Global GridZambia's energy mix and electricity
🇿🇲 In 2024, Zambia generated 19.7 TWh of electricity. The largest source was hydro at 86%, followed by coal (11%) and oil and other fossil fuels (1.7%). In total, 88% came from low-carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) and 13% from fossil fuels.
On average, each kilowatt hour produced about 126 grams of carbon dioxide (CO₂), far below the world average of 458 grams in 2025. That makes Zambia the 27th cleanest of 158 countries that generate at least 1 TWh a year.
Electricity demand was 16.6 TWh. Zambia exported 3.12 TWh more electricity than it imported.
Since 2000, electricity generation has grown by 156%, from 7.71 TWh. The low-carbon share went from 100% to 87%. The biggest rise was in coal, from 0% to 11% of generation. The biggest fall was in hydro, from 100% to 86%. Carbon intensity rose from 27 to 126 grams per kWh.
Live, hour-by-hour figures for Zambia are not connected yet. The dashboard shows its yearly figures, energy mix since 2000 and interconnector trade.
Energy mix in 2024
- Hydro 86%
- Coal 11%
- Oil and other fossil fuels 1.7%
- Solar 0.9%
- Bioenergy 0.4%
| Source | Share | Generated |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 86% | 17.0 TWh |
| Coal | 11% | 2.13 TWh |
| Oil and other fossil fuels | 1.7% | 0.33 TWh |
| Solar | 0.9% | 0.18 TWh |
| Bioenergy | 0.4% | 0.08 TWh |
Energy security score
Strong. Zambia ranks 36th of 158 countries and 3rd of 35 in Africa. The score shows how well a country could keep electricity affordable and on if fuel supplies were disrupted. It is based on 4 of the 5 measures.
| Measure | Score |
|---|---|
| Produces its own energy No reliable figure exists for Zambia, so this measure is left out and the other four count for more. | n/a |
| Variety of power sources How evenly generation is spread across nine sources. The largest, hydro, made 86%. | 28 |
| Little reliance on imported power Zambia exported more electricity than it imported, so it scores full marks. | 100 |
| Low-carbon power Nuclear and renewables made 88% of generation. | 88 |
| Low gas and oil use Gas and oil made 1.7% of generation; the score is 100 minus that share. | 98 |
The five measures are weighted 30%, 20%, 20%, 15% and 15%. How the score works.
Oil and gas pipelines
Global Energy Monitor lists 1,554 km of oil and gas pipelines operating in Zambia, 0 km being built and 1,554 km proposed (lengths measured along the mapped routes; a pipeline crossing borders counts in full for each country).
See them on the interactive map · Pipelines around the world
How it has changed
| Year | Generated | Low-carbon | Fossil | CO₂ g/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 7.71 TWh | 100% | 0% | 27 |
| 2005 | 8.94 TWh | 99% | 0% | 29 |
| 2010 | 10.4 TWh | 100% | 0% | 25 |
| 2015 | 13.5 TWh | 98% | 3% | 44 |
| 2020 | 15.2 TWh | 86% | 14% | 142 |
| 2023 | 19.5 TWh | 89% | 11% | 117 |
| 2024 | 19.7 TWh | 87% | 13% | 126 |
Questions about Zambia's energy
What is Zambia's energy mix?
In 2024, Zambia's electricity came from hydro 86%, coal 11%, oil and other fossil fuels 1.7% and solar 0.9%.
How much of Zambia's electricity is renewable?
88% of its electricity came from renewables in 2024 (hydro 86% and solar 0.9%).
What is Zambia's main source of electricity?
Hydro, which made 86% of its electricity in 2024.
How clean is Zambia's electricity?
About 126 grams of CO₂ for each kilowatt hour in 2024, far below the world average of 458 grams. It ranks 27th cleanest of 158 countries that generate at least 1 TWh a year.
Does Zambia import electricity?
It is a net exporter: in 2024 it exported 3.12 TWh more electricity than it imported.
How secure is Zambia's energy supply?
Global Grid's energy security score for Zambia is 76 out of 100 (strong), 36th of 158 countries. It looks at how much of its own energy it produces, how varied its power sources are, its reliance on imported power and its use of low-carbon power, gas and oil.
Other countries in Africa
Sources: Ember yearly electricity data (CC BY 4.0), figures up to 2024; pipelines and LNG terminals from Global Energy Monitor's Global Oil Infrastructure Tracker (June 2026 release) and Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker (November 2025 release) (CC BY 4.0). Ember's latest-year figures are first estimates and may be revised. TWh: terawatt hours (one billion kWh).