024 · Source: Ember and Energy Institute via Our World in Data
How much electricity in Zambia comes from renewables?
Renewable sources produced 87.5% of the electricity generated in Zambia in 2024. The world average was 33.8% in 2025. That is down from 99.5% in 2000. That ranks Zambia 23rd of 210 countries and territories by renewable share.
Electricity mix by source
Hydro is the largest source of electricity in Zambia, at 86.2% of generation, followed by coal at 10.8% and oil at 1.7%. Fossil fuels together supplied 12.5%.
Carbon intensity of electricity
Generating one kilowatt-hour of electricity in Zambia emitted about 120 grams of CO₂ in 2024, 74% below the world average of 458 g. At that rate, a business using 10,000 kWh a year would be responsible for roughly 1,197 kg of CO₂ from electricity.
This is an estimate based on the generation mix. For a formal carbon report, use the grid factor published by the national energy or environment agency. Our guide to emission factors explains the difference.
How Zambia compares
Countries closest to Zambia when ranked by renewable share of electricity. See the full ranking, or the CO₂ emissions of Zambia.
| # | Country | Renewables | Low-carbon | g CO₂/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Kenya | 90.0% | 90.0% | 95 |
| 22 | New Zealand | 88.5% | 88.5% | 93 |
| 23 | Zambia | 87.5% | 87.5% | 120 |
| 24 | Belize | 87.2% | 87.2% | 170 |
| 25 | Afghanistan | 86.9% | 86.9% | 131 |
Frequently asked questions
What share of electricity in Zambia is renewable?
87.5% in 2024. That is down from 99.5% in 2000. Counting nuclear as well, 87.5% of electricity came from low-carbon sources.
What is the main source of electricity in Zambia?
Hydro is the largest source of electricity in Zambia, at 86.2% of generation, followed by coal at 10.8% and oil at 1.7%.
How clean is electricity in Zambia?
Generating one kilowatt-hour emitted about 120 grams of CO₂ in 2024, 74% below the world average of 458 g.
Is renewable electricity growing in Zambia?
The renewable share has fallen by 12.0 percentage points, from 99.5% in 2000 to 87.5% in 2024.
About the data. Shares are percentages of the electricity generated inside the country in a year. Renewables are hydro, wind, solar, bioenergy and other renewable sources. Low-carbon adds nuclear. The latest year differs between countries and is shown on each page. Carbon intensity is an estimate of the CO₂ emitted per kilowatt-hour generated, including emissions over the life of each power source.
Source: Ember and the Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy, processed by Our World in Data and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence.
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