Emissions of air pollutants in Zambia
Zambia: Emissions of air pollutants was 57,281 tonnes in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2022)
57,281 tonnes
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
121st
of 220 countries
All-time high
57,281 tonnes
in 2022
All-time low
142.72 tonnes
in 1750
Years of data
273
1750–2022
Emissions of air pollutants in Zambia, 1750–2022
Source: Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for emissions of air pollutants in Zambia is 57,281 tonnes, measured in 2022. That is the highest value across all 273 years on record.
That represents a change of up 2.2% on the previous year and up 29.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, emissions of air pollutants in Zambia peaked at 57,281 tonnes in 2022 and was at its lowest, 142.72 tonnes, in 1750.
Zambia ranks 121st of 220 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Emissions of air pollutants in Zambia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1750 | 142.72 tonnes | — |
| 1751 | 142.76 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1752 | 142.81 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1753 | 142.85 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1754 | 142.89 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1755 | 142.94 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1756 | 142.98 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1757 | 143.03 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1758 | 143.07 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1759 | 143.11 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1760 | 143.16 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1761 | 143.2 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1762 | 143.24 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1763 | 143.29 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1764 | 143.33 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1765 | 143.37 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1766 | 143.42 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1767 | 143.46 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1768 | 143.5 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1769 | 143.55 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1770 | 143.59 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1771 | 143.63 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1772 | 143.68 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1773 | 143.72 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1774 | 143.76 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1775 | 143.8 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1776 | 143.85 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1777 | 143.89 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1778 | 143.93 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1779 | 143.98 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1780 | 144.02 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1781 | 144.06 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1782 | 144.1 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1783 | 144.15 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1784 | 144.19 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1785 | 144.23 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1786 | 144.28 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1787 | 144.32 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1788 | 144.36 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1789 | 144.4 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1790 | 144.45 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1791 | 144.49 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1792 | 144.53 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1793 | 144.57 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1794 | 144.62 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1795 | 144.66 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1796 | 144.7 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1797 | 144.74 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1798 | 144.78 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1799 | 144.83 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1800 | 144.87 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1801 | 145.34 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1802 | 145.8 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1803 | 146.27 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1804 | 146.74 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1805 | 147.21 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1806 | 147.68 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1807 | 148.14 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1808 | 148.61 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1809 | 149.08 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1810 | 149.55 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1811 | 150.09 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1812 | 150.64 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1813 | 151.19 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1814 | 151.74 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1815 | 152.28 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1816 | 152.83 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1817 | 153.38 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1818 | 153.93 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1819 | 154.48 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1820 | 155.03 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1821 | 155.58 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1822 | 156.14 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1823 | 156.69 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1824 | 157.25 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1825 | 157.8 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1826 | 158.35 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1827 | 158.91 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1828 | 159.47 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1829 | 160.03 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1830 | 160.59 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1831 | 161.15 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1832 | 161.71 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1833 | 162.27 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1834 | 162.83 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1835 | 163.4 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1836 | 163.95 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1837 | 164.52 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1838 | 165.08 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1839 | 165.65 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1840 | 166.22 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1841 | 166.78 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1842 | 167.35 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1843 | 167.92 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1844 | 168.49 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1845 | 169.06 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1846 | 169.63 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1847 | 170.2 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1848 | 170.77 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1849 | 171.35 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1850 | 171.92 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1851 | 172.51 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1852 | 173.09 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1853 | 173.68 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1854 | 174.27 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1855 | 174.85 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1856 | 175.44 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1857 | 176.03 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1858 | 176.62 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1859 | 177.21 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1860 | 177.8 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1861 | 179.26 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1862 | 180.71 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1863 | 182.42 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1864 | 184.58 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1865 | 186.76 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1866 | 188.97 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1867 | 191.2 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1868 | 193.46 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1869 | 195.75 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1870 | 198.07 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1871 | 200.42 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1872 | 202.8 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1873 | 205.21 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1874 | 207.66 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1875 | 210.13 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1876 | 212.65 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1877 | 215.19 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1878 | 217.76 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1879 | 220.38 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1880 | 223.03 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1881 | 225.72 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1882 | 228.46 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1883 | 231.23 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1884 | 234.03 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1885 | 236.89 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1886 | 239.79 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1887 | 242.73 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1888 | 245.75 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1889 | 248.83 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1890 | 251.95 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1891 | 255.12 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1892 | 258.35 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1893 | 261.63 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1894 | 264.95 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1895 | 268.33 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1896 | 271.77 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1897 | 275.26 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1898 | 278.81 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1899 | 282.42 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1900 | 286.08 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1901 | 294.53 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1902 | 303.32 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1903 | 312.47 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1904 | 321.97 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1905 | 331.87 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1906 | 342.22 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1907 | 352.98 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1908 | 364.18 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1909 | 375.82 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1910 | 387.91 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1911 | 404.69 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1912 | 422.02 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1913 | 439.91 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1914 | 458.41 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1915 | 477.51 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1916 | 497.26 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1917 | 517.65 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1918 | 538.73 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1919 | 560.51 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1920 | 583.02 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1921 | 606.14 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1922 | 630.21 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1923 | 654.38 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1924 | 679.52 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1925 | 715.68 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1926 | 749.9 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1927 | 780.91 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1928 | 811.31 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1929 | 840.36 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1930 | 869.13 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1931 | 902.24 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1932 | 934.4 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1933 | 966.36 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1934 | 998.85 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1935 | 1,032 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1936 | 1,072 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1937 | 1,158 tonnes | +8.0% |
| 1938 | 1,246 tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1939 | 1,335 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1940 | 1,426 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1941 | 1,522 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1942 | 1,619 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1943 | 1,720 tonnes | +6.2% |
| 1944 | 1,824 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1945 | 1,931 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1946 | 2,035 tonnes | +5.4% |
| 1947 | 2,144 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1948 | 2,255 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1949 | 2,373 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 1950 | 6,290 tonnes | +165.1% |
| 1951 | 8,349 tonnes | +32.7% |
| 1952 | 9,186 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1953 | 10,090 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1954 | 10,881 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1955 | 11,951 tonnes | +9.8% |
| 1956 | 14,095 tonnes | +17.9% |
| 1957 | 14,371 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1958 | 15,612 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1959 | 15,340 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1960 | 15,610 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1961 | 15,770 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1962 | 16,385 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1963 | 16,430 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1964 | 16,326 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1965 | 20,361 tonnes | +24.7% |
| 1966 | 19,131 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1967 | 25,592 tonnes | +33.8% |
| 1968 | 25,720 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1969 | 25,278 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1970 | 24,874 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1971 | 23,637 tonnes | -5.0% |
| 1972 | 25,674 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1973 | 28,049 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1974 | 29,052 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1975 | 30,327 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 1976 | 30,844 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1977 | 28,770 tonnes | -6.7% |
| 1978 | 27,945 tonnes | -2.9% |
| 1979 | 26,733 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1980 | 28,830 tonnes | +7.8% |
| 1981 | 27,727 tonnes | -3.8% |
| 1982 | 26,499 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1983 | 26,272 tonnes | -0.9% |
| 1984 | 26,590 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 26,912 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1986 | 27,675 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 28,252 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 30,215 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1989 | 30,841 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1990 | 28,538 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1991 | 30,460 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1992 | 30,954 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1993 | 27,881 tonnes | -9.9% |
| 1994 | 27,762 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1995 | 27,955 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1996 | 24,668 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 1997 | 27,412 tonnes | +11.1% |
| 1998 | 26,791 tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1999 | 25,833 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 26,698 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2001 | 27,947 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 29,065 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 30,420 tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 31,412 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 33,338 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 2006 | 34,325 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 28,964 tonnes | -15.6% |
| 2008 | 31,107 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 33,329 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 2010 | 36,111 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 2011 | 38,895 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 2012 | 44,188 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 2013 | 46,132 tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2014 | 50,753 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 2015 | 52,329 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2016 | 52,743 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 52,901 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2018 | 54,002 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2019 | 54,284 tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 53,087 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 56,032 tonnes | +5.5% |
| 2022 | 57,281 tonnes | +2.2% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 57,281 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 74,017 tonnes, 77% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 57,281 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 44,992 tonnes, 1.3× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Emissions of air pollutants in Zambia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +165.1% | 2,373 tonnes | 6,290 tonnes |
| 1967 | +33.8% | 19,131 tonnes | 25,592 tonnes |
| 1951 | +32.7% | 6,290 tonnes | 8,349 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1750s | 142.92 tonnes | 142.72 tonnes | 143.11 tonnes | 10 |
| 1760s | 143.35 tonnes | 143.16 tonnes | 143.55 tonnes | 10 |
| 1770s | 143.78 tonnes | 143.59 tonnes | 143.98 tonnes | 10 |
| 1780s | 144.21 tonnes | 144.02 tonnes | 144.4 tonnes | 10 |
| 1790s | 144.64 tonnes | 144.45 tonnes | 144.83 tonnes | 10 |
| 1800s | 146.97 tonnes | 144.87 tonnes | 149.08 tonnes | 10 |
| 1810s | 152.01 tonnes | 149.55 tonnes | 154.48 tonnes | 10 |
| 1820s | 157.52 tonnes | 155.03 tonnes | 160.03 tonnes | 10 |
| 1830s | 163.11 tonnes | 160.59 tonnes | 165.65 tonnes | 10 |
| 1840s | 168.78 tonnes | 166.22 tonnes | 171.35 tonnes | 10 |
| 1850s | 174.56 tonnes | 171.92 tonnes | 177.21 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | 186.09 tonnes | 177.8 tonnes | 195.75 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | 209.03 tonnes | 198.07 tonnes | 220.38 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | 235.65 tonnes | 223.03 tonnes | 248.83 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | 266.86 tonnes | 251.95 tonnes | 282.42 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | 328.54 tonnes | 286.08 tonnes | 375.82 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | 470.46 tonnes | 387.91 tonnes | 560.51 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | 705.14 tonnes | 583.02 tonnes | 840.36 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | 1,051 tonnes | 869.13 tonnes | 1,335 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | 1,885 tonnes | 1,426 tonnes | 2,373 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 11,616 tonnes | 6,290 tonnes | 15,612 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 19,660 tonnes | 15,610 tonnes | 25,720 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 27,590 tonnes | 23,637 tonnes | 30,844 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 27,981 tonnes | 26,272 tonnes | 30,841 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 27,825 tonnes | 24,668 tonnes | 30,954 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 30,661 tonnes | 26,698 tonnes | 34,325 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 48,234 tonnes | 36,111 tonnes | 54,284 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 55,467 tonnes | 53,087 tonnes | 57,281 tonnes | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More environment data for Zambia
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.98 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.03 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.265 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.11 °C (2025)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 2.74 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate 3.49 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is emissions of air pollutants in Zambia?
- Emissions of air pollutants in Zambia was 57,281 tonnes in 2022, according to Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 57,281 tonnes in 2022.
- What is the lowest emissions of air pollutants recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 142.72 tonnes in 1750.
- How does Zambia rank for emissions of air pollutants?
- Zambia ranks 121st out of 220 countries with data for 2022.
- Is emissions of air pollutants rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 29.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from Hoesly et al. (2024) – Community Emissions Data System (CEDS) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Emissions of air pollutants. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 273 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) are gases that are mainly formed during the burning of fossil fuels. Exposure to NOₓ gases can have negative impacts on respiratory health. NOₓ gases can also lead to the formation of ozone – another air pollutant.