Share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking in Zambia
Zambia: Share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking was 90.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking in Zambia, 2000–2024
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking in Zambia stood at 90.0%. That is the highest value across all 25 years on record.
The figure is up 5.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking in Zambia peaked at 90.0% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 84.0%, in 2008.
That places Zambia 22nd out of 194 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 85.0% | — |
| 2001 | 85.0% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 85.0% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 85.0% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 85.0% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 85.0% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 85.0% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 85.0% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 84.0% | -1.2% |
| 2009 | 84.0% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 84.0% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 84.0% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 84.0% | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 85.0% | +1.2% |
| 2014 | 85.0% | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 86.0% | +1.2% |
| 2016 | 87.0% | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 88.0% | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 88.0% | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 89.0% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 90.0% | +1.1% |
| 2021 | 90.0% | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 90.0% | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 90.0% | +0.0% |
| 2024 | 90.0% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 84.8% | 84.0% | 85.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 86.0% | 84.0% | 89.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 90.0% | 90.0% | 90.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
- 19 Benin 92.0% compare
- 19 Mozambique 92.0% compare
- 21 Rwanda 91.0% compare
- 22 Lao People's Democratic Republic 90.0% compare
- 24 Chad 89.0% compare
- 24 Comoros 89.0% compare
- 24 Tanzania, United Republic of 89.0% compare
More economy & growth data for Zambia
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.31 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.92 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 310.54 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0123 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 14.57 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 2.36 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 268.02 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0932 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 110.69 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 28.89 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking in Zambia?
- Share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking in Zambia was 90.0% in 2024, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 90.0% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 84.0% in 2008.
- How does Zambia rank for share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking?
- Zambia ranks 22nd out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of the population without access to clean fuels for cooking. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Proportion of population without primary reliance on clean fuels and technology is calculated as the number of people unable to use clean fuels and technologies for cooking, heating and lighting divided by total population reporting that any cooking, heating or lighting, expressed as percentage. “Clean” is defined by the emission rate targets and specific fuel recommendations (i.e. against unprocessed coal and kerosene) included in the normative guidance WHO guidelines for indoor air quality: household fuel combustion.