Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions was 14.69 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
14.69 million tonnes
Change on year
up 40.6%
World rank
8th
of 215 countries
All-time high
71.92 million tonnes
in 2000
All-time low
-54.77 million tonnes
in 2020
Years of data
88
1937–2024
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia, 1937–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia is 14.69 million tonnes, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 40.6% on the previous year and up 660.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia peaked at 71.92 million tonnes in 2000 and was at its lowest, -54.77 million tonnes, in 2020.
Saudi Arabia ranks 8th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 | 18,320 tonnes | — |
| 1938 | 179,536 tonnes | +880.0% |
| 1939 | 1.45 million tonnes | +706.1% |
| 1940 | 494,640 tonnes | -65.8% |
| 1941 | -337,088 tonnes | -168.1% |
| 1942 | 91,600 tonnes | -127.2% |
| 1943 | 91,600 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1944 | 1.27 million tonnes | +1284.0% |
| 1945 | 5.55 million tonnes | +337.9% |
| 1946 | 16.34 million tonnes | +194.4% |
| 1947 | 12.58 million tonnes | -23.0% |
| 1948 | -19.79 million tonnes | -257.3% |
| 1949 | 443,344 tonnes | -102.2% |
| 1950 | -13.25 million tonnes | -3087.6% |
| 1951 | -5.14 million tonnes | -61.2% |
| 1952 | 0 tonnes | -100.0% |
| 1953 | 476,320 tonnes | — |
| 1954 | 762,112 tonnes | +60.0% |
| 1955 | 875,696 tonnes | +14.9% |
| 1956 | -483,648 tonnes | -155.2% |
| 1957 | 468,992 tonnes | -197.0% |
| 1958 | -102,592 tonnes | -121.9% |
| 1959 | -143,193 tonnes | +39.6% |
| 1960 | 820,676 tonnes | -673.1% |
| 1961 | 893,957 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1962 | 2.68 million tonnes | +200.0% |
| 1963 | 688,827 tonnes | -74.3% |
| 1964 | 102,354 tonnes | -85.1% |
| 1965 | -2.82 million tonnes | -2859.9% |
| 1966 | 2.19 million tonnes | -177.6% |
| 1967 | 19.08 million tonnes | +770.7% |
| 1968 | 3.59 million tonnes | -81.2% |
| 1969 | 6.19 million tonnes | +72.3% |
| 1970 | 9.98 million tonnes | +61.2% |
| 1971 | 14.51 million tonnes | +45.3% |
| 1972 | 10.52 million tonnes | -27.4% |
| 1973 | 24.77 million tonnes | +135.4% |
| 1974 | 3.65 million tonnes | -85.3% |
| 1975 | -15.44 million tonnes | -523.3% |
| 1976 | 18.20 million tonnes | -217.9% |
| 1977 | 16.61 million tonnes | -8.7% |
| 1978 | -3.05 million tonnes | -118.3% |
| 1979 | 22.98 million tonnes | -854.1% |
| 1980 | 31.23 million tonnes | +35.9% |
| 1981 | 6.06 million tonnes | -80.6% |
| 1982 | -17.42 million tonnes | -387.5% |
| 1983 | 2.94 million tonnes | -116.9% |
| 1984 | -5.32 million tonnes | -281.1% |
| 1985 | 16.90 million tonnes | -417.5% |
| 1986 | 32.18 million tonnes | +90.4% |
| 1987 | -14.16 million tonnes | -144.0% |
| 1988 | 11.79 million tonnes | -183.3% |
| 1989 | 1.17 million tonnes | -90.1% |
| 1990 | -21.40 million tonnes | -1933.4% |
| 1991 | 62.56 million tonnes | -392.3% |
| 1992 | 31.48 million tonnes | -49.7% |
| 1993 | 21.74 million tonnes | -30.9% |
| 1994 | -6.55 million tonnes | -130.1% |
| 1995 | -16.60 million tonnes | +153.7% |
| 1996 | -5.11 million tonnes | -69.2% |
| 1997 | -42.35 million tonnes | +729.4% |
| 1998 | -8.23 million tonnes | -80.6% |
| 1999 | 18.80 million tonnes | -328.3% |
| 2000 | 71.92 million tonnes | +282.5% |
| 2001 | 14.73 million tonnes | -79.5% |
| 2002 | 22.56 million tonnes | +53.1% |
| 2003 | 4.30 million tonnes | -80.9% |
| 2004 | 56.47 million tonnes | +1214.2% |
| 2005 | 4.53 million tonnes | -92.0% |
| 2006 | 32.74 million tonnes | +622.5% |
| 2007 | -21.66 million tonnes | -166.2% |
| 2008 | 46.12 million tonnes | -312.9% |
| 2009 | 34.54 million tonnes | -25.1% |
| 2010 | 51.67 million tonnes | +49.6% |
| 2011 | -15.40 million tonnes | -129.8% |
| 2012 | 65.48 million tonnes | -525.1% |
| 2013 | -22.53 million tonnes | -134.4% |
| 2014 | 1.93 million tonnes | -108.6% |
| 2015 | 39.44 million tonnes | +1942.1% |
| 2016 | 16.63 million tonnes | -57.8% |
| 2017 | 3.31 million tonnes | -80.1% |
| 2018 | 7.72 million tonnes | +133.0% |
| 2019 | 56.13 million tonnes | +627.3% |
| 2020 | -54.77 million tonnes | -197.6% |
| 2021 | 41.83 million tonnes | -176.4% |
| 2022 | -28.40 million tonnes | -167.9% |
| 2023 | 10.45 million tonnes | -136.8% |
| 2024 | 14.69 million tonnes | +40.6% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 14.69 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 13,739 tonnes, 1069.3× the median. (74 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 14.69 million tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 216,764 tonnes, 67.8× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia 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 | -3087.6% | 443,344 tonnes | -13.25 million tonnes |
| 1965 | -2859.9% | 102,354 tonnes | -2.82 million tonnes |
| 1990 | -1933.4% | 1.17 million tonnes | -21.40 million tonnes |
| 2015 | +1942.1% | 1.93 million tonnes | 39.44 million tonnes |
| 1944 | +1284.0% | 91,600 tonnes | 1.27 million tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 548,379 tonnes | 18,320 tonnes | 1.45 million tonnes | 3 |
| 1940s | 1.67 million tonnes | -19.79 million tonnes | 16.34 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | -1.65 million tonnes | -13.25 million tonnes | 875,696 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 3.34 million tonnes | -2.82 million tonnes | 19.08 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 10.27 million tonnes | -15.44 million tonnes | 24.77 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 6.54 million tonnes | -17.42 million tonnes | 32.18 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.43 million tonnes | -42.35 million tonnes | 62.56 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 26.63 million tonnes | -21.66 million tonnes | 71.92 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.44 million tonnes | -22.53 million tonnes | 65.48 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | -3.24 million tonnes | -54.77 million tonnes | 41.83 million tonnes | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 5 Turkey 26.09 million tonnes compare
- 6 Vietnam 23.53 million tonnes compare
- 7 Uzbekistan 16.36 million tonnes compare
- 9 Malaysia 13.93 million tonnes compare
- 10 Philippines 13.90 million tonnes compare
- 11 United Arab Emirates 11.56 million tonnes compare
More climate change data for Saudi Arabia
- Nutrient nitrogen N (total) — Synthetic fertilizers (Agricultural) 134.54 million kg (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) 4,043 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,830 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 2,213 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 6.91 kt (2050)
- Emissions from livestock — Emissions 79.03 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) 1,017 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O 1,002 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 15.05 kt (2050)
- Emissions from crops — Emissions 3.78 kt (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia?
- Year-on-year change in co₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia was 14.69 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 71.92 million tonnes in 2000.
- What is the lowest year-on-year change in co₂ emissions recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -54.77 million tonnes in 2020.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for year-on-year change in co₂ emissions?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 8th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is year-on-year change in co₂ emissions rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 660.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Year-on-year change in CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 88 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual growth in total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), excluding land-use change, measured in tonnes.