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Built 2026-11-05 (5 November 2026)

Zambia Electricity: Generation Mix, Demand and Emissions

Zambia generated 19.7 TWh of electricity in 2024, according to Ember. Hydro was the largest source at 86.2%, followed by coal (10.8%) and other fossil (1.7%). Demand was 16.6 TWh and each kWh generated emitted 126 gCO2/kWh. These are annual statistics for 2024; they are compiled from national sources and are not real time.

Key Facts

  • Zambia generated 19.7 TWh of electricity in 2024.
  • Hydro supplied 86.2% of Zambia's electricity in 2024.
  • Coal supplied 10.8% of Zambia's electricity in 2024.
  • Other fossil supplied 1.7% of Zambia's electricity in 2024.
  • Low carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) supplied 87.5% of Zambia's generation in 2024.
  • The carbon intensity of Zambia's electricity was 126 gCO2/kWh in 2024.
  • Zambia's carbon intensity in 2024 was 359% higher than in 2000, when it was 27 gCO2/kWh.
  • Zambia had the 90th highest electricity demand among the 197 countries with Ember data for 2024.

Key Figures, 2024

MeasureValueAs of / source
Total generation19.7 TWh2024 · Ember
Electricity demand16.6 TWh2024 · Ember
Demand per person0.78 MWh2024 · Ember
Net imports-3.12 TWh2024 · Ember
Carbon intensity126 gCO2/kWh2024 · Ember
Power sector emissions2.48 MtCO22024 · Ember
Demand rank (countries with 2024 data)90 of 1972024 · Ember

Generation Mix, 2024

SourceGenerationShare
Hydro 17.0 TWh 86.2%
Coal 2.13 TWh 10.8%
Other fossil 340 GWh 1.7%
Solar 170 GWh 0.9%
Bioenergy 80.0 GWh 0.4%
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Year by Year

Ember annual statistics, 2000 to 2024
Zambia electricity generation by source, 2000 to 2024 Zambia's electricity generation by main source from 2000 to 2024, in TWh. In 2024 the largest sources were hydro at 17.0 TWh, coal at 2.13 TWh, other fossil at 340 GWh, solar at 170 GWh, bioenergy at 80.0 GWh. 0 5 10 15 20 20002005201020152020
Zambia's electricity generation by main source from 2000 to 2024, in TWh. In 2024 the largest sources were hydro at 17.0 TWh, coal at 2.13 TWh, other fossil at 340 GWh, solar at 170 GWh, bioenergy at 80.0 GWh.
Annual statistics through 2024, TWh
Zambia electricity generation by source, 2000 to 2024
YearHydroCoalOther fossilSolarBioenergy
20007.67 TWh10.0 GWh30.0 GWh0 TWh0 TWh
20017.89 TWh10.0 GWh40.0 GWh0 TWh0 TWh
20028.10 TWh20.0 GWh40.0 GWh0 TWh0 TWh
20038.26 TWh20.0 GWh40.0 GWh0 TWh0 TWh
20048.46 TWh10.0 GWh40.0 GWh0 TWh0 TWh
20058.88 TWh20.0 GWh40.0 GWh0 TWh0 TWh
20069.67 TWh0 TWh10.0 GWh0 TWh0 TWh
20079.63 TWh0 TWh10.0 GWh0 TWh0 TWh
20089.52 TWh0 TWh10.0 GWh0 TWh0 TWh
20099.88 TWh0 TWh10.0 GWh0 TWh0 TWh
201010.4 TWh0 TWh10.0 GWh0 TWh0 TWh
201111.5 TWh0 TWh10.0 GWh0 TWh0 TWh
201212.4 TWh0 TWh20.0 GWh0 TWh0 TWh
201313.3 TWh0 TWh20.0 GWh0 TWh0 TWh
201414.0 TWh0 TWh410 GWh0 TWh70.0 GWh
201513.0 TWh0 TWh400 GWh0 TWh70.0 GWh
201611.0 TWh330 GWh340 GWh0 TWh80.0 GWh
201712.5 TWh1.28 TWh710 GWh0 TWh80.0 GWh
201813.7 TWh2.04 TWh460 GWh0 TWh70.0 GWh
201912.3 TWh1.67 TWh600 GWh120 GWh70.0 GWh
202012.8 TWh1.89 TWh320 GWh150 GWh80.0 GWh
202116.1 TWh1.30 TWh120 GWh150 GWh80.0 GWh
202217.1 TWh2.16 TWh0 TWh140 GWh80.0 GWh
202317.1 TWh2.13 TWh10.0 GWh150 GWh80.0 GWh
202417.0 TWh2.13 TWh340 GWh170 GWh80.0 GWh
YearGenerationDemandCarbon intensity
2024 19.7 TWh 16.6 TWh 126 gCO2/kWh
2023 19.5 TWh 16.1 TWh 116 gCO2/kWh
2022 19.5 TWh 16.4 TWh 117 gCO2/kWh
2021 17.7 TWh 15.6 TWh 90 gCO2/kWh
2020 15.2 TWh 14.0 TWh 142 gCO2/kWh
2019 14.8 TWh 14.0 TWh 145 gCO2/kWh
2018 16.3 TWh 15.2 TWh 147 gCO2/kWh
2017 14.6 TWh 14.3 TWh 129 gCO2/kWh
2016 11.8 TWh 13.2 TWh 67 gCO2/kWh
2015 13.5 TWh 13.1 TWh 44 gCO2/kWh

Full year by year history for Zambia, 2000 to 2024

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2024.

Countries With a Similar Electricity Mix

Ember annual, 2024

Zambia's closest match is Kyrgyzstan, 92.0% the same.

  1. Kyrgyzstan 92.0% the same Kyrgyzstan generates 7.3 points more hydro than Zambia
  2. Tajikistan 90.9% the same Tajikistan generates 8.2 points more hydro than Zambia
  3. Uganda 89.0% the same Uganda generates 10.8 points less coal than Zambia
  4. Malawi 88.9% the same Malawi generates 10.8 points less coal than Zambia
  5. Venezuela 88.0% the same Venezuela generates 10.8 points less coal than Zambia

How close: the share of generation that would have to change fuel for one mix to match the other (half the sum of the fuel share differences); 100% minus that is "the same". Grids under 1 TWh are skipped. Grid twins: the 25 closest pairs and every country's nearest match

Zambia Electricity FAQ

What is the main source of electricity in Zambia?

Hydro was the largest source of electricity in Zambia in 2024, supplying 86.2% of generation, followed by coal (10.8%) and other fossil (1.7%). Figures are Ember annual statistics.

How much electricity does Zambia use?

Zambia used 16.6 TWh of electricity in 2024, about 0.78 MWh per person.

How clean is Zambia's electricity?

Generating a kilowatt hour of electricity in Zambia emitted 126 gCO2/kWh in 2024, and low carbon sources supplied 87.5% of generation. That is 73% below the world average of 472 gCO2/kWh.

Does Zambia import electricity?

No. Zambia was a net exporter in 2024, exporting 3.12 TWh more than it imported.

Cite this page
APA 7

World Power Monitor. (2024). Zambia Electricity: Generation Mix, Demand and Emissions. https://worldpowermonitor.com/countries/zambia/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. Zambia Electricity: Generation Mix, Demand and Emissions. Data as of 2024. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/countries/zambia/

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_countries_zambia_2024,
  title = {{Zambia Electricity: Generation Mix, Demand and Emissions}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2024},
  note = {Data as of 2024. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/countries/zambia/}
}

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