Zambia

Eastern Africa, Africa

CO2 emissions per person
0.56
t CO2/person/year · 2024
178th of 213 countries
Temperature anomaly
-0.01
°C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
187th of 193 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
25.4
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
58th of 241 countries
19402025

Zambia in stripes: every year since 1940, blue cooler than the 1991-2020 average, red hotter.

The future under three scenarios

Temperature vs 1991-2020, observed and projected to 2100

0241950200020502100Low · SSP1-2.6Middle · SSP2-4.5High · SSP5-8.5high 2024low 1974

Solid line: observed (Copernicus ERA5). Dashed lines: CMIP6 multi-model median under three IPCC emissions scenarios, anchored to the observed 2015-2024 average, from the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Scenarios are futures the world can still choose between, not predictions.

Climate

CO2 emissions

12.0 Mt CO2/year · 2024
+403% since 1994105th highest of 215 · 2024
05101960198020002020low 1999

Carbon dioxide released each year from burning fossil fuels and industry. The main driver of global warming. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

CO2 emissions per person

0.56 t CO2/person/year · 2024
+103% since 1994178th highest of 213 · 2024
00.511.51960198020002020high 1956low 2000

Each person's share of their country's yearly CO2 emissions. A fairer way to compare countries of very different sizes. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Temperature anomaly

-0.01 °C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
-0.5 °C since 1995187th highest of 193 · 2025
-1019401960198020002020Worldhigh 2024low 1974

How much warmer or cooler a country's year was compared with its 1991-2020 average. Watch the map turn red as you move the slider towards today. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Methane emissions

21.1 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+54% since 199474th highest of 199 · 2024
010201850190019502000

Methane traps around 80 times more heat than CO2 over 20 years. It comes mainly from livestock, rice, landfill and leaky fossil fuel infrastructure. Global Carbon Project / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

All greenhouse gases

99.0 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+49% since 199459th highest of 199 · 2024
0501001850190019502000high 2008low 1909

Every warming gas combined: CO2, methane and nitrous oxide, expressed as CO2-equivalents. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Nitrous oxide emissions

14.2 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+33% since 199441st highest of 201 · 2024
0510151850190019502000

N2O is nearly 300 times more warming than CO2 and comes mostly from fertilised farmland and livestock. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Consumption-based CO2

12.7 Mt CO2/year · 2023
+509% since 199398th highest of 120 · 2023
05101990200020102020

CO2 counted where goods are used rather than where they are made. Compare with production emissions to see who imports their footprint. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Aviation emissions per person

11.0 kg CO2/person/year · 2018
-24% since 2013124th highest of 144 · 2018
050100201320142015201620172018World

Each person's share of the CO2 from flights taking off in their country, including passengers and freight. ICCT / Graver et al. via Our World in Data

Energy

Energy use per person

2,422 kWh/person/year · 2023
+30% since 1993172nd highest of 216 · 2023
01k2k3k19801990200020102020low 2007

How much energy each person uses in a year, across electricity, transport, heating and industry. Energy Institute / Ember via Our World in Data

Solar electricity

0.86 % of electricity · 2024
+0.9 pp since 2000135th highest of 195 · 2024
00.5120002005201020152020high 2020

The share of a country's electricity generated from solar panels. The fastest-growing energy source in history. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Wind electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2024
+0.0 pp since 2000106th highest of 193 · 2024
-10120002005201020152020

The share of a country's electricity generated from wind turbines, onshore and offshore. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Coal electricity

10.8 % of electricity · 2024
+11 pp since 200050th highest of 194 · 2024
051020002005201020152020high 2018low 2006

The share of electricity still generated by burning coal, the most polluting fuel. The number that must reach zero first. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Oil electricity

1.72 % of electricity · 2024
+1.3 pp since 2000127th highest of 195 · 2024
02420002005201020152020high 2017low 2022

The share of a country's electricity generated by burning oil. Rare on big grids, still common on islands. Ember via Our World in Data

Gas electricity

0.00 % of electricity · 2024
+0.0 pp since 2000117th highest of 192 · 2024
-10120002005201020152020

The share of a country's electricity generated from natural gas, the least polluting fossil fuel but still a fossil fuel. Ember via Our World in Data

Land & Life

Tree cover loss

229,226 ha/year · 2024
+676% since 200120th highest of 197 · 2024
0100k200k2005201020152020low 2004

Forest area lost each year to fire, logging, farming and storms. Not all loss is permanent deforestation, but the trend matters. Global Forest Watch (Hansen/UMD) via Our World in Data

Forest area

60.4 % of land · 2025
-3.2 pp since 199532nd highest of 212 · 2025
02040601990200020102020World

How much of a country's land is covered by forest. FAO via Our World in Data

Deaths from natural disasters

0.00 deaths/year · 2021
89th highest of 194 · 2021
010203020002005201020152020high 2009

People killed by floods, storms, droughts, heatwaves, earthquakes and other disasters each year. Single events dominate single years. IHME Global Burden of Disease via Our World in Data

Red List Index

0.88 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
+0.0% since 1994103rd highest of 244 · 2024
00.5200020102020

Tracks extinction risk across all assessed species. 1 means no species at risk; falling values mean wildlife sliding towards extinction. IUCN / SDG 15.5.1 via Our World in Data

Protected land

41.3 % of land area · 2024
+3.3 pp since 201310th highest of 213 · 2024
02040201420162018202020222024World

The share of a country's land under legal protection for nature. The global 30x30 target aims for 30% by 2030. World Bank / UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Meat supply per person

17.6 kg/person/year · 2023
+24% since 1993148th highest of 176 · 2023
02040198020002020Worldhigh 2013low 1984

Meat available for consumption per person. Livestock drives around 15% of global emissions and most deforestation. FAO via Our World in Data

Nitrogen fertiliser use

60.5 kg N/ha of cropland · 2023
+193% since 199367th highest of 198 · 2023
0204060198020002020low 1962

Nitrogen applied per hectare of cropland. It feeds half the world, but runoff chokes rivers and coastal seas. FAO via Our World in Data

Urban population

45.9 % living in cities · 2025
+7.5 pp since 1995172nd highest of 236 · 2025
02040601960198020002020World

The share of people living in towns and cities. Urbanisation shapes energy use, land use and how people experience climate change. UN World Urbanization Prospects via Our World in Data

Water

Water stress

2.84 % of renewable resources withdrawn · 2022
-0.1 pp since 2000143rd highest of 179 · 2022
05101520002005201020152020Worldlow 2002

How much of a country's renewable freshwater is withdrawn each year. Above 25% counts as stressed; above 100% means drawing down reserves. FAO AQUASTAT (SDG 6.4.2) via Our World in Data

Renewable water per person

3,980 m³/person/year · 2022
-59% since 199270th highest of 181 · 2022
010k20k198020002020World

Each person's share of the country's renewable freshwater. Below 1,700 m³ is water stress; below 1,000 m³ is scarcity. FAO AQUASTAT via Our World in Data

Annual precipitation

1,120 mm/year · 2025
+25% since 199578th highest of 192 · 2025
05001k1.5k19401960198020002020Worldhigh 1957low 1954

Total rain and snow that fell over a country in a year, averaged across its land area. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Rainfall anomaly

-2.00 % vs 1961-1990 · 2025
+19 pp since 199583rd highest of 192 · 2025
05019401960198020002020Worldhigh 1957low 1954

How much wetter (teal) or drier (brown) a country's year was compared with its 1961-1990 average. A simple drought and deluge signal. Derived from Copernicus ERA5 precipitation via Our World in Data

Pollution

Air pollution (PM2.5)

25.4 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
+87% since 199858th highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldlow 1999

Average exposure to fine particles small enough to enter the bloodstream. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³. World Bank / van Donkelaar et al. via Our World in Data

Ozone-depleting substances

2.19 ODP tonnes/year · 2021
-92% since 199183rd highest of 168 · 2021
02040601990200020102020high 1994

Consumption of chemicals that destroy the ozone layer. Watch the map fade towards zero: the Montreal Protocol is the world's most successful environmental treaty. UN Environment Programme via Our World in Data

What can one person do?

  • Fly less
    One long-haul return flight can outweigh a year of other savings. Swap one flight for a train trip or a call.
  • Eat more plants
    Shifting towards a plant-rich diet is one of the largest steady cuts a person can make, and it starts with single meals.
  • Travel without a car where you can
    Walking, cycling and public transport beat an electric car; an electric car beats petrol.
  • Use your voice
    Personal footprints matter, but system change matters more. Vote, ask your employer and bank what they are doing, and talk about it.

Based on the highest-impact personal actions identified by Wynes & Nicholas (2017) and the IPCC's AR6 report on demand-side mitigation.

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