A view of Zimbabwe — Photo: Digr · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons, shown in greyscale

Topic 16 of 18 · Country Index 2026

Zimbabwe: Energy

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

Zimbabwe is placed 89th of 165 countries on energy in the Country Index 2026, from 3 of its 3 key statistics. Readings behind it: Carbon Intensity of Electricity 383.72 (2024); Renewable Share of Electricity Generation 57.12 (2024).

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Energy

89th

of 165 countries placed

Country Index 2026, all topics168th of 183 →

383.72Carbon Intensity of Electricity, 2024Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)
57.12Renewable Share of Electricity Generation, 2024Renewables (% of electricity generated)
41.6World Energy Trilemma Index, 2023Trilemma score (0–100)

01The evidence

The 3 key statistics that decide it

Only these place Zimbabwe 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

Key 1 of 3
Carbon Intensity of Electricity
Ember
Why it is a key
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
383.72
Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)
Lower is better
Zimbabwe: 383.72. 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
Botswana 852.48 · Mozambique 129.41 · Zambia 125.76
Key 2 of 3
Renewable Share of Electricity Generation
Ember
Why it is a key
2024 edition · data for 2024 · CC BY 4.0
57.12
Renewables (% of electricity generated)
Higher is better
Zimbabwe: 57.12. 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
Botswana 0.292 · Mozambique 83.43 · Zambia 87.47
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)
41.6
Trilemma score (0–100)
Higher is better
Ranked 89th of 99 by World Energy Council
Zimbabwe: 41.6. 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
Botswana 51.1 · Mozambique 40.4 · South Africa 57.6 · Zambia 41.8

02Over time

Which way Zimbabwe is moving

Each key’s published value, edition by edition, beside the world median. The Country Index 2026 is the first edition of the standing, so the standing itself has no history to chart yet.

Carbon Intensity of Electricity

Carbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated) · lower is better

ZimbabweWorld median

Zimbabwe fell from 475.11 in 2000 to 383.72 in 2024; the world median went from 540.34 to 433.75.

Every year’s figures

Year	Zimbabwe	World median
2024	383.7	433.7
2023	391.8	452.7
2022	298.7	476.3
2021	270.6	469.0
2020	371.1	482.0
2019	430.2	488.2
2018	396.3	500.4
2017	404.4	506.3
2016	488.3	521.9
2015	420.0	524.8
2014	397.4	522.3
2013	410.7	508.8
2012	356.9	525.4
2011	377.6	521.4
2010	292.2	515.5
2009	227.3	533.6
2008	226.1	517.2
2007	261.6	535.3
2006	293.7	537.5
2005	419.9	521.4
2004	385.4	523.1
2003	350.9	543.1
2002	487.2	551.3
2001	544.6	559.3
2000	475.1	540.3

Renewable Share of Electricity Generation

Renewables (% of electricity generated) · higher is better

ZimbabweWorld median

Zimbabwe rose from 45.64 in 2000 to 57.12 in 2024; the world median went from 15.61 to 32.06.

Every year’s figures

Year	Zimbabwe	World median
2024	57.1	32.062
2023	56.2	28.000
2022	67.3	28.881
2021	70.7	28.286
2020	58.6	27.125
2019	51.7	26.296
2018	55.7	25.505
2017	54.7	24.023
2016	44.9	22.218
2015	52.6	21.915
2014	55.2	21.151
2013	53.8	21.593
2012	60.2	19.869
2011	57.7	18.584
2010	67.9	18.572
2009	75.7	17.886
2008	75.9	15.923
2007	71.6	15.586
2006	67.8	15.392
2005	52.5	16.438
2004	56.6	16.445
2003	60.8	16.339
2002	44.4	13.826
2001	37.5	14.023
2000	45.6	15.612

03In context

Zimbabwe 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

Zimbabwe and the countries it borders

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

Country	Standing	Carbon Intensity of ElectricityCarbon intensity (gCO₂e per kWh generated)	Renewable Share of Electricity GenerationRenewables (% of electricity generated)	World Energy Trilemma IndexTrilemma score (0–100)
Zambia	63rd	125.76	87.47	41.8
Mozambique	67th	129.41	83.43	40.4
Zimbabwe	89th	383.72	57.12	41.6
Botswana	158th	852.48	0.292	51.1
South Africa	not placed	—	—	57.6

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

Across Eastern Africa

Every country in the sub-region, by its place among all 165.

Placed either side on energy

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

04Context, no vote

Where Zimbabwe 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 median3

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

CO₂ Emissions per CapitaGlobal Carbon Project · 2024 · world median 3.210.8243.21▲ Improved since 2014
Zimbabwe: 0.824 · 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 161st of 210 · derived, 1st = worst.
Chart and every country The 2024 dataset
Low-Carbon Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 37.3257.1237.32▼ Worsened since 2014
Zimbabwe: 57.12 · 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 62nd of 162 · derived.
Chart and every country The 2024 dataset
Firms Identifying Electricity as a Major ConstraintWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 25.7722.3225.77No earlier reading
Zimbabwe: 22.32 · 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 107th of 179 · derived, 1st = worst.
Chart and every country The 2026 dataset

Behind the world median11

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

RISE Clean Cooking Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 29.7229.1729.72▼ Worsened since 2013
Zimbabwe: 29.17 · 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 country The 2023 dataset
RISE Renewable Energy Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 33.2632.8133.26No real change since 2013
Zimbabwe: 32.81 · 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 country The 2023 dataset
Energy Intensity of GDP (PPP)EIA · 2024 · world median 2.7383.3562.738▼ Worsened since 2014
Zimbabwe: 3.356 · 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 country The 2024 dataset
RISE Energy Efficiency Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 48.2324.148.23▼ Worsened since 2013
Zimbabwe: 24.1 · 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 country The 2023 dataset
RISE Electricity Access Policy ScoreESMAP · 2023 · world median 65.6746.0365.67▼ Worsened since 2013
Zimbabwe: 46.03 · 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 43rd of 56 · derived.
Chart and every country The 2023 dataset
Wind and Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 5.2790.395.279▼ Worsened since 2014
Zimbabwe: 0.39 · 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 country The 2024 dataset
Firms Owning or Sharing a GeneratorWorld Bank Group · 2026 · world median 24.8552.6824.85No earlier reading
Zimbabwe: 52.68 · 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 country The 2026 dataset
Access to Electricity, RuralWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10046.6100▲ Improved since 2014
Zimbabwe: 46.6 · 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 country The 2024 dataset
Access to ElectricityWorld Bank Group · 2024 · world median 10062100▲ Improved since 2014
Zimbabwe: 62 · 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 country The 2024 dataset
Primary Schools with ElectricityUIS · 2024 · world median 10074.28100▼ Worsened since 2016
Zimbabwe: 74.28 · 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 country The 2024 dataset
Coal Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 042.880▼ Worsened since 2014
Zimbabwe: 42.88 · 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 country The 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.

Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)World Bank Group (ESMAP), data by Solargis · 2020 · world median 4.2734.8614.273No earlier reading
Zimbabwe: 4.861 · 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 country The 2020 dataset
Net Electricity Imports (share of generation)Ember · 2024 · world median 017.930Moved since 2014
Zimbabwe: 17.93 · 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 country The 2024 dataset
Hydro Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 12.8555.5612.85Moved since 2014
Zimbabwe: 55.56 · 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 country The 2024 dataset
Operating Coal Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 5251,790525No earlier reading
Zimbabwe: 1,790 · 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 country The 2026 dataset
Primary Energy ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 0.0770.1610.077No real change since 2014
Zimbabwe: 0.161 · 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 country The 2024 dataset
Nuclear Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Zimbabwe: 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 country The 2024 dataset
Solar Electricity Installed CapacityEIA · 2024 · world median 0.1440.070.144Moved since 2014
Zimbabwe: 0.07 · 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 country The 2024 dataset
Primary Energy Consumption per CapitaEIA · 2024 · world median 49.513.8549.5Moved since 2014
Zimbabwe: 13.85 · 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 country The 2024 dataset
Natural Gas ProductionEIA · 2024 · world median 000No real change since 2014
Zimbabwe: 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 country The 2024 dataset
Crude Oil ProductionEIA · 2025 · world median 000No real change since 2015
Zimbabwe: 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 country The 2025 dataset
Solar Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 3.0490.393.049Moved since 2014
Zimbabwe: 0.39 · 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 country The 2024 dataset
Gas Share of Electricity GenerationEmber · 2024 · world median 2.58502.585Moved since 2014
Zimbabwe: 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 country The 2024 dataset
Operating Wind Power CapacityGlobal Energy Monitor · 2026 · world median 1000100No earlier reading
Zimbabwe: 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 country The 2026 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 Zimbabwe’s 16 topics

Energy is Zimbabwe’s 2nd best-placed topic of 16. Strongest first, each marker at its share of that topic’s field.

On the profile

06The top of the list

Who leads on energy

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

All 165 countries

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
Norway
Northern Europe
2nd of 165 · 3 of 3 keys
Photo: Ximonic , Simo Räsänen · CC BY-SA 3.0, greyscale
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

Highest in Africa
Uganda3rd2/3 keys
This page
Zimbabwe89th3/3 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

Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe rank on energy?

Zimbabwe is placed 89th 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 Zimbabwe?

383.72 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 Zimbabwe?

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

How does Zimbabwe compare with South Africa on energy?

South Africa is not placed on Energy, holding too few of its key statistics, and Zimbabwe 89th. World Energy Trilemma Index: South Africa 57.6, Zimbabwe 41.6.

How have Zimbabwe’s energy figures changed?

Carbon Intensity of Electricity fell from 475.11 in 2000 to 383.72 in 2024; Renewable Share of Electricity Generation rose from 45.64 in 2000 to 57.12 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 step How every standing on this site is built

The key statistics and their licences

Carbon Intensity of Electricity — Ember, CC BY 4.0
Renewable Share of Electricity Generation — Ember, CC BY 4.0
World Energy Trilemma Index — World Energy Council, Express reuse grant (no Creative Commons licence named)

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

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

Zimbabwe (banner) — Digr, CC BY-SA 3.0
Bhutan — VIkramjit Kakati derivative work: ויקיג'אנקי, CC BY-SA 3.0
Norway — Ximonic , Simo Räsänen, CC BY-SA 3.0
Uganda — Rod Waddington from Kergunyah, Australia, CC BY-SA 2.0

Cite this page

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

This edition

The same ranking, cut differently

Behind the number

Browse

By continent

Much-read profiles

Every subject

The numbers

Reading the data

Zimbabwe: Energy

The 3 key statistics that decide it

Carbon Intensity of Electricity

Renewable Share of Electricity Generation

World Energy Trilemma Index

Which way Zimbabwe is moving

Carbon Intensity of Electricity

Renewable Share of Electricity Generation

Zimbabwe beside its neighbours

Zimbabwe and the countries it borders

Across Eastern Africa

Placed either side on energy

Where Zimbabwe is ahead of the world, and behind

Ahead of the world median3

Behind the world median11

No better end13

Energy among Zimbabwe’s 16 topics

Who leads on energy

Placed highest nearby

Zimbabwe on energy: questions answered

Method, sources and how to cite

The key statistics and their licences

Photographs

Cite this page

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