CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change was 692.61 million tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
692.61 million tonnes
Change on year
up 2.2%
World rank
9th
of 194 countries
All-time high
708.78 million tonnes
in 2019
All-time low
-388,164 tonnes
in 1936
Years of data
89
1936–2024
CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Saudi Arabia, 1936–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2024, co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Saudi Arabia stood at 692.61 million tonnes.
The figure is up 2.2% on the previous year and up 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Saudi Arabia peaked at 708.78 million tonnes in 2019 and was at its lowest, -388,164 tonnes, in 1936.
Saudi Arabia ranks 9th of 194 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1936 | -388,164 tonnes | — |
| 1937 | -369,404 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1938 | -189,978 tonnes | -48.6% |
| 1939 | 1.26 million tonnes | -761.6% |
| 1940 | 1.72 million tonnes | +37.2% |
| 1941 | 1.37 million tonnes | -20.4% |
| 1942 | 1.45 million tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1943 | 1.54 million tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1944 | 2.80 million tonnes | +82.0% |
| 1945 | 8.35 million tonnes | +198.0% |
| 1946 | 24.68 million tonnes | +195.7% |
| 1947 | 37.26 million tonnes | +50.9% |
| 1948 | 17.46 million tonnes | -53.1% |
| 1949 | 17.90 million tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1950 | 5.13 million tonnes | -71.3% |
| 1951 | 277,475 tonnes | -94.6% |
| 1952 | 460,418 tonnes | +65.9% |
| 1953 | 1.05 million tonnes | +128.6% |
| 1954 | 1.89 million tonnes | +79.4% |
| 1955 | 2.81 million tonnes | +48.6% |
| 1956 | 2.36 million tonnes | -16.0% |
| 1957 | 2.88 million tonnes | +21.9% |
| 1958 | 2.84 million tonnes | -1.2% |
| 1959 | 2.78 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 1960 | 2.99 million tonnes | +7.6% |
| 1961 | 4.14 million tonnes | +38.5% |
| 1962 | 7.01 million tonnes | +69.4% |
| 1963 | 8.03 million tonnes | +14.5% |
| 1964 | 8.09 million tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1965 | 5.32 million tonnes | -34.2% |
| 1966 | 7.51 million tonnes | +41.1% |
| 1967 | 27.10 million tonnes | +261.1% |
| 1968 | 31.06 million tonnes | +14.6% |
| 1969 | 37.35 million tonnes | +20.3% |
| 1970 | 47.50 million tonnes | +27.2% |
| 1971 | 62.24 million tonnes | +31.0% |
| 1972 | 73.02 million tonnes | +17.3% |
| 1973 | 98.43 million tonnes | +34.8% |
| 1974 | 101.70 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1975 | 86.71 million tonnes | -14.7% |
| 1976 | 104.82 million tonnes | +20.9% |
| 1977 | 121.38 million tonnes | +15.8% |
| 1978 | 118.36 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1979 | 141.36 million tonnes | +19.4% |
| 1980 | 172.58 million tonnes | +22.1% |
| 1981 | 178.78 million tonnes | +3.6% |
| 1982 | 165.49 million tonnes | -7.4% |
| 1983 | 169.11 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1984 | 165.67 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 182.26 million tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1986 | 215.71 million tonnes | +18.4% |
| 1987 | 200.83 million tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1988 | 212.67 million tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1989 | 214.84 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1990 | 194.09 million tonnes | -9.7% |
| 1991 | 253.84 million tonnes | +30.8% |
| 1992 | 282.74 million tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1993 | 301.96 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1994 | 294.32 million tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1995 | 276.89 million tonnes | -5.9% |
| 1996 | 271.23 million tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1997 | 228.48 million tonnes | -15.8% |
| 1998 | 221.03 million tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1999 | 239.21 million tonnes | +8.2% |
| 2000 | 310.82 million tonnes | +29.9% |
| 2001 | 325.33 million tonnes | +4.7% |
| 2002 | 348.81 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 2003 | 352.77 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 408.83 million tonnes | +15.9% |
| 2005 | 413.06 million tonnes | +1.0% |
| 2006 | 446.01 million tonnes | +8.0% |
| 2007 | 424.52 million tonnes | -4.8% |
| 2008 | 470.27 million tonnes | +10.8% |
| 2009 | 504.35 million tonnes | +7.2% |
| 2010 | 556.03 million tonnes | +10.2% |
| 2011 | 540.58 million tonnes | -2.8% |
| 2012 | 606.18 million tonnes | +12.1% |
| 2013 | 582.32 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 584.28 million tonnes | +0.3% |
| 2015 | 623.82 million tonnes | +6.8% |
| 2016 | 641.59 million tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 645.62 million tonnes | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 652.59 million tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 708.78 million tonnes | +8.6% |
| 2020 | 653.60 million tonnes | -7.8% |
| 2021 | 695.35 million tonnes | +6.4% |
| 2022 | 667.22 million tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2023 | 677.82 million tonnes | +1.6% |
| 2024 | 692.61 million tonnes | +2.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 692.61 million tonnes is above the median for high income countries, which is 36.71 million tonnes, 18.9× the median. (62 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 692.61 million tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 56.26 million tonnes, 12.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | +761.6% | -189,978 tonnes | 1.26 million tonnes |
| 1967 | +261.1% | 7.51 million tonnes | 27.10 million tonnes |
| 1945 | +198.0% | 2.80 million tonnes | 8.35 million tonnes |
| 1946 | +195.7% | 8.35 million tonnes | 24.68 million tonnes |
| 1953 | +128.6% | 460,418 tonnes | 1.05 million tonnes |
| 1951 | -94.6% | 5.13 million tonnes | 277,475 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1930s | 77,321 tonnes | -388,164 tonnes | 1.26 million tonnes | 4 |
| 1940s | 11.45 million tonnes | 1.37 million tonnes | 37.26 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 2.25 million tonnes | 277,475 tonnes | 5.13 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 13.86 million tonnes | 2.99 million tonnes | 37.35 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 95.55 million tonnes | 47.50 million tonnes | 141.36 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 187.79 million tonnes | 165.49 million tonnes | 215.71 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 256.38 million tonnes | 194.09 million tonnes | 301.96 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 400.48 million tonnes | 310.82 million tonnes | 504.35 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 614.18 million tonnes | 540.58 million tonnes | 708.78 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 677.32 million tonnes | 653.60 million tonnes | 695.35 million tonnes | 5 |
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 fossil fuels and land-use change in Saudi Arabia?
- Co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change in Saudi Arabia was 692.61 million tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 708.78 million tonnes in 2019.
- What is the lowest co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -388,164 tonnes in 1936.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 9th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is co₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 18.5%. 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 CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels and land-use change. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 89 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual total emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂), including land-use change, measured in tonnes.