CO₂ emissions · Asia · 2024 data
Saudi Arabia CO₂ Emissions
Saudi Arabia emitted 692 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, or 20.4 t per person — #8 of 213 countries and 1.79% of global emissions. That is 4.3× the world average of 4.73 t per person. Over the past ten years emissions rose by 18%.
CO₂ emissions of Saudi Arabia, 1950–2024
Million tonnes of CO₂ per year · fossil fuels and industry, excluding land use · Our World in Data, based on the Global Carbon Budget and Jones et al. (CC BY 4.0)
CO₂ emissions by year (table)
| Year | CO₂ (million t) | Per person (t) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 692.1 | 20.38 | +2.2% |
| 2023 | 677.4 | 20.37 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 667.0 | 20.73 | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 695.4 | 22.20 | +6.4% |
| 2020 | 653.6 | 21.09 | -7.7% |
| 2019 | 708.3 | 23.25 | +8.6% |
| 2018 | 652.2 | 21.48 | +1.2% |
| 2017 | 644.5 | 20.94 | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 641.2 | 20.87 | +2.7% |
| 2015 | 624.5 | 20.84 | +6.7% |
| 2014 | 585.1 | 20.18 | +0.3% |
| 2013 | 583.2 | 20.81 | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 605.7 | 22.38 | +12.1% |
| 2011 | 540.2 | 20.69 | -2.8% |
| 2010 | 555.6 | 22.09 | +10.3% |
| 2009 | 504.0 | 20.81 | +7.4% |
| 2008 | 469.4 | 20.16 | +10.9% |
| 2007 | 423.3 | 18.93 | -4.9% |
| 2006 | 445.0 | 20.74 | +7.9% |
| 2005 | 412.2 | 20.05 | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 407.7 | 20.73 | +16.1% |
| 2003 | 351.2 | 18.70 | +1.2% |
| 2002 | 346.9 | 19.37 | +7.0% |
| 2001 | 324.4 | 19.03 | +4.8% |
| 2000 | 309.6 | 19.14 | +30.3% |
| 1999 | 237.7 | 15.36 | +8.6% |
| 1998 | 218.9 | 14.67 | -3.6% |
| 1997 | 227.1 | 15.80 | -15.7% |
| 1996 | 269.5 | 19.49 | -1.9% |
| 1995 | 274.6 | 20.66 | -5.7% |
| 1994 | 291.2 | 22.84 | -2.2% |
| 1993 | 297.8 | 24.37 | +7.9% |
| 1992 | 276.0 | 23.62 | +12.9% |
| 1991 | 244.5 | 21.91 | +34.4% |
| 1990 | 182.0 | 17.10 | -10.5% |
| 1989 | 203.4 | 20.08 | +0.6% |
| 1988 | 202.2 | 21.00 | +6.2% |
| 1987 | 190.4 | 20.86 | -6.9% |
| 1986 | 204.6 | 23.71 | +18.7% |
| 1985 | 172.4 | 21.15 | +10.9% |
| 1984 | 155.5 | 20.20 | -3.3% |
| 1983 | 160.8 | 22.17 | +1.9% |
| 1982 | 157.9 | 23.13 | -9.9% |
| 1981 | 175.3 | 27.30 | +3.6% |
| 1980 | 169.2 | 27.98 | +22.6% |
| 1979 | 138.0 | 24.20 | +20.0% |
| 1978 | 115.0 | 21.37 | -2.6% |
| 1977 | 118.1 | 23.23 | +16.4% |
| 1976 | 101.5 | 21.10 | +21.9% |
| 1975 | 83.3 | 18.27 | -15.6% |
| 1974 | 98.7 | 22.83 | +3.8% |
| 1973 | 95.1 | 23.15 | +35.2% |
| 1972 | 70.3 | 17.99 | +17.6% |
| 1971 | 59.8 | 16.05 | +32.1% |
| 1970 | 45.3 | 12.70 | +28.3% |
| 1969 | 35.3 | 10.32 | +21.3% |
| 1968 | 29.1 | 8.86 | +14.1% |
| 1967 | 25.5 | 8.07 | +297.8% |
| 1966 | 6.4 | 2.11 | +52.0% |
| 1965 | 4.2 | 1.44 | -40.1% |
| 1964 | 7.0 | 2.50 | +1.5% |
| 1963 | 6.9 | 2.55 | +11.0% |
| 1962 | 6.3 | 2.39 | +75.2% |
| 1961 | 3.6 | 1.41 | +33.4% |
| 1960 | 2.7 | 1.10 | +44.2% |
| 1959 | 1.9 | 0.79 | -7.2% |
| 1958 | 2.0 | 0.88 | -4.9% |
| 1957 | 2.1 | 0.96 | +28.8% |
| 1956 | 1.6 | 0.77 | -22.9% |
| 1955 | 2.1 | 1.04 | +70.8% |
| 1954 | 1.2 | 0.63 | +160.1% |
| 1953 | 0.5 | 0.25 | — |
| 1952 | 0.0 | 0.00 | — |
| 1951 | 0.0 | 0.00 | -100.0% |
| 1950 | 5.1 | 3.02 | -72.0% |
Where Saudi Arabia's CO₂ comes from
Oil is the largest source. Oil dominates — mostly transport fuel, so electrifying vehicles matters most here.
Per person: Saudi Arabia vs the world
Production vs consumption
Counting the CO₂ embedded in the goods it imports and exports, Saudi Arabia's consumption-based footprint was 654 million tonnes (19.7 t per person) in 2023. Saudi Arabia is a net exporter of emissions: 3% of what it emits goes into goods consumed abroad.
Primary energy use: 96,883 kWh per person (world 21,654 kWh).
All greenhouse gases (2024)
Frequently asked questions about CO₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia
How much CO₂ does Saudi Arabia emit?
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How much has Saudi Arabia contributed to climate change historically?
Data: Our World in Data, based on the Global Carbon Budget and Jones et al. (CC BY 4.0). CO₂ figures cover fossil fuels and industry (territorial), excluding land-use change unless stated.