Saudi Arabia CO₂ Emissions
Saudi Arabia emitted 692 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024, 1.79% of the global total. That ranks it 8th of 213 countries and territories and works out at 20.38 tonnes per person.
Data year 2024 · Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025) via Our World in Data
How much CO₂ does Saudi Arabia emit?
Saudi Arabia produced 692 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. The world total was 38.6 billion tonnes, so Saudi Arabia accounts for 1.79% of it.
With a population of about 34 million, that is 20.38 tonnes per person, 4.3 times the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
CO₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia since 1990
Annual emissions in Saudi Arabia have risen by 280% since 1990, from 182 million tonnes to 692 million tonnes. Over the last ten years, from 2014 to 2024, they have risen by 18%. Emissions peaked in 2019 at 708 million tonnes and are now 2% below that level.
Where the CO₂ comes from
Oil is the largest source of CO₂ in Saudi Arabia, at about 65% of the total, followed by gas at 30% and cement at 4%.
How Saudi Arabia compares with other countries
These are the countries closest to Saudi Arabia in the 2024 ranking by total emissions. See the full ranking of all 213 countries.
| # | Country | Total (Mt) | Share of world | Per person (t) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | Indonesia | 812.22 | 2.10% | 2.87 |
| 7 | Iran | 792.63 | 2.05% | 8.66 |
| 8 | Saudi Arabia | 692.13 | 1.79% | 20.38 |
| 9 | South Korea | 583.68 | 1.51% | 11.29 |
| 10 | Germany | 572.32 | 1.48% | 6.77 |
Historical emissions
Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for a long time, so past emissions matter as well as current ones. Since records began, Saudi Arabia has emitted about 19.0 billion tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry. That is 1.03% of the cumulative global total, compared with 1.79% of emissions in 2024.
Frequently asked questions
How much CO₂ does Saudi Arabia emit per year?
Saudi Arabia emitted 692 million tonnes of CO₂ from fossil fuels and industry in 2024. That is 1.79% of global emissions.
What are the CO₂ emissions per person in Saudi Arabia?
About 20.38 tonnes of CO₂ per person in 2024, which is 4.3 times the world average of 4.73 tonnes.
Are CO₂ emissions in Saudi Arabia rising or falling?
They have risen by 18% over the last ten years and risen by 280% since 1990. Emissions peaked in 2019 at 708 million tonnes and are now 2% below that level.
What is the largest source of CO₂ in Saudi Arabia?
Oil is the largest source, responsible for about 65% of emissions from fossil fuels and industry, followed by gas at 30%.
About the data. Figures are annual carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels and from industry, such as cement production. They are counted where the emissions happen and do not include land-use change, other greenhouse gases, or emissions from imported goods.
Source: Global Carbon Budget (2025), processed by Our World in Data and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Latest year available: 2024.
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