Greenhouse gas emissions in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Greenhouse gas emissions was 821.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
821.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
Change on year
up 2.4%
World rank
9th
of 199 countries
All-time high
823.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 2019
All-time low
-667,766 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents
in 1850
Years of data
175
1850–2024
Greenhouse gas 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
In 2024, greenhouse gas emissions in Saudi Arabia stood at 821.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents.
That represents a change of up 2.4% on the previous year and up 18.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, greenhouse gas emissions in Saudi Arabia peaked at 823.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2019 and was at its lowest, -667,766 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, in 1850.
Saudi Arabia ranks 9th 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.
Greenhouse gas emissions in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | -667,766 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | — |
| 1851 | -568,176 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.9% |
| 1852 | -454,211 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -20.1% |
| 1853 | -353,974 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -22.1% |
| 1854 | -267,187 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -24.5% |
| 1855 | -191,959 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -28.2% |
| 1856 | -126,691 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -34.0% |
| 1857 | -69,921 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -44.8% |
| 1858 | -20,490 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -70.7% |
| 1859 | 22,505 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -209.8% |
| 1860 | 58,035 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +157.9% |
| 1861 | 89,333 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +53.9% |
| 1862 | 117,029 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +31.0% |
| 1863 | 141,461 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +20.9% |
| 1864 | 163,059 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +15.3% |
| 1865 | 182,185 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.7% |
| 1866 | 199,173 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.3% |
| 1867 | 214,262 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.6% |
| 1868 | 227,725 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.3% |
| 1869 | 239,837 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 1870 | 257,321 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.3% |
| 1871 | 267,818 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.1% |
| 1872 | 276,482 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1873 | 285,430 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1874 | 294,716 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.3% |
| 1875 | 304,211 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.2% |
| 1876 | 313,661 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.1% |
| 1877 | 322,681 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.9% |
| 1878 | 331,068 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1879 | 338,508 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.2% |
| 1880 | 344,518 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1881 | 348,114 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1882 | 351,227 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1883 | 354,436 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1884 | 357,786 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1885 | 360,915 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1886 | 364,171 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1887 | 367,598 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1888 | 371,116 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1889 | 374,804 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1890 | 377,346 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1891 | 378,546 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1892 | 380,388 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1893 | 382,666 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1894 | 385,298 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1895 | 388,311 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1896 | 391,477 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.8% |
| 1897 | 394,858 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1898 | 398,433 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1899 | 402,169 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 1900 | 402,440 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.1% |
| 1901 | 391,804 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.6% |
| 1902 | 390,702 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.3% |
| 1903 | 394,951 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1904 | 387,812 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.8% |
| 1905 | 384,511 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1906 | 379,605 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.3% |
| 1907 | 379,758 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.0% |
| 1908 | 372,470 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1909 | 365,343 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.9% |
| 1910 | 352,167 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.6% |
| 1911 | 355,951 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.1% |
| 1912 | 359,366 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.0% |
| 1913 | 368,721 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.6% |
| 1914 | 370,698 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1915 | 373,253 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 1916 | 379,715 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.7% |
| 1917 | 385,279 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.5% |
| 1918 | 390,304 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.3% |
| 1919 | 391,292 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.3% |
| 1920 | 420,822 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.5% |
| 1921 | 412,614 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1922 | 395,606 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -4.1% |
| 1923 | 384,017 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 1924 | 372,622 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.0% |
| 1925 | 369,351 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.9% |
| 1926 | 365,132 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1927 | 360,945 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.1% |
| 1928 | 358,956 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1929 | 359,850 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 1930 | 351,454 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1931 | 345,424 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.7% |
| 1932 | 343,331 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.6% |
| 1933 | 345,461 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.6% |
| 1934 | 341,222 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1935 | 337,141 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.2% |
| 1936 | 363,161 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.7% |
| 1937 | 423,948 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +16.7% |
| 1938 | 1.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +146.3% |
| 1939 | 6.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +476.9% |
| 1940 | 7.72 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +28.2% |
| 1941 | 6.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.9% |
| 1942 | 6.90 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.1% |
| 1943 | 7.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.9% |
| 1944 | 11.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +60.6% |
| 1945 | 30.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +162.9% |
| 1946 | 85.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +181.0% |
| 1947 | 89.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.0% |
| 1948 | 60.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -32.1% |
| 1949 | 61.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.8% |
| 1950 | 17.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -71.3% |
| 1951 | 8.93 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -49.7% |
| 1952 | 5.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -41.0% |
| 1953 | 2.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -59.3% |
| 1954 | 4.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +110.1% |
| 1955 | 7.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +59.8% |
| 1956 | 5.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -22.2% |
| 1957 | 6.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +24.7% |
| 1958 | 6.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.8% |
| 1959 | 6.00 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -8.8% |
| 1960 | 8.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +36.6% |
| 1961 | 11.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +39.1% |
| 1962 | 19.79 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +73.4% |
| 1963 | 22.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.0% |
| 1964 | 22.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.9% |
| 1965 | 14.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -36.4% |
| 1966 | 20.99 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +46.2% |
| 1967 | 41.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +95.6% |
| 1968 | 48.64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +18.4% |
| 1969 | 60.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +23.8% |
| 1970 | 79.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +31.2% |
| 1971 | 94.12 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.1% |
| 1972 | 112.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.9% |
| 1973 | 148.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +31.2% |
| 1974 | 157.69 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.5% |
| 1975 | 134.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.8% |
| 1976 | 162.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +21.1% |
| 1977 | 183.41 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +12.8% |
| 1978 | 176.58 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.7% |
| 1979 | 207.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.6% |
| 1980 | 243.80 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +17.4% |
| 1981 | 249.88 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.5% |
| 1982 | 214.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -14.2% |
| 1983 | 210.24 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.0% |
| 1984 | 203.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.2% |
| 1985 | 212.78 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.6% |
| 1986 | 255.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +19.9% |
| 1987 | 236.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -7.4% |
| 1988 | 253.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 1989 | 254.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.5% |
| 1990 | 241.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.0% |
| 1991 | 315.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +30.5% |
| 1992 | 348.35 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +10.5% |
| 1993 | 368.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.7% |
| 1994 | 359.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 340.65 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -5.3% |
| 1996 | 338.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -0.7% |
| 1997 | 298.14 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -11.8% |
| 1998 | 289.52 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 303.17 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +4.7% |
| 2000 | 380.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +25.6% |
| 2001 | 395.16 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.8% |
| 2002 | 416.55 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 2003 | 431.70 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +3.6% |
| 2004 | 490.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +13.5% |
| 2005 | 500.34 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.1% |
| 2006 | 536.06 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 515.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 564.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.6% |
| 2009 | 594.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.3% |
| 2010 | 648.61 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +9.1% |
| 2011 | 642.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 712.40 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +11.0% |
| 2013 | 689.07 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -3.3% |
| 2014 | 693.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 737.01 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +6.3% |
| 2016 | 757.19 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.7% |
| 2017 | 758.85 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.2% |
| 2018 | 769.68 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 823.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +7.0% |
| 2020 | 770.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -6.5% |
| 2021 | 812.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +5.4% |
| 2022 | 795.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 802.47 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +0.9% |
| 2024 | 821.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | +2.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 821.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for high income countries, which is 47.51 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 17.3× the median. (67 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 821.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 98.42 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents, 8.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Greenhouse gas 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 | +476.9% | 1.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1859 | +209.8% | -20,490 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 22,505 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1946 | +181.0% | 30.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 85.91 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1945 | +162.9% | 11.63 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 30.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1860 | +157.9% | 22,505 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 58,035 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
| 1938 | +146.3% | 423,948 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 1.04 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850s | -269,787 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | -667,766 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 22,505 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1860s | 163,210 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 58,035 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 239,837 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1870s | 299,190 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 257,321 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 338,508 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1880s | 359,468 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 344,518 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 374,804 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1890s | 387,949 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 377,346 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 402,169 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1900s | 384,940 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 365,343 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 402,440 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1910s | 372,675 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 352,167 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 391,292 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1920s | 379,992 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 358,956 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 420,822 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1930s | 991,838 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 337,141 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1940s | 36.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 6.57 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 89.39 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1950s | 7.10 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 2.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 17.74 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1960s | 26.94 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 8.20 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 60.21 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1970s | 145.62 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 79.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 207.59 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1980s | 233.37 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 203.43 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 255.15 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 1990s | 320.30 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 241.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 368.27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2000s | 482.46 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 380.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 594.49 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2010s | 723.23 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 642.02 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 823.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 10 |
| 2020s | 800.36 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 770.18 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 821.84 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 6 Indonesia 1.90 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 7 Iran 1.01 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 8 Japan 1.01 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 10 Canada 802.73 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 11 Democratic Republic of Congo 680.71 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents compare
- 12 Turkey 680.01 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 greenhouse gas emissions in Saudi Arabia?
- Greenhouse gas emissions in Saudi Arabia was 821.84 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 greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 823.83 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 2019.
- What is the lowest greenhouse gas emissions recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was -667,766 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents in 1850.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for greenhouse gas emissions?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 9th out of 199 countries with data for 2024.
- Is greenhouse gas emissions 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 Jones et al. (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Greenhouse gas 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
Greenhouse gas emissions are measured in tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalents over a 100-year timescale.