Zambia energy mix & electricity
In 2024, Zambia generated 19.7 TWh of electricity. Hydropower provides 86.2% of it. Few countries depend so heavily on a single source.
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 17 | 86.2% | −10.5 |
| Coal | 2.13 | 10.8% | +10.8 |
| Oil | 0.34 | 1.7% | −1.1 |
| Solar | 0.17 | 0.9% | +0.9 |
| Bioenergy | 0.08 | 0.4% | −0.1 |
| Total | 19.72 | 100% |
Zambia: electricity in context
In 2024, Zambia generated 19.7 TWh of electricity. That puts it in the same league as Mozambique. Hydropower provides 86.2% of it. Few countries depend so heavily on a single source.
87.5% of the country’s power came from renewable sources: 20th of 158 countries (in the top quarter). That is 54 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Africa (24.7%). Each kilowatt-hour emitted on average 120 g CO₂e, against a world average of 458 g. By world standards this is a very clean grid. In the cleanest-grid ranking, Zambia is 26th of 158.
Since 2014, hydropower has added the most generation in absolute terms (+3 TWh), yet its share of the mix fell by 10.5 percentage points because other sources grew even faster. In share terms the biggest gainer was coal (up 10.8 percentage points). Taken together, the renewable share fell by 9.7 percentage points over the decade. Total generation grew by 5.2 TWh over the same period. Carbon intensity, however, rose from 43 to 120 g/kWh (+180%).
Unusually, coal is gaining ground: its share is up 10.8 percentage points since 2014, now at 10.8%.
Wind and solar have barely started in Zambia: combined, they produce less than 1% of the power.
Generation per person is 925 kWh a year, 24% of the world average of 3,860 kWh. More power leaves the country than arrives: a net 3.1 TWh of exports, equal to 19% of domestic demand.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
Zambia against the world and Africa averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Per person, that is 2,422 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Domestic extraction of coal, gas and oil, in energy terms.
Power plants in Zambia
The 15 power plants recorded in Zambia add up to 2.7 GW of capacity, 80% of it Hydro. The largest is Kafue Gorge at 990 MW. The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kafue Gorge | Hydro | 990 | 1971 | ZESCO |
| 2 | Kariba | Hydro | 930 | — | ZESCO |
| 3 | Maamba plant | Coal | 300 | 2016 | Maamba Collieries |
| 4 | Itezhi- Tezhi | Hydro | 120 | 1978 | ZESCO |
| 5 | Victoria Falls | Hydro | 108 | — | ZESCO |
| 6 | Ndola | Oil | 50 | — | ZESCO |
| 7 | Kafue | Solar | 48 | — | — |
| 8 | Luano | Oil | 40 | — | ZESCO |
| 9 | Bancroft Copperbelt | Oil | 20 | — | ZESCO |
| 10 | Nkana | Oil | 20 | — | ZESCO |
| 11 | Lusaka | Oil | 15 | — | ZESCO |
| 12 | Luanshya Nchanga | Oil | 15 | — | ZESCO |
| 13 | Nakambala Sugar | Biomass | 12 | — | Zambia Sugar |
| 14 | Lusiwasi | Hydro | 12 | — | ZESCO |
| 15 | Mufulira Nchanga | Oil | 10 | — | ZESCO |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 15 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: Zambia
45 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 293 MW of solar and 0 MW of wind operating, plus 7.8 GW under construction or planned.
How does Zambia compare?
Zambia next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zambia | 87.5% | 87.5% | 12.5% | 120 | 925 | 19.7 | — | |
| Zimbabwe | 57.1% | 57.1% | 42.9% | 384 | 617 | 10.3 | Compare | |
| Mozambique | 83.4% | 83.4% | 16.6% | 129 | 571 | 19.8 | Compare | |
| Botswana | 0.3% | 0.3% | 99.7% | 851 | 1,361 | 3.4 | Compare | |
| Tanzania | 32.9% | 32.9% | 67.1% | 345 | 129 | 8.8 | Compare | |
| Angola | 73.7% | 73.7% | 26.3% | 185 | 412 | 15.6 | Compare | |
| DR Congo | 100% | 100% | 0% | 28 | 146 | 15.9 | Compare | |
| Africa average | 24.7% | 25.5% | 74.5% | 544 | 635 | 962 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for Zambia
Zambia energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in Zambia is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in Zambia?
How clean is the electricity in Zambia?
Does Zambia have nuclear power?
How much electricity does Zambia use per person?
How much solar power does Zambia produce?
Does Zambia import electricity?
More countries in Africa
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.