Carbon intensity vs. GDP per capita in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Carbon intensity vs. GDP per capita was 211.04 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2024. ▬ Flat
Carbon intensity vs. GDP per capita in Saudi Arabia, 1965–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour.
Analysis
The most recent figure for carbon intensity vs. gdp per capita in Saudi Arabia is 211.04 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and up 5.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, carbon intensity vs. gdp per capita in Saudi Arabia peaked at 403.02 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 1980 and was at its lowest, 17.93 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, in 1965.
That places Saudi Arabia 102nd out of 204 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Carbon intensity vs. GDP per capita in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 17.93 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | — |
| 1966 | 26.89 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +49.9% |
| 1967 | 105.41 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +292.1% |
| 1968 | 118.44 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +12.4% |
| 1969 | 141.27 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +19.3% |
| 1970 | 172.15 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +21.9% |
| 1971 | 226.98 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +31.8% |
| 1972 | 249.07 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +9.7% |
| 1973 | 315.79 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +26.8% |
| 1974 | 309.06 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -2.1% |
| 1975 | 328.75 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +6.4% |
| 1976 | 346.52 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +5.4% |
| 1977 | 341.47 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.5% |
| 1978 | 298.5 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -12.6% |
| 1979 | 295.6 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.0% |
| 1980 | 403.02 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +36.3% |
| 1981 | 349.72 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -13.2% |
| 1982 | 286.08 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -18.2% |
| 1983 | 268.93 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -6.0% |
| 1984 | 217.38 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -19.2% |
| 1985 | 236.24 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +8.7% |
| 1986 | 260.71 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +10.4% |
| 1987 | 228.94 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -12.2% |
| 1988 | 232.35 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.5% |
| 1989 | 237.44 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 196.02 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -17.4% |
| 1991 | 251.46 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +28.3% |
| 1992 | 281.14 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +11.8% |
| 1993 | 296.91 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +5.6% |
| 1994 | 251.13 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -15.4% |
| 1995 | 243.01 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -3.2% |
| 1996 | 230.63 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -5.1% |
| 1997 | 190.84 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -17.3% |
| 1998 | 174.77 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -8.4% |
| 1999 | 186.38 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +6.6% |
| 2000 | 231.96 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +24.5% |
| 2001 | 228.06 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.7% |
| 2002 | 234.19 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 223.83 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 239.48 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +7.0% |
| 2005 | 227.62 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -5.0% |
| 2006 | 234.18 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.9% |
| 2007 | 217.75 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -7.0% |
| 2008 | 220.55 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 228.54 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 226.69 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 211.25 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -6.8% |
| 2012 | 223.17 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +5.6% |
| 2013 | 213.53 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 199.58 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -6.5% |
| 2015 | 204.33 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +2.4% |
| 2016 | 201.64 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.3% |
| 2017 | 202.56 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.5% |
| 2018 | 210.29 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +3.8% |
| 2019 | 238.62 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +13.5% |
| 2020 | 226.4 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -5.1% |
| 2021 | 233.3 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 213.26 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -8.6% |
| 2023 | 213.45 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 211.04 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | -1.1% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 211.04 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour is above the median for high income countries, which is 184.8 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, 1.1× the median. (69 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 211.04 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 215.73 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour, 98% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Carbon intensity vs. GDP per capita 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | +292.1% | 26.89 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 105.41 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 81.99 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 17.93 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 141.27 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 5 |
| 1970s | 288.39 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 172.15 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 346.52 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 1980s | 272.08 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 217.38 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 403.02 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 1990s | 230.23 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 174.77 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 296.91 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2000s | 228.62 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 217.75 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 239.48 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2010s | 213.17 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 199.58 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 238.62 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 10 |
| 2020s | 219.49 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 211.04 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 233.3 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 99 Romania 212.61 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 100 Bangladesh 212.27 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 101 Pakistan 211.57 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 103 Turkmenistan 210.72 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 104 Mexico 210.53 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour compare
- 105 Japan 208.5 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour 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 carbon intensity vs. gdp per capita in Saudi Arabia?
- Carbon intensity vs. gdp per capita in Saudi Arabia was 211.04 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest carbon intensity vs. gdp per capita recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 403.02 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 1980.
- What is the lowest carbon intensity vs. gdp per capita recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 17.93 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour in 1965.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for carbon intensity vs. gdp per capita?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 102nd out of 204 countries with data for 2024.
- Is carbon intensity vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Global Carbon Budget (2025) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Carbon intensity vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Fossil carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions per unit of total energy supply, measured in grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour.