Saudi Arabia vs United States: Electricity Compared

Saudi Arabia generated 455 TWh of electricity in 2024 and the United States 4,391 TWh, according to Ember. Gas was the largest source in both, at 63.3% in Saudi Arabia and 42.6% in the United States. Each kWh generated emitted 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States. 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 the United States 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 0.7% in the United States.
Saudi Arabia's electricity was 1.8 times as carbon intensive as the United States' in 2024, at 692 gCO2/kWh against 384 gCO2/kWh.
Low carbon sources supplied 2.2% of Saudi Arabia's electricity in 2024 and 41.9% of the United States'.
Electricity demand in 2024 was 455 TWh in Saudi Arabia and 4,405 TWh in the United States.

Key Figures, 2024

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Saudi Arabia	United States
Total generation	455 TWh	4,391 TWh
Electricity demand	455 TWh	4,405 TWh
Demand per person	13.39 MWh	12.75 MWh
Carbon intensity	692 gCO2/kWh	384 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	315 MtCO2	1,685 MtCO2
Low carbon share	2.2%	41.9%
Largest source	Gas 63.3%	Gas 42.6%

Generation Mix, 2024

Share of generation

Source	Saudi Arabia	United States
Gas	63.3%	42.6%
Other fossil	34.5%	0.7%
Nuclear	0.0%	17.8%
Coal	0.0%	14.9%
Wind	0.4%	10.3%
Solar	1.8%	6.9%
Hydro	0.0%	5.4%
Bioenergy	0.0%	1.1%
Other renewables	0.0%	0.4%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Saudi Arabia and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2024 it was 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Saudi Arabia and United States, 1985 to 2025
Year	Saudi Arabia	United States
1985	701 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1986	699 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1987	696 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1988	695 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1989	696 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1990	696 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1991	696 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1992	693 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1993	693 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1994	694 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1995	692 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1996	691 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1997	691 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1998	690 gCO2/kWh	n/a
1999	689 gCO2/kWh	n/a
2000	692 gCO2/kWh	608 gCO2/kWh
2001	697 gCO2/kWh	610 gCO2/kWh
2002	700 gCO2/kWh	601 gCO2/kWh
2003	699 gCO2/kWh	606 gCO2/kWh
2004	700 gCO2/kWh	602 gCO2/kWh
2005	700 gCO2/kWh	604 gCO2/kWh
2006	698 gCO2/kWh	595 gCO2/kWh
2007	695 gCO2/kWh	598 gCO2/kWh
2008	695 gCO2/kWh	591 gCO2/kWh
2009	690 gCO2/kWh	565 gCO2/kWh
2010	691 gCO2/kWh	571 gCO2/kWh
2011	691 gCO2/kWh	551 gCO2/kWh
2012	693 gCO2/kWh	533 gCO2/kWh
2013	693 gCO2/kWh	533 gCO2/kWh
2014	693 gCO2/kWh	529 gCO2/kWh
2015	693 gCO2/kWh	505 gCO2/kWh
2016	697 gCO2/kWh	483 gCO2/kWh
2017	700 gCO2/kWh	469 gCO2/kWh
2018	703 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2019	702 gCO2/kWh	439 gCO2/kWh
2020	702 gCO2/kWh	412 gCO2/kWh
2021	702 gCO2/kWh	424 gCO2/kWh
2022	700 gCO2/kWh	410 gCO2/kWh
2023	697 gCO2/kWh	393 gCO2/kWh
2024	692 gCO2/kWh	384 gCO2/kWh
2025	n/a	384 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Saudi Arabia and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2024 it was 13.39 MWh in Saudi Arabia and 12.75 MWh in the United States.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Saudi Arabia and United States, 1985 to 2025
Year	Saudi Arabia	United States
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	13.63 MWh
2001	8.57 MWh	13.19 MWh
2002	8.65 MWh	13.46 MWh
2003	8.87 MWh	13.37 MWh
2004	8.82 MWh	13.54 MWh
2005	9.29 MWh	13.73 MWh
2006	9.15 MWh	13.61 MWh
2007	9.14 MWh	13.83 MWh
2008	8.77 MWh	13.58 MWh
2009	8.97 MWh	12.90 MWh
2010	9.89 MWh	13.31 MWh
2011	9.92 MWh	13.14 MWh
2012	10.41 MWh	12.89 MWh
2013	10.51 MWh	12.85 MWh
2014	11.32 MWh	12.84 MWh
2015	11.70 MWh	12.73 MWh
2016	11.62 MWh	12.62 MWh
2017	12.83 MWh	12.37 MWh
2018	12.34 MWh	12.67 MWh
2019	12.43 MWh	12.43 MWh
2020	12.28 MWh	12.05 MWh
2021	12.54 MWh	12.33 MWh
2022	12.74 MWh	12.67 MWh
2023	12.90 MWh	12.44 MWh
2024	13.39 MWh	12.75 MWh
2025	n/a	13.06 MWh

Saudi Arabia history · United States history

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

Saudi Arabia vs United States: 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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