Germany vs Saudi Arabia: Electricity Compared

Germany generated 492 TWh of electricity in 2024 and Saudi Arabia 455 TWh, according to Ember. Germany's largest source was wind (27.9%); Saudi Arabia's was gas (63.3%). Each kWh generated emitted 340 gCO2/kWh in Germany 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 Germany has figures to 2025, so this comparison uses 2024 for both.

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

Key Facts

Gas supplied 63.3% of Saudi Arabia's electricity in 2024, against 15.9% in Germany.
Saudi Arabia's electricity was 2.0 times as carbon intensive as Germany's in 2024, at 692 gCO2/kWh against 340 gCO2/kWh.
Electricity demand rose 20% in Saudi Arabia between 2019 and 2024, while it fell 9% in Germany.
The average person in Saudi Arabia used 13.39 MWh of electricity in 2024, 2.2 times as much as in Germany (6.18 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 58.3% of Germany's electricity in 2024 and 2.2% of Saudi Arabia's.
Electricity demand in 2024 was 518 TWh in Germany and 455 TWh in Saudi Arabia.

Key Figures, 2024

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Germany	Saudi Arabia
Total generation	492 TWh	455 TWh
Electricity demand	518 TWh	455 TWh
Demand per person	6.18 MWh	13.39 MWh
Carbon intensity	340 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	167 MtCO2	315 MtCO2
Low carbon share	58.3%	2.2%
Largest source	Wind 27.9%	Gas 63.3%

Generation Mix, 2024

Share of generation

Source	Germany	Saudi Arabia
Gas	15.9%	63.3%
Other fossil	4.2%	34.5%
Wind	27.9%	0.4%
Coal	21.6%	0.0%
Solar	15.1%	1.8%
Bioenergy	10.4%	0.0%
Hydro	4.8%	0.0%
Other renewables	0.0%	0.0%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Germany and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2024 it was 340 gCO2/kWh in Germany and 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Germany and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025
Year	Germany	Saudi Arabia
1985	431 gCO2/kWh	701 gCO2/kWh
1986	431 gCO2/kWh	699 gCO2/kWh
1987	431 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1988	431 gCO2/kWh	695 gCO2/kWh
1989	431 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1990	622 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1991	628 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1992	605 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
1993	608 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
1994	604 gCO2/kWh	694 gCO2/kWh
1995	596 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
1996	591 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
1997	575 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
1998	587 gCO2/kWh	690 gCO2/kWh
1999	566 gCO2/kWh	689 gCO2/kWh
2000	573 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
2001	565 gCO2/kWh	697 gCO2/kWh
2002	570 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2003	570 gCO2/kWh	699 gCO2/kWh
2004	555 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2005	546 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2006	536 gCO2/kWh	698 gCO2/kWh
2007	552 gCO2/kWh	695 gCO2/kWh
2008	525 gCO2/kWh	695 gCO2/kWh
2009	522 gCO2/kWh	690 gCO2/kWh
2010	517 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
2011	530 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
2012	534 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2013	538 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2014	522 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2015	504 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2016	498 gCO2/kWh	697 gCO2/kWh
2017	470 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2018	455 gCO2/kWh	703 gCO2/kWh
2019	392 gCO2/kWh	702 gCO2/kWh
2020	356 gCO2/kWh	702 gCO2/kWh
2021	395 gCO2/kWh	702 gCO2/kWh
2022	420 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2023	364 gCO2/kWh	697 gCO2/kWh
2024	340 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
2025	334 gCO2/kWh	n/a

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Germany and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2024 it was 6.18 MWh in Germany and 13.39 MWh in Saudi Arabia.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Germany and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025
Year	Germany	Saudi Arabia
1985	n/a	n/a
1986	n/a	n/a
1987	n/a	n/a
1988	n/a	n/a
1989	n/a	n/a
1990	n/a	n/a
1991	n/a	n/a
1992	n/a	n/a
1993	n/a	n/a
1994	n/a	n/a
1995	n/a	n/a
1996	n/a	n/a
1997	n/a	n/a
1998	n/a	n/a
1999	n/a	n/a
2000	6.99 MWh	8.57 MWh
2001	7.11 MWh	8.57 MWh
2002	7.24 MWh	8.65 MWh
2003	7.29 MWh	8.87 MWh
2004	7.39 MWh	8.82 MWh
2005	7.42 MWh	9.29 MWh
2006	7.51 MWh	9.15 MWh
2007	7.56 MWh	9.14 MWh
2008	7.55 MWh	8.77 MWh
2009	7.11 MWh	8.97 MWh
2010	7.54 MWh	9.89 MWh
2011	7.44 MWh	9.92 MWh
2012	7.41 MWh	10.41 MWh
2013	7.37 MWh	10.51 MWh
2014	7.19 MWh	11.32 MWh
2015	7.20 MWh	11.70 MWh
2016	7.14 MWh	11.62 MWh
2017	7.12 MWh	12.83 MWh
2018	7.00 MWh	12.34 MWh
2019	6.79 MWh	12.43 MWh
2020	6.55 MWh	12.28 MWh
2021	6.69 MWh	12.54 MWh
2022	6.42 MWh	12.74 MWh
2023	6.10 MWh	12.90 MWh
2024	6.18 MWh	13.39 MWh
2025	6.19 MWh	n/a

Germany history · Saudi Arabia history

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

Germany vs Saudi Arabia: Electricity Compared

Key Facts

Key Figures, 2024

Generation Mix, 2024

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

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