Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions was 4.5% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia, 1961–2025
Source: National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in annual %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia is 4.5%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of up 70.0% on the previous year and down 3.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia peaked at 52.6% in 1970 and was at its lowest, -16.1%, in 1982.
Saudi Arabia ranks 64th of 212 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | annual % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 11.9% | — |
| 1962 | 11.9% | +0.4% |
| 1963 | 8.7% | -27.1% |
| 1964 | 8.8% | +0.9% |
| 1965 | 12.1% | +38.3% |
| 1966 | 8.2% | -32.6% |
| 1967 | 8.9% | +8.9% |
| 1968 | 7.7% | -14.0% |
| 1969 | 6.0% | -21.2% |
| 1970 | 52.6% | +771.0% |
| 1971 | 15.2% | -71.0% |
| 1972 | 18.8% | +23.4% |
| 1973 | 22.5% | +19.7% |
| 1974 | 16.1% | -28.4% |
| 1975 | -5.5% | -134.1% |
| 1976 | 15.2% | -377.4% |
| 1977 | 5.9% | -61.3% |
| 1978 | 0.2% | -97.1% |
| 1979 | 11.0% | +6260.5% |
| 1980 | 5.8% | -47.1% |
| 1981 | 3.0% | -48.6% |
| 1982 | -16.1% | -640.1% |
| 1983 | -11.0% | -31.8% |
| 1984 | -4.0% | -63.5% |
| 1985 | -7.2% | +80.0% |
| 1986 | 1.0% | -114.0% |
| 1987 | -3.1% | -410.8% |
| 1988 | 6.6% | -310.7% |
| 1989 | 0.4% | -93.7% |
| 1990 | 9.4% | +2170.3% |
| 1991 | 8.2% | -12.8% |
| 1992 | 4.6% | -44.3% |
| 1993 | 0.4% | -91.7% |
| 1994 | 1.0% | +150.9% |
| 1995 | 0.3% | -67.3% |
| 1996 | 3.3% | +960.2% |
| 1997 | 2.6% | -19.9% |
| 1998 | 2.8% | +5.9% |
| 1999 | -0.6% | -122.6% |
| 2000 | 4.7% | -844.9% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | -92.7% |
| 2002 | -0.7% | -299.8% |
| 2003 | 8.8% | -1373.8% |
| 2004 | 8.6% | -1.6% |
| 2005 | 5.9% | -31.1% |
| 2006 | 3.3% | -44.3% |
| 2007 | 2.2% | -33.2% |
| 2008 | 6.2% | +181.8% |
| 2009 | -1.1% | -117.1% |
| 2010 | 5.0% | -572.4% |
| 2011 | 11.8% | +133.3% |
| 2012 | 5.8% | -51.0% |
| 2013 | 2.9% | -48.9% |
| 2014 | 4.0% | +36.6% |
| 2015 | 4.7% | +15.7% |
| 2016 | 1.7% | -63.4% |
| 2017 | 1.2% | -30.6% |
| 2018 | 3.2% | +173.0% |
| 2019 | 1.7% | -48.8% |
| 2020 | -3.8% | -330.4% |
| 2021 | 6.5% | -271.4% |
| 2022 | 12.0% | +84.1% |
| 2023 | 0.5% | -95.5% |
| 2024 | 2.6% | +388.2% |
| 2025 | 4.5% | +70.0% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 4.5% is above the median for high income countries, which is 2.1%, 2.1× the median. (83 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 4.5% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 2.9%, 1.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual change in GDP and 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +6260.5% | 0.2% | 11.0% |
| 1990 | +2170.3% | 0.4% | 9.4% |
| 2003 | +1373.8% | -0.7% | 8.8% |
| 1996 | +960.2% | 0.3% | 3.3% |
| 2000 | +844.9% | -0.6% | 4.7% |
| 1970 | +771.0% | 6.0% | 52.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 9.4% | 6.0% | 12.1% | 9 |
| 1970s | 15.2% | -5.5% | 52.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | -2.5% | -16.1% | 6.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.2% | -0.6% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 3.8% | -1.1% | 8.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.2% | 1.2% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.7% | -3.8% | 12.0% | 6 |
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 annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia?
- Annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia was 4.5% in 2025, according to National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 52.6% in 1970.
- What is the lowest annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -16.1% in 1982.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 64th out of 212 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual change in gdp and co₂ emissions rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from National statistical organizations and central banks, OECD national accounts, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in GDP and CO₂ emissions. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage change in gross domestic product (GDP) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions.