Russia vs Saudi Arabia: Electricity Compared

Russia generated 1,209 TWh of electricity in 2024 and Saudi Arabia 455 TWh, according to Ember. Gas was the largest source in both, at 45.8% in Russia and 63.3% in Saudi Arabia. Each kWh generated emitted 444 gCO2/kWh in Russia 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 Russia has figures to 2025, so this comparison uses 2024 for both.

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

Key Facts

Other fossil supplied 34.5% of Saudi Arabia's electricity in 2024, against 1.2% in Russia.
Saudi Arabia's electricity was 1.6 times as carbon intensive as Russia's in 2024, at 692 gCO2/kWh against 444 gCO2/kWh.
Low carbon sources supplied 35.9% of Russia's electricity in 2024 and 2.2% of Saudi Arabia's.
Electricity demand in 2024 was 1,193 TWh in Russia and 455 TWh in Saudi Arabia.

Key Figures, 2024

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Russia	Saudi Arabia
Total generation	1,209 TWh	455 TWh
Electricity demand	1,193 TWh	455 TWh
Demand per person	8.24 MWh	13.39 MWh
Carbon intensity	444 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	536 MtCO2	315 MtCO2
Low carbon share	35.9%	2.2%
Largest source	Gas 45.8%	Gas 63.3%

Generation Mix, 2024

Share of generation

Source	Russia	Saudi Arabia
Gas	45.8%	63.3%
Other fossil	1.2%	34.5%
Nuclear	17.8%	0.0%
Hydro	17.4%	0.0%
Coal	17.1%	0.0%
Solar	0.2%	1.8%
Wind	0.4%	0.4%
Bioenergy	0.1%	0.0%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Russia and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2024 it was 444 gCO2/kWh in Russia and 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Russia and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025
Year	Russia	Saudi Arabia
1985	492 gCO2/kWh	701 gCO2/kWh
1986	492 gCO2/kWh	699 gCO2/kWh
1987	489 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1988	486 gCO2/kWh	695 gCO2/kWh
1989	488 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1990	496 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1991	492 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1992	483 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
1993	473 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
1994	481 gCO2/kWh	694 gCO2/kWh
1995	477 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
1996	482 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
1997	477 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
1998	482 gCO2/kWh	690 gCO2/kWh
1999	468 gCO2/kWh	689 gCO2/kWh
2000	470 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
2001	458 gCO2/kWh	697 gCO2/kWh
2002	463 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2003	465 gCO2/kWh	699 gCO2/kWh
2004	454 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2005	457 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2006	463 gCO2/kWh	698 gCO2/kWh
2007	458 gCO2/kWh	695 gCO2/kWh
2008	475 gCO2/kWh	695 gCO2/kWh
2009	452 gCO2/kWh	690 gCO2/kWh
2010	458 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
2011	461 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
2012	462 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2013	450 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2014	449 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2015	444 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2016	443 gCO2/kWh	697 gCO2/kWh
2017	440 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2018	439 gCO2/kWh	703 gCO2/kWh
2019	440 gCO2/kWh	702 gCO2/kWh
2020	418 gCO2/kWh	702 gCO2/kWh
2021	427 gCO2/kWh	702 gCO2/kWh
2022	443 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2023	447 gCO2/kWh	697 gCO2/kWh
2024	444 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
2025	447 gCO2/kWh	n/a

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Russia and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2024 it was 8.24 MWh in Russia and 13.39 MWh in Saudi Arabia.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Russia and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025
Year	Russia	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	5.89 MWh	8.57 MWh
2001	5.99 MWh	8.57 MWh
2002	6.02 MWh	8.65 MWh
2003	6.19 MWh	8.87 MWh
2004	6.37 MWh	8.82 MWh
2005	6.51 MWh	9.29 MWh
2006	6.78 MWh	9.15 MWh
2007	6.99 MWh	9.14 MWh
2008	7.11 MWh	8.77 MWh
2009	6.80 MWh	8.97 MWh
2010	7.09 MWh	9.89 MWh
2011	7.17 MWh	9.92 MWh
2012	7.30 MWh	10.41 MWh
2013	7.23 MWh	10.51 MWh
2014	7.29 MWh	11.32 MWh
2015	7.27 MWh	11.70 MWh
2016	7.38 MWh	11.62 MWh
2017	7.39 MWh	12.83 MWh
2018	7.49 MWh	12.34 MWh
2019	7.51 MWh	12.43 MWh
2020	7.34 MWh	12.28 MWh
2021	7.79 MWh	12.54 MWh
2022	7.90 MWh	12.74 MWh
2023	7.99 MWh	12.90 MWh
2024	8.24 MWh	13.39 MWh
2025	8.17 MWh	n/a

Russia history · Saudi Arabia history

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

Russia 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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