Methane emissions in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Methane emissions was 117.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
117.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 3.4%
World rank
14th
of 199 countries
All-time high
117.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2022
All-time low
802,748 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1935
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Methane emissions in Saudi Arabia, 1850–2024
Source: Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 117.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents for methane emissions in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, methane emissions in Saudi Arabia peaked at 117.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2022 and was at its lowest, 802,748 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1935.
Saudi Arabia ranks 14th of 199 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Methane emissions in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 808,377 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | 809,873 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1852 | 811,370 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1853 | 812,865 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1854 | 814,360 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1855 | 815,854 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1856 | 817,348 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1857 | 818,841 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1858 | 820,334 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1859 | 821,825 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1860 | 823,317 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1861 | 824,826 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1862 | 826,335 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1863 | 827,842 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1864 | 829,350 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1865 | 830,856 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1866 | 832,362 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1867 | 833,867 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1868 | 835,372 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1869 | 836,875 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1870 | 838,378 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1871 | 840,834 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1872 | 843,288 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1873 | 845,740 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1874 | 848,192 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1875 | 850,642 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1876 | 853,092 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1877 | 855,539 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1878 | 857,986 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1879 | 860,432 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1880 | 862,876 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1881 | 865,635 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1882 | 868,393 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1883 | 871,150 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1884 | 873,904 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1885 | 876,658 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1886 | 879,410 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1887 | 882,160 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1888 | 884,909 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1889 | 887,656 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1890 | 890,402 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1891 | 893,228 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1892 | 896,052 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1893 | 898,874 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1894 | 901,694 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1895 | 904,513 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1896 | 907,330 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1897 | 910,145 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1898 | 912,959 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1899 | 915,771 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1900 | 918,582 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1901 | 914,888 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1902 | 911,183 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1903 | 907,467 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1904 | 903,740 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1905 | 900,001 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1906 | 896,252 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1907 | 892,492 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1908 | 888,722 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1909 | 884,942 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1910 | 881,151 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 1911 | 876,862 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1912 | 872,572 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1913 | 868,280 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1914 | 863,986 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1915 | 859,692 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1916 | 855,397 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1917 | 851,100 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1918 | 846,803 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1919 | 842,506 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1920 | 838,208 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.5% |
| 1921 | 835,974 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1922 | 833,710 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1923 | 831,416 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1924 | 829,092 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1925 | 826,740 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1926 | 824,360 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1927 | 821,951 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1928 | 819,515 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1929 | 817,051 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1930 | 814,561 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1931 | 812,252 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1932 | 809,916 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1933 | 807,553 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1934 | 805,164 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1935 | 802,748 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1936 | 814,643 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1937 | 853,329 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 1938 | 1.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +50.7% |
| 1939 | 4.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +274.5% |
| 1940 | 6.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +25.1% |
| 1941 | 5.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -13.6% |
| 1942 | 5.44 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.4% |
| 1943 | 5.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1944 | 8.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +54.8% |
| 1945 | 22.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +152.5% |
| 1946 | 61.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +176.1% |
| 1947 | 52.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.9% |
| 1948 | 43.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -17.2% |
| 1949 | 43.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1950 | 12.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -70.9% |
| 1951 | 9.09 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -28.6% |
| 1952 | 5.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -39.2% |
| 1953 | 2.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -63.2% |
| 1954 | 3.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +84.2% |
| 1955 | 5.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +51.5% |
| 1956 | 4.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -18.7% |
| 1957 | 5.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.9% |
| 1958 | 5.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.0% |
| 1959 | 5.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.0% |
| 1960 | 6.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +33.8% |
| 1961 | 8.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +28.8% |
| 1962 | 14.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +61.9% |
| 1963 | 15.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.3% |
| 1964 | 15.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1965 | 9.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -36.7% |
| 1966 | 13.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +43.5% |
| 1967 | 14.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.5% |
| 1968 | 18.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +24.9% |
| 1969 | 23.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +28.2% |
| 1970 | 32.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +37.2% |
| 1971 | 32.32 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1972 | 40.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +24.4% |
| 1973 | 50.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +24.6% |
| 1974 | 55.96 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.7% |
| 1975 | 47.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.5% |
| 1976 | 57.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +20.5% |
| 1977 | 61.60 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.9% |
| 1978 | 57.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.8% |
| 1979 | 65.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.2% |
| 1980 | 69.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1981 | 69.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 49.67 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -28.5% |
| 1983 | 41.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -16.7% |
| 1984 | 39.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 1985 | 33.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -16.8% |
| 1986 | 43.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +32.3% |
| 1987 | 40.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.6% |
| 1988 | 46.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.9% |
| 1989 | 46.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1990 | 55.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.7% |
| 1991 | 66.56 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +20.6% |
| 1992 | 68.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 1993 | 68.89 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1994 | 68.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 66.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 1996 | 69.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.2% |
| 1997 | 72.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 71.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 1999 | 66.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.6% |
| 2000 | 72.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +8.5% |
| 2001 | 71.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 69.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 2003 | 79.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +14.2% |
| 2004 | 80.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 85.50 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.6% |
| 2006 | 87.66 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 2007 | 87.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.4% |
| 2008 | 90.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.7% |
| 2009 | 85.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.1% |
| 2010 | 87.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 2011 | 95.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.0% |
| 2012 | 99.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 99.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 2014 | 101.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 2015 | 104.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 107.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 105.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.6% |
| 2018 | 109.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.0% |
| 2019 | 106.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.2% |
| 2020 | 106.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 106.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 117.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.8% |
| 2023 | 113.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 117.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 117.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for high income countries, which is 8.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 13.9× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 117.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 25.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 4.5× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Methane 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | +274.5% | 1.29 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1946 | +176.1% | 22.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 61.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1945 | +152.5% | 8.77 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 22.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1954 | +84.2% | 2.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 3.75 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1950 | -70.9% | 43.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1953 | -63.2% | 5.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 815,105 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 808,377 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 821,825 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 830,100 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 823,317 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 836,875 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 849,412 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 838,378 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 860,432 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 875,275 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 862,876 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 887,656 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 903,097 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 890,402 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 915,771 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 901,827 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 884,942 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 918,582 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 861,835 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 842,506 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 881,151 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 827,802 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 817,051 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 838,208 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 1.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 802,748 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 4.81 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 25.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 61.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 5.95 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 12.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 13.98 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 23.33 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 50.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 32.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 65.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 48.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 33.26 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 69.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 67.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 55.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 72.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 80.97 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 69.31 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 90.53 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 101.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 87.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 109.11 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 112.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 106.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 117.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 11 Mexico 151.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 12 Australia 135.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 13 Ethiopia 119.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 15 Canada 115.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 16 Argentina 114.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 17 Turkey 111.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents 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 methane emissions in Saudi Arabia?
- Methane emissions in Saudi Arabia was 117.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024, according to Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest methane emissions recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 117.03 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2022.
- What is the lowest methane emissions recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 802,748 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1935.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for methane emissions?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 14th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is methane emissions rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Methane emissions. 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
Measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.