Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change was 471,923 tonnes in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
471,923 tonnes
Change on year
up 26.4%
World rank
97th
of 197 countries
All-time high
12.12 million tonnes
in 1990
All-time low
-857,376 tonnes
in 2013
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Saudi Arabia, 1850–2024
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 471,923 tonnes for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in 2024.
The figure is up 26.4% on the previous year and up 157.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Saudi Arabia peaked at 12.12 million tonnes in 1990 and was at its lowest, -857,376 tonnes, in 2013.
Saudi Arabia ranks 97th of 197 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 CO₂ emissions from land-use change in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | -245,964 tonnes | — |
| 1851 | -251,680 tonnes | +2.3% |
| 1852 | -256,627 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1853 | -261,170 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1854 | -265,493 tonnes | +1.7% |
| 1855 | -269,597 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1856 | -273,628 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1857 | -277,401 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1858 | -280,956 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1859 | -284,473 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1860 | -293,340 tonnes | +3.1% |
| 1861 | -299,056 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1862 | -303,416 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1863 | -307,190 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1864 | -310,561 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1865 | -313,675 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1866 | -316,533 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1867 | -319,354 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1868 | -322,066 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1869 | -324,557 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1870 | -307,556 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1871 | -298,213 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1872 | -292,424 tonnes | -1.9% |
| 1873 | -288,467 tonnes | -1.4% |
| 1874 | -285,536 tonnes | -1.0% |
| 1875 | -283,337 tonnes | -0.8% |
| 1876 | -281,542 tonnes | -0.6% |
| 1877 | -280,333 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1878 | -279,527 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1879 | -279,124 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1880 | -278,537 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1881 | -278,024 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1882 | -277,658 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1883 | -277,511 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1884 | -277,511 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1885 | -277,804 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1886 | -278,391 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 1887 | -279,124 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1888 | -280,149 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1889 | -281,395 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1890 | -290,519 tonnes | +3.2% |
| 1891 | -295,612 tonnes | +1.8% |
| 1892 | -299,202 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1893 | -302,317 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1894 | -305,175 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1895 | -307,739 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1896 | -310,487 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1897 | -313,235 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1898 | -316,020 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1899 | -318,915 tonnes | +0.9% |
| 1900 | -330,713 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 1901 | -338,151 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1902 | -343,720 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1903 | -348,520 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1904 | -352,880 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1905 | -356,910 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1906 | -360,941 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1907 | -364,898 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1908 | -368,708 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1909 | -372,556 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1910 | -432,499 tonnes | +16.1% |
| 1911 | -472,619 tonnes | +9.3% |
| 1912 | -502,884 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1913 | -527,250 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1914 | -547,695 tonnes | +3.9% |
| 1915 | -565,685 tonnes | +3.3% |
| 1916 | -581,367 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 1917 | -595,510 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1918 | -608,224 tonnes | +2.1% |
| 1919 | -619,839 tonnes | +1.9% |
| 1920 | -559,603 tonnes | -9.7% |
| 1921 | -520,141 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1922 | -490,793 tonnes | -5.6% |
| 1923 | -467,380 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 1924 | -448,034 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1925 | -431,436 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1926 | -417,220 tonnes | -3.3% |
| 1927 | -404,909 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1928 | -394,540 tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1929 | -385,966 tonnes | -2.2% |
| 1930 | -397,654 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 1931 | -400,548 tonnes | +0.7% |
| 1932 | -400,365 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1933 | -399,083 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1934 | -397,617 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1935 | -396,335 tonnes | -0.3% |
| 1936 | -395,492 tonnes | -0.2% |
| 1937 | -395,052 tonnes | -0.1% |
| 1938 | -395,162 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1939 | -395,639 tonnes | +0.1% |
| 1940 | -422,349 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1941 | -437,152 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1942 | -446,788 tonnes | +2.2% |
| 1943 | -453,896 tonnes | +1.6% |
| 1944 | -459,685 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1945 | -464,852 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 1946 | -469,615 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1947 | -474,341 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1948 | -479,105 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1949 | -483,868 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1950 | -8,171 tonnes | -98.3% |
| 1951 | 277,475 tonnes | -3496.0% |
| 1952 | 460,418 tonnes | +65.9% |
| 1953 | 576,384 tonnes | +25.2% |
| 1954 | 650,470 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1955 | 693,046 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 1956 | 728,660 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1957 | 775,596 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1958 | 843,086 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1959 | 922,156 tonnes | +9.4% |
| 1960 | 313,785 tonnes | -66.0% |
| 1961 | 571,254 tonnes | +82.1% |
| 1962 | 760,756 tonnes | +33.2% |
| 1963 | 1.09 million tonnes | +43.4% |
| 1964 | 1.05 million tonnes | -3.9% |
| 1965 | 1.10 million tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1966 | 1.10 million tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1967 | 1.62 million tonnes | +47.3% |
| 1968 | 1.98 million tonnes | +22.2% |
| 1969 | 2.08 million tonnes | +5.1% |
| 1970 | 2.25 million tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1971 | 2.48 million tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1972 | 2.74 million tonnes | +10.4% |
| 1973 | 3.38 million tonnes | +23.3% |
| 1974 | 3.00 million tonnes | -11.2% |
| 1975 | 3.45 million tonnes | +15.0% |
| 1976 | 3.36 million tonnes | -2.6% |
| 1977 | 3.31 million tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1978 | 3.34 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1979 | 3.36 million tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1980 | 3.35 million tonnes | -0.5% |
| 1981 | 3.49 million tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1982 | 7.62 million tonnes | +118.3% |
| 1983 | 8.29 million tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1984 | 10.18 million tonnes | +22.7% |
| 1985 | 9.87 million tonnes | -3.0% |
| 1986 | 11.14 million tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1987 | 10.41 million tonnes | -6.5% |
| 1988 | 10.46 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 11.47 million tonnes | +9.6% |
| 1990 | 12.12 million tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1991 | 9.31 million tonnes | -23.2% |
| 1992 | 6.73 million tonnes | -27.7% |
| 1993 | 4.21 million tonnes | -37.5% |
| 1994 | 3.12 million tonnes | -25.9% |
| 1995 | 2.28 million tonnes | -26.7% |
| 1996 | 1.73 million tonnes | -24.2% |
| 1997 | 1.33 million tonnes | -23.3% |
| 1998 | 2.12 million tonnes | +59.4% |
| 1999 | 1.49 million tonnes | -29.5% |
| 2000 | 1.18 million tonnes | -21.0% |
| 2001 | 952,274 tonnes | -19.2% |
| 2002 | 1.87 million tonnes | +96.8% |
| 2003 | 1.54 million tonnes | -17.9% |
| 2004 | 1.12 million tonnes | -26.9% |
| 2005 | 822,531 tonnes | -26.8% |
| 2006 | 1.04 million tonnes | +25.8% |
| 2007 | 1.20 million tonnes | +16.3% |
| 2008 | 838,287 tonnes | -30.4% |
| 2009 | 383,767 tonnes | -54.2% |
| 2010 | 388,787 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 2011 | 347,420 tonnes | -10.6% |
| 2012 | 472,033 tonnes | +35.9% |
| 2013 | -857,376 tonnes | -281.6% |
| 2014 | -824,290 tonnes | -3.9% |
| 2015 | -731,444 tonnes | -11.3% |
| 2016 | 419,491 tonnes | -157.4% |
| 2017 | 1.13 million tonnes | +170.6% |
| 2018 | 390,179 tonnes | -65.6% |
| 2019 | 448,987 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 2020 | 36,237 tonnes | -91.9% |
| 2021 | -40,707 tonnes | -212.3% |
| 2022 | 225,409 tonnes | -653.7% |
| 2023 | 373,215 tonnes | +65.6% |
| 2024 | 471,923 tonnes | +26.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 471,923 tonnes is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 37,666 tonnes, 12.5× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Annual CO₂ emissions from 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | +3496.0% | -8,171 tonnes | 277,475 tonnes |
| 2022 | +653.7% | -40,707 tonnes | 225,409 tonnes |
| 2013 | -281.6% | 472,033 tonnes | -857,376 tonnes |
| 2021 | -212.3% | 36,237 tonnes | -40,707 tonnes |
| 2017 | +170.6% | 419,491 tonnes | 1.13 million tonnes |
| 2016 | +157.4% | -731,444 tonnes | 419,491 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | -266,699 tonnes | -284,473 tonnes | -245,964 tonnes | 10 |
| 1860s | -310,975 tonnes | -324,557 tonnes | -293,340 tonnes | 10 |
| 1870s | -287,606 tonnes | -307,556 tonnes | -279,124 tonnes | 10 |
| 1880s | -278,610 tonnes | -281,395 tonnes | -277,511 tonnes | 10 |
| 1890s | -305,922 tonnes | -318,915 tonnes | -290,519 tonnes | 10 |
| 1900s | -353,800 tonnes | -372,556 tonnes | -330,713 tonnes | 10 |
| 1910s | -545,357 tonnes | -619,839 tonnes | -432,499 tonnes | 10 |
| 1920s | -452,002 tonnes | -559,603 tonnes | -385,966 tonnes | 10 |
| 1930s | -397,295 tonnes | -400,548 tonnes | -395,052 tonnes | 10 |
| 1940s | -459,165 tonnes | -483,868 tonnes | -422,349 tonnes | 10 |
| 1950s | 591,912 tonnes | -8,171 tonnes | 922,156 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 1.17 million tonnes | 313,785 tonnes | 2.08 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 3.07 million tonnes | 2.25 million tonnes | 3.45 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.63 million tonnes | 3.35 million tonnes | 11.47 million tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 4.44 million tonnes | 1.33 million tonnes | 12.12 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.10 million tonnes | 383,767 tonnes | 1.87 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 118,875 tonnes | -857,376 tonnes | 1.13 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 213,215 tonnes | -40,707 tonnes | 471,923 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 annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Saudi Arabia?
- Annual co₂ emissions from land-use change in Saudi Arabia was 471,923 tonnes in 2024, according to Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 12.12 million tonnes in 1990.
- What is the lowest annual co₂ emissions from land-use change recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -857,376 tonnes in 2013.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for annual co₂ emissions from land-use change?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 97th out of 197 countries with data for 2024.
- Is annual co₂ emissions from land-use change rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 157.3%. 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 Annual CO₂ emissions from land-use change. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 175 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Annual emissions of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from land-use change, measured in tonnes.