Zambia Electricity History, 2000 to 2024

Zambia generated 7.71 TWh of electricity in 2000 and 19.7 TWh in 2024. Zambia's electricity demand peaked at 16.6 TWh in 2024. The carbon intensity of Zambia's electricity went from 27 gCO2/kWh in 2000 to 126 gCO2/kWh in 2024. Figures are Ember annual statistics; Ember's series for Zambia starts in 2000.

Key Facts

Zambia generated 7.71 TWh of electricity in 2000 and 19.7 TWh in 2024.
Zambia's electricity demand peaked at 16.6 TWh in 2024.
The carbon intensity of Zambia's electricity went from 27 gCO2/kWh in 2000 to 126 gCO2/kWh in 2024.
Zambia's lowest carbon intensity on record was 24 gCO2/kWh, in 2011.
Hydro's share of Zambia's electricity went from 99.5% in 2000 to 86.2% in 2024, the largest change of any source.

Generation and Demand

2000 to 2024, TWh

Zambia generated 7.71 TWh of electricity in 2000 and 19.7 TWh in 2024.

Annual statistics through 2024, TWh

Zambia electricity generation and demand, 2000 to 2024
Year	Generation	Demand
2000	7.71 TWh	6.36 TWh
2001	7.94 TWh	6.87 TWh
2002	8.16 TWh	7.37 TWh
2003	8.32 TWh	7.81 TWh
2004	8.51 TWh	8.28 TWh
2005	8.94 TWh	8.70 TWh
2006	9.68 TWh	9.17 TWh
2007	9.64 TWh	9.50 TWh
2008	9.53 TWh	9.70 TWh
2009	9.89 TWh	9.31 TWh
2010	10.5 TWh	9.89 TWh
2011	11.5 TWh	11.6 TWh
2012	12.4 TWh	11.6 TWh
2013	13.3 TWh	12.3 TWh
2014	14.5 TWh	13.3 TWh
2015	13.5 TWh	13.1 TWh
2016	11.8 TWh	13.2 TWh
2017	14.6 TWh	14.3 TWh
2018	16.3 TWh	15.2 TWh
2019	14.8 TWh	14.0 TWh
2020	15.2 TWh	14.0 TWh
2021	17.7 TWh	15.6 TWh
2022	19.5 TWh	16.4 TWh
2023	19.5 TWh	16.1 TWh
2024	19.7 TWh	16.6 TWh

Carbon Intensity

gCO2 per kWh generated

The carbon intensity of Zambia's electricity went from 27 gCO2/kWh in 2000 to 126 gCO2/kWh in 2024.

Annual statistics through 2024

Zambia carbon intensity of electricity, 2000 to 2024
Year	Carbon intensity
2000	27 gCO2/kWh
2001	28 gCO2/kWh
2002	29 gCO2/kWh
2003	29 gCO2/kWh
2004	28 gCO2/kWh
2005	28 gCO2/kWh
2006	24 gCO2/kWh
2007	24 gCO2/kWh
2008	24 gCO2/kWh
2009	24 gCO2/kWh
2010	24 gCO2/kWh
2011	24 gCO2/kWh
2012	25 gCO2/kWh
2013	25 gCO2/kWh
2014	43 gCO2/kWh
2015	44 gCO2/kWh
2016	67 gCO2/kWh
2017	129 gCO2/kWh
2018	147 gCO2/kWh
2019	145 gCO2/kWh
2020	142 gCO2/kWh
2021	90 gCO2/kWh
2022	117 gCO2/kWh
2023	116 gCO2/kWh
2024	126 gCO2/kWh

Every Year

Year	Generation	Demand	Net imports	Carbon intensity	Low carbon share
2024	19.7 TWh	16.6 TWh	-3.12 TWh	126 gCO2/kWh	87.5%
2023	19.5 TWh	16.1 TWh	-3.37 TWh	116 gCO2/kWh	89.0%
2022	19.5 TWh	16.4 TWh	-3.04 TWh	117 gCO2/kWh	88.9%
2021	17.7 TWh	15.6 TWh	-2.13 TWh	90 gCO2/kWh	92.0%
2020	15.2 TWh	14.0 TWh	-1.21 TWh	142 gCO2/kWh	85.5%
2019	14.8 TWh	14.0 TWh	-780 GWh	145 gCO2/kWh	84.7%
2018	16.3 TWh	15.2 TWh	-1.07 TWh	147 gCO2/kWh	84.6%
2017	14.6 TWh	14.3 TWh	-310 GWh	129 gCO2/kWh	86.3%
2016	11.8 TWh	13.2 TWh	1.39 TWh	67 gCO2/kWh	94.3%
2015	13.5 TWh	13.1 TWh	-390 GWh	44 gCO2/kWh	97.0%
2014	14.5 TWh	13.3 TWh	-1.24 TWh	43 gCO2/kWh	97.2%
2013	13.3 TWh	12.3 TWh	-1.01 TWh	25 gCO2/kWh	99.9%
2012	12.4 TWh	11.6 TWh	-820 GWh	25 gCO2/kWh	99.8%
2011	11.5 TWh	11.6 TWh	90.0 GWh	24 gCO2/kWh	99.9%
2010	10.5 TWh	9.89 TWh	-560 GWh	24 gCO2/kWh	99.9%
2009	9.89 TWh	9.31 TWh	-580 GWh	24 gCO2/kWh	99.9%
2008	9.53 TWh	9.70 TWh	170 GWh	24 gCO2/kWh	99.9%
2007	9.64 TWh	9.50 TWh	-140 GWh	24 gCO2/kWh	99.9%
2006	9.68 TWh	9.17 TWh	-510 GWh	24 gCO2/kWh	99.9%
2005	8.94 TWh	8.70 TWh	-240 GWh	28 gCO2/kWh	99.3%
2004	8.51 TWh	8.28 TWh	-230 GWh	28 gCO2/kWh	99.4%
2003	8.32 TWh	7.81 TWh	-510 GWh	29 gCO2/kWh	99.3%
2002	8.16 TWh	7.37 TWh	-790 GWh	29 gCO2/kWh	99.3%
2001	7.94 TWh	6.87 TWh	-1.07 TWh	28 gCO2/kWh	99.4%
2000	7.71 TWh	6.36 TWh	-1.35 TWh	27 gCO2/kWh	99.5%

Share of Generation by Source

Percent of total generation

Year	Coal	Other fossil	Hydro	Solar	Bioenergy
2024	10.8%	1.7%	86.2%	0.9%	0.4%
2023	11.0%	0.1%	87.8%	0.8%	0.4%
2022	11.1%	0.0%	87.8%	0.7%	0.4%
2021	7.3%	0.7%	90.7%	0.9%	0.5%
2020	12.4%	2.1%	84.0%	1.0%	0.5%
2019	11.3%	4.1%	83.4%	0.8%	0.5%
2018	12.5%	2.8%	84.2%	0.0%	0.4%
2017	8.8%	4.9%	85.8%	0.0%	0.6%
2016	2.8%	2.9%	93.6%	0.0%	0.7%
2015	0.0%	3.0%	96.5%	0.0%	0.5%
2014	0.0%	2.8%	96.7%	0.0%	0.5%
2013	0.0%	0.2%	99.9%	0.0%	0.0%
2012	0.0%	0.2%	99.8%	0.0%	0.0%
2011	0.0%	0.1%	99.9%	0.0%	0.0%
2010	0.0%	0.1%	99.9%	0.0%	0.0%
2009	0.0%	0.1%	99.9%	0.0%	0.0%
2008	0.0%	0.1%	99.9%	0.0%	0.0%
2007	0.0%	0.1%	99.9%	0.0%	0.0%
2006	0.0%	0.1%	99.9%	0.0%	0.0%
2005	0.2%	0.5%	99.3%	0.0%	0.0%
2004	0.1%	0.5%	99.4%	0.0%	0.0%
2003	0.2%	0.5%	99.3%	0.0%	0.0%
2002	0.2%	0.5%	99.3%	0.0%	0.0%
2001	0.1%	0.5%	99.4%	0.0%	0.0%
2000	0.1%	0.4%	99.5%	0.0%	0.0%

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