Brazil vs Saudi Arabia: Electricity Compared

Brazil generated 746 TWh of electricity in 2024 and Saudi Arabia 455 TWh, according to Ember. Brazil's largest source was hydro (55.4%); Saudi Arabia's was gas (63.3%). Each kWh generated emitted 106 gCO2/kWh in Brazil 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 Brazil 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 6.5% in Brazil.
Saudi Arabia's electricity was 6.5 times as carbon intensive as Brazil's in 2024, at 692 gCO2/kWh against 106 gCO2/kWh.
The average person in Saudi Arabia used 13.39 MWh of electricity in 2024, 3.8 times as much as in Brazil (3.57 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 89.5% of Brazil's electricity in 2024 and 2.2% of Saudi Arabia's.
Electricity demand in 2024 was 757 TWh in Brazil and 455 TWh in Saudi Arabia.

Key Figures, 2024

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Brazil	Saudi Arabia
Total generation	746 TWh	455 TWh
Electricity demand	757 TWh	455 TWh
Demand per person	3.57 MWh	13.39 MWh
Carbon intensity	106 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	79.1 MtCO2	315 MtCO2
Low carbon share	89.5%	2.2%
Largest source	Hydro 55.4%	Gas 63.3%

Generation Mix, 2024

Share of generation

Source	Brazil	Saudi Arabia
Gas	6.5%	63.3%
Hydro	55.4%	0.0%
Other fossil	1.8%	34.5%
Wind	14.6%	0.4%
Solar	9.6%	1.8%
Bioenergy	7.8%	0.0%
Coal	2.2%	0.0%
Nuclear	2.1%	0.0%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Brazil and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2024 it was 106 gCO2/kWh in Brazil and 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Brazil and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025
Year	Brazil	Saudi Arabia
1985	61 gCO2/kWh	701 gCO2/kWh
1986	85 gCO2/kWh	699 gCO2/kWh
1987	74 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1988	66 gCO2/kWh	695 gCO2/kWh
1989	66 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1990	60 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1991	62 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1992	63 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
1993	61 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
1994	61 gCO2/kWh	694 gCO2/kWh
1995	63 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
1996	68 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
1997	71 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
1998	71 gCO2/kWh	690 gCO2/kWh
1999	90 gCO2/kWh	689 gCO2/kWh
2000	89 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
2001	106 gCO2/kWh	697 gCO2/kWh
2002	97 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2003	91 gCO2/kWh	699 gCO2/kWh
2004	102 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2005	99 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2006	96 gCO2/kWh	698 gCO2/kWh
2007	91 gCO2/kWh	695 gCO2/kWh
2008	114 gCO2/kWh	695 gCO2/kWh
2009	87 gCO2/kWh	690 gCO2/kWh
2010	114 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
2011	100 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
2012	128 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2013	168 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2014	193 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2015	189 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2016	150 gCO2/kWh	697 gCO2/kWh
2017	156 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2018	137 gCO2/kWh	703 gCO2/kWh
2019	142 gCO2/kWh	702 gCO2/kWh
2020	133 gCO2/kWh	702 gCO2/kWh
2021	168 gCO2/kWh	702 gCO2/kWh
2022	103 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2023	96 gCO2/kWh	697 gCO2/kWh
2024	106 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
2025	110 gCO2/kWh	n/a

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Brazil and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2024 it was 3.57 MWh in Brazil and 13.39 MWh in Saudi Arabia.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Brazil and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025
Year	Brazil	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	2.25 MWh	8.57 MWh
2001	2.08 MWh	8.57 MWh
2002	2.14 MWh	8.65 MWh
2003	2.23 MWh	8.87 MWh
2004	2.33 MWh	8.82 MWh
2005	2.39 MWh	9.29 MWh
2006	2.47 MWh	9.15 MWh
2007	2.57 MWh	9.14 MWh
2008	2.66 MWh	8.77 MWh
2009	2.64 MWh	8.97 MWh
2010	2.84 MWh	9.89 MWh
2011	2.91 MWh	9.92 MWh
2012	3.01 MWh	10.41 MWh
2013	3.08 MWh	10.51 MWh
2014	3.12 MWh	11.32 MWh
2015	3.05 MWh	11.70 MWh
2016	3.05 MWh	11.62 MWh
2017	3.06 MWh	12.83 MWh
2018	3.09 MWh	12.34 MWh
2019	3.17 MWh	12.43 MWh
2020	3.13 MWh	12.28 MWh
2021	3.24 MWh	12.54 MWh
2022	3.28 MWh	12.74 MWh
2023	3.43 MWh	12.90 MWh
2024	3.57 MWh	13.39 MWh
2025	3.58 MWh	n/a

Brazil history · Saudi Arabia history

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

Brazil 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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