CO₂ emissions from transport in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: CO₂ emissions from transport was 142.97 million tonnes in 2023. ▲ Rising
Latest (2023)
142.97 million tonnes
Change on year
up 4.0%
World rank
11th
of 191 countries
All-time high
146.94 million tonnes
in 2015
All-time low
49.40 million tonnes
in 1990
Years of data
34
1990–2023
CO₂ emissions from transport in Saudi Arabia, 1990–2023
Source: Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 142.97 million tonnes for co₂ emissions from transport in 2023.
The figure is up 4.0% on the previous year and up 10.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions from transport in Saudi Arabia peaked at 146.94 million tonnes in 2015 and was at its lowest, 49.40 million tonnes, in 1990.
Saudi Arabia ranks 11th of 191 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 34 years of available data.
CO₂ emissions from transport in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 49.40 million tonnes | — |
| 1991 | 51.47 million tonnes | +4.2% |
| 1992 | 54.53 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1993 | 57.44 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1994 | 61.24 million tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1995 | 54.13 million tonnes | -11.6% |
| 1996 | 56.87 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1997 | 57.72 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1998 | 57.91 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1999 | 58.13 million tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2000 | 60.94 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2001 | 62.72 million tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2002 | 66.41 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 2003 | 68.68 million tonnes | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 72.17 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 75.75 million tonnes | +5.0% |
| 2006 | 81.86 million tonnes | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 91.26 million tonnes | +11.5% |
| 2008 | 98.53 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 2009 | 101.55 million tonnes | +3.1% |
| 2010 | 105.40 million tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2011 | 116.54 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 2012 | 126.81 million tonnes | +8.8% |
| 2013 | 128.90 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 136.72 million tonnes | +6.1% |
| 2015 | 146.94 million tonnes | +7.5% |
| 2016 | 146.45 million tonnes | -0.3% |
| 2017 | 142.91 million tonnes | -2.4% |
| 2018 | 136.10 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 2019 | 136.43 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 122.32 million tonnes | -10.3% |
| 2021 | 128.22 million tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2022 | 137.50 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 2023 | 142.97 million tonnes | +4.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 142.97 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 12.23 million tonnes, 11.7× the median. (60 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 142.97 million tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 15.29 million tonnes, 9.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 55.88 million tonnes | 49.40 million tonnes | 61.24 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 77.99 million tonnes | 60.94 million tonnes | 101.55 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 132.32 million tonnes | 105.40 million tonnes | 146.94 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 132.75 million tonnes | 122.32 million tonnes | 142.97 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
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 co₂ emissions from transport in Saudi Arabia?
- Co₂ emissions from transport in Saudi Arabia was 142.97 million tonnes in 2023, according to Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest co₂ emissions from transport recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 146.94 million tonnes in 2015.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions from transport recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 49.40 million tonnes in 1990.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for co₂ emissions from transport?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 11th out of 191 countries with data for 2023.
- Is co₂ emissions from transport rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Climate Watch (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of CO₂ emissions from transport. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Emissions are measured in tonnes.