Live estimate

Saudi Arabia CO₂ Emissions

Saudi Arabia emitted 692.1 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024: 1.8% of the world total, the 8th most of 213 countries. That is 20.4 tonnes per person, 4.3× the world average of 4.7 t.

Estimated CO₂ emitted by Saudi Arabia in 2026 so far

0 tonnes since you opened this page · 22 t every second

CO₂ in 2024

692.1 Mt

692.1 million tonnes

World rank

of 213 countries

Share of world

1.8%

world total 38.6 Gt

Per person

20.4 t

world average 4.7 t

Change vs 2023

+2.2%

2023: 677.4 Mt

Historical share

1.0%

#18 since 1750

Trend since 2000

Emissions rose 2.2% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are up 68%. Emissions peaked in 2019 at 708.3 million tonnes and are now 2% lower.

250500750

Million tonnes of CO₂ a year

Show yearly data (million tonnes)

Year	CO₂ (Mt)
2024	692.1
2023	677.4
2022	667.0
2021	695.4
2020	653.6
2019	708.3
2018	652.2
2017	644.5
2016	641.2
2015	624.5
2014	585.1
2013	583.2
2012	605.7
2011	540.2
2010	555.6
2009	504.0
2008	469.4
2007	423.3
2006	445.0
2005	412.2
2004	407.7
2003	351.2
2002	346.9
2001	324.4
2000	309.6

Where it comes from

Oil is the largest source of Saudi Arabia’s CO₂, at 65%.

Coal0%0.7 Mt
Oil65%452 Mt
Gas30%206 Mt
Cement4%29.4 Mt
Flaring1%4.6 Mt

Saudi Arabia in context

0.42% vs 1.8%

Share of people vs share of CO₂

Saudi Arabia is home to 0.42% of the world’s population and produces 1.8% of its fossil CO₂, so its share of emissions is larger than its share of people.

+280%

Change since 1990

Emissions in 2024 were 280% higher than in 1990, the baseline year of the Kyoto Protocol (182.0 Mt then). World emissions rose 70% over the same period.

654 Mt

Consumption-based CO₂ (2023)

Counting the CO₂ in goods it imports and exports, Saudi Arabia was responsible for 654.1 Mt in 2023, 3% less than the 677.4 Mt produced at home: part of its output is consumed elsewhere.

210 g

CO₂ per kWh of energy

Each kilowatt-hour of primary energy used in Saudi Arabia came with about 210 g of CO₂ in 2024 (world: 218 g), pointing to an energy mix close to the world average.

0.37 kg

CO₂ per dollar of GDP

Its economy emitted 0.37 kg of CO₂ for each dollar of output in 2022 (adjusted for purchasing power), 1.3× the world average of 0.29 kg.

Figures from Our World in Data, based on the Global Carbon Project; latest year available for each measure.

How Saudi Arabia compares

Rank	Country	CO₂ 2024	Share	Per person
6	Indonesia	812.2 Mt	2.1%	2.9 t
7	Iran	792.6 Mt	2.0%	8.7 t
8	Saudi Arabia	692.1 Mt	1.8%	20.4 t
9	South Korea	583.7 Mt	1.5%	11.3 t
10	Germany	572.3 Mt	1.5%	6.8 t

See all 213 countries → · Global live counter →

Questions and answers

How much CO₂ does Saudi Arabia emit?

Saudi Arabia emitted 692.1 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024, 1.8% of global emissions. That is about 22 tonnes every second.

What are Saudi Arabia’s CO₂ emissions per person?

Saudi Arabia emits 20.4 tonnes per person, 4.3× the world average of 4.7 t. Per-person emissions divide the national total by population (34.0 million people in 2024).

Are Saudi Arabia’s CO₂ emissions rising or falling?

Emissions rose 2.2% in 2024 compared with 2023. Compared with 2005, emissions are up 68%. Emissions peaked in 2019 at 708.3 million tonnes and are now 2% lower.

What is the main source of CO₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia?

Oil is the largest source, at 65% of Saudi Arabia’s fossil and industry CO₂ in 2024 (451.5 million tonnes).

What are Saudi Arabia’s consumption-based CO₂ emissions?

About 654.1 million tonnes in 2023, 3% less than the 677.4 million tonnes emitted within its borders, because part of what it produces is exported and consumed in other countries. Consumption-based accounting adds the emissions embodied in imports and subtracts those in exports.

How much has Saudi Arabia contributed to historical CO₂ emissions?

Since 1750, Saudi Arabia has emitted about 19 billion tonnes of fossil CO₂, 1.0% of the world total, the 18th largest historical contribution.