Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change, per square kilometre in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change, per square kilometre was 72.16 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change, per square kilometre in Saudi Arabia, 1961–2023
Source: Statizoid (derived). Measured in tonnes per square kilometre.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 72.16 tonnes per square kilometre for cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change, per square kilometre in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and up 0.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change, per square kilometre in Saudi Arabia peaked at 72.16 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023 and was at its lowest, -13.85 tonnes per square kilometre, in 1961.
Saudi Arabia ranks 169th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change, per square kilometre in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | tonnes per square kilometre | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | -13.85 tonnes per square kilometre | — |
| 1962 | -13.49 tonnes per square kilometre | -2.6% |
| 1963 | -12.99 tonnes per square kilometre | -3.8% |
| 1964 | -12.5 tonnes per square kilometre | -3.8% |
| 1965 | -11.99 tonnes per square kilometre | -4.1% |
| 1966 | -11.48 tonnes per square kilometre | -4.3% |
| 1967 | -10.72 tonnes per square kilometre | -6.6% |
| 1968 | -9.8 tonnes per square kilometre | -8.6% |
| 1969 | -8.84 tonnes per square kilometre | -9.9% |
| 1970 | -7.79 tonnes per square kilometre | -11.8% |
| 1971 | -6.63 tonnes per square kilometre | -14.8% |
| 1972 | -5.36 tonnes per square kilometre | -19.2% |
| 1973 | -3.79 tonnes per square kilometre | -29.4% |
| 1974 | -2.39 tonnes per square kilometre | -36.9% |
| 1975 | -0.782 tonnes per square kilometre | -67.3% |
| 1976 | 0.7831 tonnes per square kilometre | -200.1% |
| 1977 | 2.32 tonnes per square kilometre | +196.7% |
| 1978 | 3.88 tonnes per square kilometre | +66.8% |
| 1979 | 5.44 tonnes per square kilometre | +40.4% |
| 1980 | 7 tonnes per square kilometre | +28.6% |
| 1981 | 8.62 tonnes per square kilometre | +23.2% |
| 1982 | 12.16 tonnes per square kilometre | +41.1% |
| 1983 | 16.02 tonnes per square kilometre | +31.7% |
| 1984 | 20.76 tonnes per square kilometre | +29.5% |
| 1985 | 25.35 tonnes per square kilometre | +22.1% |
| 1986 | 30.53 tonnes per square kilometre | +20.4% |
| 1987 | 35.37 tonnes per square kilometre | +15.9% |
| 1988 | 40.24 tonnes per square kilometre | +13.8% |
| 1989 | 45.57 tonnes per square kilometre | +13.3% |
| 1990 | 51.21 tonnes per square kilometre | +12.4% |
| 1991 | 55.54 tonnes per square kilometre | +8.5% |
| 1992 | 58.67 tonnes per square kilometre | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 60.63 tonnes per square kilometre | +3.3% |
| 1994 | 62.08 tonnes per square kilometre | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 63.14 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.7% |
| 1996 | 63.94 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 1997 | 64.56 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.0% |
| 1998 | 65.54 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.5% |
| 1999 | 66.24 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2000 | 66.79 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 67.23 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 68.1 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 68.82 tonnes per square kilometre | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 69.34 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 69.72 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 2006 | 70.2 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2007 | 70.76 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.8% |
| 2008 | 71.15 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.6% |
| 2009 | 71.33 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.3% |
| 2010 | 71.51 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.3% |
| 2011 | 71.67 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 71.89 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 71.5 tonnes per square kilometre | -0.6% |
| 2014 | 71.11 tonnes per square kilometre | -0.5% |
| 2015 | 70.77 tonnes per square kilometre | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 70.97 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.3% |
| 2017 | 71.5 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.7% |
| 2018 | 71.68 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 71.89 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.3% |
| 2020 | 71.9 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 71.88 tonnes per square kilometre | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 71.99 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 72.16 tonnes per square kilometre | +0.2% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 72.16 tonnes per square kilometre is below the median for high income countries, which is 4,090 tonnes per square kilometre, 2% of the median. (64 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 72.16 tonnes per square kilometre is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 376.57 tonnes per square kilometre, 19% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change, per square kilometre 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | +200.1% | -0.782 tonnes per square kilometre | 0.7831 tonnes per square kilometre |
| 1977 | +196.7% | 0.7831 tonnes per square kilometre | 2.32 tonnes per square kilometre |
| 1975 | +67.3% | -2.39 tonnes per square kilometre | -0.782 tonnes per square kilometre |
| 1978 | +66.8% | 2.32 tonnes per square kilometre | 3.88 tonnes per square kilometre |
| 1982 | +41.1% | 8.62 tonnes per square kilometre | 12.16 tonnes per square kilometre |
| 1979 | +40.4% | 3.88 tonnes per square kilometre | 5.44 tonnes per square kilometre |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | -11.74 tonnes per square kilometre | -13.85 tonnes per square kilometre | -8.84 tonnes per square kilometre | 9 |
| 1970s | -1.43 tonnes per square kilometre | -7.79 tonnes per square kilometre | 5.44 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1980s | 24.16 tonnes per square kilometre | 7 tonnes per square kilometre | 45.57 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 1990s | 61.15 tonnes per square kilometre | 51.21 tonnes per square kilometre | 66.24 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2000s | 69.35 tonnes per square kilometre | 66.79 tonnes per square kilometre | 71.33 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2010s | 71.45 tonnes per square kilometre | 70.77 tonnes per square kilometre | 71.89 tonnes per square kilometre | 10 |
| 2020s | 71.98 tonnes per square kilometre | 71.88 tonnes per square kilometre | 72.16 tonnes per square kilometre | 4 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 166 Palestine 229.64 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 167 Mauritius 163.84 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 168 Qatar 128.54 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 170 Libya 65.2 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 171 Mauritania 55.67 tonnes per square kilometre compare
- 172 Germany 46.7 tonnes per square kilometre 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 cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change, per square kilometre in Saudi Arabia?
- Cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change, per square kilometre in Saudi Arabia was 72.16 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023, according to Statizoid (derived).
- What is the highest cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change, per square kilometre recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 72.16 tonnes per square kilometre in 2023.
- What is the lowest cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change, per square kilometre recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -13.85 tonnes per square kilometre in 1961.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change, per square kilometre?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 169th out of 194 countries with data for 2023.
- Is cumulative co₂ emissions from land-use change, per square kilometre rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Statizoid (derived), published as part of Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change, per square kilometre. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under Derived by Statizoid from the sources named on the page.
How this figure is calculated
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change ÷ Land area (sq. km)
Computed from
- Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change Global Carbon Budget (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data
- Land area FAOSTAT, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Statizoid computes this series; the underlying measurements belong to the publishers named above. The arithmetic is applied to every country and year where both inputs report, and nothing is estimated unless the page says so.
About this data
Cumulative CO₂ emissions from land-use change divided by Land area (sq. km), matched on country and year. Neither publisher issues this ratio as a series; it is computed here from both.