Number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking in Zambia
Zambia: Number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking was 18.82 million people in 2023. ▲ Rising
Number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking in Zambia, 2000–2023
Source: World Health Organization (via World Bank) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 18.82 million people for number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking in 2023. That is the highest value across all 24 years on record.
That represents a change of up 3.4% on the previous year and up 43.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking in Zambia peaked at 18.82 million people in 2023 and was at its lowest, 8.64 million people, in 2000.
Zambia ranks 26th of 189 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 24 years of available data.
Number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking in Zambia, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8.64 million people | — |
| 2001 | 8.85 million people | +2.5% |
| 2002 | 9.09 million people | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 9.34 million people | +2.7% |
| 2004 | 9.58 million people | +2.6% |
| 2005 | 9.89 million people | +3.2% |
| 2006 | 10.20 million people | +3.1% |
| 2007 | 10.53 million people | +3.2% |
| 2008 | 10.91 million people | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 11.30 million people | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 11.72 million people | +3.6% |
| 2011 | 12.16 million people | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 12.62 million people | +3.8% |
| 2013 | 13.07 million people | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 13.59 million people | +4.0% |
| 2015 | 14.10 million people | +3.8% |
| 2016 | 14.66 million people | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 15.21 million people | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 15.80 million people | +3.9% |
| 2019 | 16.38 million people | +3.7% |
| 2020 | 16.98 million people | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 17.60 million people | +3.7% |
| 2022 | 18.20 million people | +3.4% |
| 2023 | 18.82 million people | +3.4% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 18.82 million people is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 6.81 million people, 2.8× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 18.82 million people is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 12.22 million people, 1.5× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.83 million people | 8.64 million people | 11.30 million people | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.93 million people | 11.72 million people | 16.38 million people | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.90 million people | 16.98 million people | 18.82 million people | 4 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2025)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 40.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, per capita 0 units per person (2025)
- Consumer price index 483.32 2010 = 100 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking in Zambia?
- Number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking in Zambia was 18.82 million people in 2023, according to World Health Organization (via World Bank) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking recorded in Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 18.82 million people in 2023.
- What is the lowest number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.64 million people in 2000.
- How does Zambia rank for number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking?
- Zambia ranks 26th out of 189 countries with data for 2023.
- Is number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Zambia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization (via World Bank) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people without access to clean fuels for cooking. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 24 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Access to clean fuels or technologies such as natural gas, electricity, and clean cookstoves reduces exposure to indoor air pollutants, a leading cause of death in low-income households.