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Data as of 2024
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Built 2026-09-19 (19 September 2026)

Canada vs Saudi Arabia: Electricity Compared

Canada generated 637 TWh of electricity in 2024 and Saudi Arabia 455 TWh, according to Ember. Canada's largest source was hydro (53.9%); Saudi Arabia's was gas (63.3%). Each kWh generated emitted 185 gCO2/kWh in Canada and 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia. These are Ember annual statistics for 2024, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Ember's latest annual figures for Saudi Arabia are for 2024, while Canada has figures to 2025, so this comparison uses 2024 for both.

Why this comparison: both among the 20 largest electricity users.

Key Facts

  • Hydro supplied 53.9% of Canada's electricity in 2024, against none in Saudi Arabia.
  • Saudi Arabia's electricity was 3.7 times as carbon intensive as Canada's in 2024, at 692 gCO2/kWh against 185 gCO2/kWh.
  • Low carbon sources supplied 77.7% of Canada's electricity in 2024 and 2.2% of Saudi Arabia's.
  • Electricity demand in 2024 was 624 TWh in Canada and 455 TWh in Saudi Arabia.

Key Figures, 2024

Ember annual statistics
MeasureCanadaSaudi Arabia
Total generation637 TWh455 TWh
Electricity demand624 TWh455 TWh
Demand per person15.71 MWh13.39 MWh
Carbon intensity185 gCO2/kWh692 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions118 MtCO2315 MtCO2
Low carbon share77.7%2.2%
Largest sourceHydro 53.9%Gas 63.3%

Generation Mix, 2024

Share of generation
SourceCanadaSaudi Arabia
Gas 17.2% 63.3%
Hydro 53.9% 0.0%
Other fossil 1.2% 34.5%
Nuclear 13.4% 0.0%
Wind 7.4% 0.4%
Coal 4.0% 0.0%
Solar 1.5% 1.8%
Bioenergy 1.5% 0.0%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in Canada and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Canada and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2024 it was 185 gCO2/kWh in Canada and 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Canada and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2024 it was 185 gCO2/kWh in Canada and 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in Canada and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025
YearCanadaSaudi Arabia
1985191 gCO2/kWh701 gCO2/kWh
1986172 gCO2/kWh699 gCO2/kWh
1987190 gCO2/kWh696 gCO2/kWh
1988206 gCO2/kWh695 gCO2/kWh
1989225 gCO2/kWh696 gCO2/kWh
1990206 gCO2/kWh696 gCO2/kWh
1991202 gCO2/kWh696 gCO2/kWh
1992209 gCO2/kWh693 gCO2/kWh
1993191 gCO2/kWh693 gCO2/kWh
1994188 gCO2/kWh694 gCO2/kWh
1995199 gCO2/kWh692 gCO2/kWh
1996192 gCO2/kWh691 gCO2/kWh
1997213 gCO2/kWh691 gCO2/kWh
1998241 gCO2/kWh690 gCO2/kWh
1999235 gCO2/kWh689 gCO2/kWh
2000246 gCO2/kWh692 gCO2/kWh
2001256 gCO2/kWh697 gCO2/kWh
2002245 gCO2/kWh700 gCO2/kWh
2003252 gCO2/kWh699 gCO2/kWh
2004235 gCO2/kWh700 gCO2/kWh
2005225 gCO2/kWh700 gCO2/kWh
2006217 gCO2/kWh698 gCO2/kWh
2007228 gCO2/kWh695 gCO2/kWh
2008214 gCO2/kWh695 gCO2/kWh
2009204 gCO2/kWh690 gCO2/kWh
2010215 gCO2/kWh691 gCO2/kWh
2011206 gCO2/kWh691 gCO2/kWh
2012193 gCO2/kWh693 gCO2/kWh
2013187 gCO2/kWh693 gCO2/kWh
2014189 gCO2/kWh693 gCO2/kWh
2015184 gCO2/kWh693 gCO2/kWh
2016181 gCO2/kWh697 gCO2/kWh
2017172 gCO2/kWh700 gCO2/kWh
2018171 gCO2/kWh703 gCO2/kWh
2019170 gCO2/kWh702 gCO2/kWh
2020162 gCO2/kWh702 gCO2/kWh
2021165 gCO2/kWh702 gCO2/kWh
2022161 gCO2/kWh700 gCO2/kWh
2023174 gCO2/kWh697 gCO2/kWh
2024185 gCO2/kWh692 gCO2/kWh
2025191 gCO2/kWhn/a

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in Canada and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in Canada and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2024 it was 15.71 MWh in Canada and 13.39 MWh in Saudi Arabia. 0 5 10 15 20 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in Canada and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2024 it was 15.71 MWh in Canada and 13.39 MWh in Saudi Arabia.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in Canada and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025
YearCanadaSaudi Arabia
1985n/an/a
1986n/an/a
1987n/an/a
1988n/an/a
1989n/an/a
1990n/an/a
1991n/an/a
1992n/an/a
1993n/an/a
1994n/an/a
1995n/an/a
1996n/an/a
1997n/an/a
1998n/an/a
1999n/an/a
200018.39 MWh8.57 MWh
200118.12 MWh8.57 MWh
200218.34 MWh8.65 MWh
200318.30 MWh8.87 MWh
200418.30 MWh8.82 MWh
200518.39 MWh9.29 MWh
200617.99 MWh9.15 MWh
200718.23 MWh9.14 MWh
200818.03 MWh8.77 MWh
200917.15 MWh8.97 MWh
201017.02 MWh9.89 MWh
201117.41 MWh9.92 MWh
201216.89 MWh10.41 MWh
201317.11 MWh10.51 MWh
201417.04 MWh11.32 MWh
201516.73 MWh11.70 MWh
201616.60 MWh11.62 MWh
201716.49 MWh12.83 MWh
201816.44 MWh12.34 MWh
201916.11 MWh12.43 MWh
202015.67 MWh12.28 MWh
202115.74 MWh12.54 MWh
202215.79 MWh12.74 MWh
202315.61 MWh12.90 MWh
202415.71 MWh13.39 MWh
202516.09 MWhn/a

Canada history · Saudi Arabia history

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2024.