Saudi Arabia vs South Korea: Electricity Compared

Saudi Arabia generated 455 TWh of electricity in 2024 and South Korea 625 TWh, according to Ember. Saudi Arabia's largest source was gas (63.3%); South Korea's was coal (30.5%). Each kWh generated emitted 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia and 416 gCO2/kWh in South Korea. 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 South Korea has figures to 2025, so this comparison uses 2024 for both.

Why this comparison: both among the 20 largest electricity users and similar electricity demand on the same continent.

Key Facts

Gas supplied 63.3% of Saudi Arabia's electricity in 2024, against 28.5% in South Korea.
Saudi Arabia's electricity was 1.7 times as carbon intensive as South Korea's in 2024, at 692 gCO2/kWh against 416 gCO2/kWh.
Low carbon sources supplied 2.2% of Saudi Arabia's electricity in 2024 and 39.9% of South Korea's.
Electricity demand in 2024 was 455 TWh in Saudi Arabia and 625 TWh in South Korea.

Key Figures, 2024

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Saudi Arabia	South Korea
Total generation	455 TWh	625 TWh
Electricity demand	455 TWh	625 TWh
Demand per person	13.39 MWh	12.09 MWh
Carbon intensity	692 gCO2/kWh	416 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	315 MtCO2	260 MtCO2
Low carbon share	2.2%	39.9%
Largest source	Gas 63.3%	Coal 30.5%

Generation Mix, 2024

Share of generation

Source	Saudi Arabia	South Korea
Gas	63.3%	28.5%
Other fossil	34.5%	1.1%
Coal	0.0%	30.5%
Nuclear	0.0%	30.2%
Solar	1.8%	5.2%
Bioenergy	0.0%	3.3%
Hydro	0.0%	0.7%
Wind	0.4%	0.5%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Saudi Arabia and South Korea each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2024 it was 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia and 416 gCO2/kWh in South Korea.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Saudi Arabia and South Korea, 1985 to 2025
Year	Saudi Arabia	South Korea
1985	701 gCO2/kWh	524 gCO2/kWh
1986	699 gCO2/kWh	431 gCO2/kWh
1987	696 gCO2/kWh	345 gCO2/kWh
1988	695 gCO2/kWh	405 gCO2/kWh
1989	696 gCO2/kWh	383 gCO2/kWh
1990	696 gCO2/kWh	379 gCO2/kWh
1991	696 gCO2/kWh	399 gCO2/kWh
1992	693 gCO2/kWh	427 gCO2/kWh
1993	693 gCO2/kWh	451 gCO2/kWh
1994	694 gCO2/kWh	493 gCO2/kWh
1995	692 gCO2/kWh	479 gCO2/kWh
1996	691 gCO2/kWh	481 gCO2/kWh
1997	691 gCO2/kWh	492 gCO2/kWh
1998	690 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
1999	689 gCO2/kWh	453 gCO2/kWh
2000	692 gCO2/kWh	462 gCO2/kWh
2001	697 gCO2/kWh	475 gCO2/kWh
2002	700 gCO2/kWh	473 gCO2/kWh
2003	699 gCO2/kWh	458 gCO2/kWh
2004	700 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2005	700 gCO2/kWh	450 gCO2/kWh
2006	698 gCO2/kWh	451 gCO2/kWh
2007	695 gCO2/kWh	474 gCO2/kWh
2008	695 gCO2/kWh	477 gCO2/kWh
2009	690 gCO2/kWh	495 gCO2/kWh
2010	691 gCO2/kWh	500 gCO2/kWh
2011	691 gCO2/kWh	497 gCO2/kWh
2012	693 gCO2/kWh	502 gCO2/kWh
2013	693 gCO2/kWh	512 gCO2/kWh
2014	693 gCO2/kWh	493 gCO2/kWh
2015	693 gCO2/kWh	488 gCO2/kWh
2016	697 gCO2/kWh	489 gCO2/kWh
2017	700 gCO2/kWh	511 gCO2/kWh
2018	703 gCO2/kWh	519 gCO2/kWh
2019	702 gCO2/kWh	497 gCO2/kWh
2020	702 gCO2/kWh	458 gCO2/kWh
2021	702 gCO2/kWh	460 gCO2/kWh
2022	700 gCO2/kWh	438 gCO2/kWh
2023	697 gCO2/kWh	427 gCO2/kWh
2024	692 gCO2/kWh	416 gCO2/kWh
2025	n/a	417 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Saudi Arabia and South Korea each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2024 it was 13.39 MWh in Saudi Arabia and 12.09 MWh in South Korea.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Saudi Arabia and South Korea, 1985 to 2025
Year	Saudi Arabia	South Korea
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	8.57 MWh	6.21 MWh
2001	8.57 MWh	6.59 MWh
2002	8.65 MWh	7.02 MWh
2003	8.87 MWh	7.32 MWh
2004	8.82 MWh	7.72 MWh
2005	9.29 MWh	8.14 MWh
2006	9.15 MWh	8.39 MWh
2007	9.14 MWh	8.83 MWh
2008	8.77 MWh	9.15 MWh
2009	8.97 MWh	9.32 MWh
2010	9.89 MWh	10.15 MWh
2011	9.92 MWh	10.55 MWh
2012	10.41 MWh	10.71 MWh
2013	10.51 MWh	10.73 MWh
2014	11.32 MWh	10.69 MWh
2015	11.70 MWh	10.75 MWh
2016	11.62 MWh	10.94 MWh
2017	12.83 MWh	11.20 MWh
2018	12.34 MWh	11.48 MWh
2019	12.43 MWh	11.34 MWh
2020	12.28 MWh	11.13 MWh
2021	12.54 MWh	11.72 MWh
2022	12.74 MWh	12.02 MWh
2023	12.90 MWh	11.93 MWh
2024	13.39 MWh	12.09 MWh
2025	n/a	12.09 MWh

Saudi Arabia history · South Korea history

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

Saudi Arabia vs South Korea: 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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