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Topic 16 of 18 · Country Index 2026

Zambia: Energy

Where does a country’s electricity come from, and who can get it?

Zambia is placed 63rd of 165 countries on energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Carbon Intensity of Electricity 125.76 (2024); Renewable Share of Electricity Generation 87.47 (2024).

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Energy

63rd

of 165 countries placed

Placed from 3 of 3 key statistics

Country Index 2026, all topics138th of 183 →

01The evidence

The 3 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Zambia on energy — one vote each. Every value is the publisher’s own, read at the edition the Country Index 2026 used; the grey ticks are every other country it was compared with, lowest on the left.

Why these keys

  1. Key 1 of 3

    Carbon Intensity of Electricity

    Ember

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0

    125.76

    Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)

    Lower is better

    Zambia: 125.76. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 23.73 (Bhutan) to 1,306 (Turkmenistan); the world median is 433.75.

    World median
    433.75
    Best in Eastern Africa
    56.83 Malawi
    Land neighbours
    Angola 185.06 · DR Congo 27.64 · Mozambique 129.41 · Malawi 56.83 · Namibia 52.44 · Tanzania 343.89 · Zimbabwe 383.72

  2. Key 2 of 3

    Renewable Share of Electricity Generation

    Ember

    Why it is a key

    2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0

    87.47

    Renewables (% of electricity generated)

    Higher is better

    Zambia: 87.47. Across the 165 countries in this edition, values run from 0 (Gambia) to 100 (Paraguay); the world median is 32.06.

    World median
    32.06
    Best in Eastern Africa
    97.07 Uganda
    Land neighbours
    Angola 73.7 · DR Congo 100 · Mozambique 83.43 · Malawi 95.63 · Namibia 97.56 · Tanzania 32.92 · Zimbabwe 57.12

  3. Key 3 of 3

    World Energy Trilemma Index

    World Energy Council

    Why it is a key

    2023 edition · data for 2023 · Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)

    41.8

    Trilemma score (0–100)

    Higher is better

    Ranked 88th of 99 by World Energy Council

    Zambia: 41.8. Across the 126 countries in this edition, values run from 27.7 (Niger) to 83.2 (Denmark); the world median is 63.8.

    World median
    63.8
    Best in Eastern Africa
    65.3 Mauritius
    Land neighbours
    Angola 58.4 · DR Congo 33.5 · Mozambique 40.4 · Malawi 36.6 · Namibia 55.8 · Tanzania 39.9 · Zimbabwe 41.6

03In context

Zambia beside its neighbours

A position reads best beside the countries around it. Every position below is a place among all 165 countries on energy, never a place within the region.

Eastern Africa
1st165thNot placed · 59 countries with too few key statisticsNo data

The whole world on energy

Zambia and the countries it borders

Standing among all 165; the key columns are the publishers’ own values.

CountryStandingCarbon Intensity of ElectricityCarbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationRenewables (% of electricity generated)World Energy Trilemma IndexTrilemma score (0–100)
Namibia39th52.4497.5655.8
DR Congo53rd27.6410033.5
Malawi58th56.8395.6336.6
Angola60th185.0673.758.4
Zambia63rd125.7687.4741.8
Mozambique67th129.4183.4340.4
Zimbabwe89th383.7257.1241.6
Tanzania=98th343.8932.9239.9

“—”: no published reading in that edition. What a standing is

Placed either side on energy

The countries immediately above and below Zambia in the topic’s list.

04Context, no vote

Where Zambia is ahead of the world, and behind

27 more statistics filed under energy, published in full and deliberately given no vote in the standing. Select a row for the publisher, the rank and the links.

Every country

Ahead of the world median5

Statistics on which Zambia does better than the middle country measured.

  • Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 37.3287.47▼ Worsened since 2014

    Zambia: 87.47 · world median 37.32 · Low-carbon sources (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100; higher is better.

    Position 25th of 162 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · 2024 · world median 3.210.565▼ Worsened since 2014

    Zambia: 0.565 · world median 3.21 · Fossil CO₂ (tonnes per person). Global Carbon Project, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.054 to 41.27; lower is better.

    Position 175th of 210 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • RISE Electricity Access Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 65.6776.91▼ Worsened since 2013

    Zambia: 76.91 · world median 65.67 · Electricity access policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 9.471 to 90.47; higher is better.

    Position 14th of 56 · derived.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • RISE Clean Cooking Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 29.7235.83▼ Worsened since 2013

    Zambia: 35.83 · world median 29.72 · Clean cooking policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 80.69; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7382.414▼ Worsened since 2014

    Zambia: 2.414 · world median 2.738 · Energy use per dollar of GDP (thousand Btu per US$ at PPP). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.666 to 17.45; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

Behind the world median9

Statistics on which Zambia does worse than the middle country measured.

  • RISE Energy Efficiency Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 48.2329.78▲ Improved since 2013

    Zambia: 29.78 · world median 48.23 · Energy efficiency policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.975 to 95.93; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Firms Identifying Electricity as a Major ConstraintWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 25.7736.94No earlier reading

    Zambia: 36.94 · world median 25.77 · Firms rating electricity a major or very severe constraint (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 84.77; lower is better.

    Position 51st of 179 · derived, 1st = worst.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 5.2790.862▲ Improved since 2014

    Zambia: 0.862 · world median 5.279 · Wind and solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 69.12; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • RISE Renewable Energy Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 33.2622.38▼ Worsened since 2013

    Zambia: 22.38 · world median 33.26 · Renewable energy policy score (0–100). World Bank Group (ESMAP), 2023 edition, data for 2023.

    Published values in that edition run from 3.056 to 89.52; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2023 dataset

  • Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 010.8▼ Worsened since 2014

    Zambia: 10.8 · world median 0 · Coal (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 98.25; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Firms Owning or Sharing a GeneratorWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 24.8557.43No earlier reading

    Zambia: 57.43 · world median 24.85 · Firms owning or sharing a generator (%). World Bank Group, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.158 to 90.51; lower is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Primary Schools with ElectricityUIS · 2024 · world median 10057.79▼ Worsened since 2016

    Zambia: 57.79 · world median 100 · Primary schools with access to electricity (%). UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 1.246 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10031.3▲ Improved since 2014

    Zambia: 31.3 · world median 100 · Rural population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.7 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10053.6No real change since 2014

    Zambia: 53.6 · world median 100 · Population with electricity access (%). World Bank Group, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 5.4 to 100; higher is better.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

No better end13

These describe the shape of a country — more is not better or worse, only different — so they are never ahead or behind.

  • Hydro Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 12.8586.21No real change since 2014

    Zambia: 86.21 · world median 12.85 · Hydropower (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 100.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis · 2020 · world median 4.2734.828No earlier reading

    Zambia: 4.828 · world median 4.273 · Practical solar power potential (kWh per kWp per day, long-term average). World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis, 2020 edition, data for 2020.

    Published values in that edition run from 2.513 to 5.379.

    Chart and every countryThe 2020 dataset

  • Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.1440.196Moved since 2014

    Zambia: 0.196 · world median 0.144 · Solar generating capacity installed (gigawatts). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 886.66.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Primary Energy ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 0.0770.107Moved since 2014

    Zambia: 0.107 · world median 0.077 · Primary energy produced (quadrillion Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 130.76.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 00No real change since 2014

    Zambia: 0 · world median 0 · Nuclear (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 67.4.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Operating Coal Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 525330No earlier reading

    Zambia: 330 · world median 525 · Coal-fired capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,263,101.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 3.0490.862Moved since 2014

    Zambia: 0.862 · world median 3.049 · Solar (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 50.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Natural Gas ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 00No real change since 2014

    Zambia: 0 · world median 0 · Dry natural gas produced (billion cubic metres). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 1,069.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Crude Oil ProductionEIA · 2025 · world median 00No real change since 2015

    Zambia: 0 · world median 0 · Crude oil produced (thousand barrels per day). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2025 edition, data for 2025.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 13,586.

    Chart and every countryThe 2025 dataset

  • Gas Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 2.5850Moved since 2014

    Zambia: 0 · world median 2.585 · Natural gas (% of electricity generated). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 99.97.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Primary Energy Consumption per CapitaEIA · 2024 · world median 49.58.16Moved since 2014

    Zambia: 8.16 · world median 49.5 · Energy use per person (million Btu). U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from 0.95 to 766.07.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

  • Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 1000No earlier reading

    Zambia: 0 · world median 100 · Wind farm capacity in operation (megawatts). Global Energy Monitor, 2026 edition, data for 2026.

    Published values in that edition run from 0 to 542,758.

    Chart and every countryThe 2026 dataset

  • Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · 2024 · world median 0-15.82Moved since 2014

    Zambia: -15.82 · world median 0 · Net electricity imports (% of domestic generation). Ember, 2024 edition, data for 2024.

    Published values in that edition run from -70.16 to 707.07.

    Chart and every countryThe 2024 dataset

“Position · derived” is this site’s ordering of the published values, 1st = best unless the row says otherwise; the publisher ranks no country on it. Rank, position and standing

05Country Index 2026

Energy among Zambia’s 15 topics

Energy is Zambia’s 2nd best-placed topic of 15. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.

On the profile
  1. Environment & Sustainabilityjoint 61st of 186
  2. Energy63rd of 165
  3. Digital & Technology94th of 198
  4. Peace & Security99th of 177
  5. Gender & Equality103rd of 183
  6. Governance & Institutions113th of 194
  7. Democracy & Civil Liberties117th of 198
  8. Food & Agriculture127th of 184
  9. Development & Human Capital142nd of 196
  10. Education & Knowledgejoint 144th of 198
  11. Risk & Resilience143rd of 193
  12. Economy & Innovation140th of 176
  13. Health & Wellbeing174th of 200
  14. Work & Labour163rd of 182
  15. Poverty & Inequality158th of 159

No standing on Mobility & Trade: too few of those topics’ key statistics are published for this country.

06The top of the list

Who leads on energy

The three countries placed highest of 165, and the leaders Zambia can most readily be measured against.

All 165 countries
  1. 1

    Bhutan

    Southern Asia

    1st of 165 · 2 of 3 keys

    Photo: VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  2. 2

    Norway

    Northern Europe

    2nd of 165 · 3 of 3 keys

    Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale

  3. 3

    Uganda

    Eastern Africa

    3rd of 165 · 2 of 3 keys

    Photo: Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia · CC BY-SA 2.0, greyscale

Placed highest nearby

  1. Highest in Africa

    Uganda3rd2/3 keys

  2. This page

    Zambia63rd3/3 keys

Positions out of 165 placed on the topic. A country needs readings on enough keys to be placed, and the top of the list is often held on fewer of them.

07Questions

Zambia on energy: questions answered

Every answer is built from the numbers on this page, so none can say something the page does not.

How does Zambia rank on energy?

Zambia is placed 63rd of 165 countries on Energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics (Carbon Intensity of Electricity, Renewable Share of Electricity Generation and World Energy Trilemma Index). The position is this site’s ordering of published statistics, not a rank any publisher printed.

What is the latest Carbon Intensity of Electricity figure for Zambia?

125.76 in 2024 (carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 433.75.

What is the latest Renewable Share of Electricity Generation figure for Zambia?

87.47 in 2024 (renewables (% of electricity generated)), according to Ember. The world median in the same edition was 32.06.

How does Zambia compare with DR Congo on energy?

DR Congo is placed 53rd of 165, and Zambia 63rd. Carbon Intensity of Electricity: DR Congo 27.64, Zambia 125.76; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation: DR Congo 100, Zambia 87.47; World Energy Trilemma Index: DR Congo 33.5, Zambia 41.8.

How have Zambia’s energy figures changed?

Carbon Intensity of Electricity rose from 27.37 in 2000 to 125.76 in 2024; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation fell from 99.48 in 2000 to 87.47 in 2024.

08Method

Method, sources and how to cite

What this topic does not measure

This is deliberately the electricity and energy-system subject, not an infrastructure one: roads, railways, ports, water and telecommunications would each need a global series this site does not hold. Emissions are under Environment & Sustainability. Access to electricity is published here in full but takes no part in any ranking — more than half the world’s countries now report 100%, and a position derived from that would read “1, 1, 1 … 123”, which is noise rather than information.

About energy, in full

How the Energy standing is decided

A standing is this site’s ordering, named with its edition — never a publisher’s rank. 3 key statistics vote, one vote each; every country’s published value becomes a place within that key’s own field, the places are averaged, and the average is never published. A country needs 2 of the 3 keys to be placed.

The energy method, step by stepHow every standing on this site is built

The key statistics and their licences

The other 27 statistics on this page come from 8 publishers, each named beside its numbers, with every edition and licence on the datasets pages.

The standing itself is part of the Country Index 2026, published under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photographs

Zambia’s banner and the countries placed highest, from their profiles: Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale, each used under the licence named.

Cite this page

Nations Inquiry (2026). Zambia: Energy — standing and statistics, Country Index 2026. https://nationsinquiry.com/countries/zambia/energy

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