France vs Saudi Arabia: Electricity Compared

France generated 562 TWh of electricity in 2024 and Saudi Arabia 455 TWh, according to Ember. France's largest source was nuclear (67.7%); Saudi Arabia's was gas (63.3%). Each kWh generated emitted 40 gCO2/kWh in France 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 France has figures to 2025, so this comparison uses 2024 for both.

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

Key Facts

Nuclear supplied 67.7% of France's electricity in 2024, against none in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia's electricity was 17.1 times as carbon intensive as France's in 2024, at 692 gCO2/kWh against 40 gCO2/kWh.
Electricity demand rose 20% in Saudi Arabia between 2019 and 2024, while it fell 7% in France.
Low carbon sources supplied 94.9% of France's electricity in 2024 and 2.2% of Saudi Arabia's.
Electricity demand in 2024 was 472 TWh in France and 455 TWh in Saudi Arabia.

Key Figures, 2024

Ember annual statistics

Measure	France	Saudi Arabia
Total generation	562 TWh	455 TWh
Electricity demand	472 TWh	455 TWh
Demand per person	7.09 MWh	13.39 MWh
Carbon intensity	40 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	22.7 MtCO2	315 MtCO2
Low carbon share	94.9%	2.2%
Largest source	Nuclear 67.7%	Gas 63.3%

Generation Mix, 2024

Share of generation

Source	France	Saudi Arabia
Nuclear	67.7%	0.0%
Gas	3.2%	63.3%
Other fossil	1.7%	34.5%
Hydro	12.7%	0.0%
Wind	8.1%	0.4%
Solar	4.5%	1.8%
Bioenergy	1.9%	0.0%
Coal	0.2%	0.0%
Other renewables	0.1%	0.0%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in France and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2024 it was 40 gCO2/kWh in France and 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in France and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025
Year	France	Saudi Arabia
1985	n/a	701 gCO2/kWh
1986	n/a	699 gCO2/kWh
1987	n/a	696 gCO2/kWh
1988	n/a	695 gCO2/kWh
1989	n/a	696 gCO2/kWh
1990	104 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1991	122 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1992	102 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
1993	69 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
1994	67 gCO2/kWh	694 gCO2/kWh
1995	73 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
1996	79 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
1997	71 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
1998	97 gCO2/kWh	690 gCO2/kWh
1999	87 gCO2/kWh	689 gCO2/kWh
2000	80 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
2001	69 gCO2/kWh	697 gCO2/kWh
2002	75 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2003	81 gCO2/kWh	699 gCO2/kWh
2004	77 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2005	86 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2006	77 gCO2/kWh	698 gCO2/kWh
2007	80 gCO2/kWh	695 gCO2/kWh
2008	76 gCO2/kWh	695 gCO2/kWh
2009	76 gCO2/kWh	690 gCO2/kWh
2010	79 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
2011	75 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
2012	78 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2013	76 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2014	52 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2015	59 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2016	69 gCO2/kWh	697 gCO2/kWh
2017	78 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2018	60 gCO2/kWh	703 gCO2/kWh
2019	60 gCO2/kWh	702 gCO2/kWh
2020	59 gCO2/kWh	702 gCO2/kWh
2021	60 gCO2/kWh	702 gCO2/kWh
2022	79 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2023	53 gCO2/kWh	697 gCO2/kWh
2024	40 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
2025	41 gCO2/kWh	n/a

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in France and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2024 it was 7.09 MWh in France and 13.39 MWh in Saudi Arabia.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in France and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025
Year	France	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	7.79 MWh	8.57 MWh
2001	7.92 MWh	8.57 MWh
2002	7.86 MWh	8.65 MWh
2003	8.11 MWh	8.87 MWh
2004	8.25 MWh	8.82 MWh
2005	8.26 MWh	9.29 MWh
2006	8.12 MWh	9.15 MWh
2007	8.09 MWh	9.14 MWh
2008	8.27 MWh	8.77 MWh
2009	7.97 MWh	8.97 MWh
2010	8.38 MWh	9.89 MWh
2011	8.02 MWh	9.92 MWh
2012	8.17 MWh	10.41 MWh
2013	8.21 MWh	10.51 MWh
2014	7.72 MWh	11.32 MWh
2015	7.86 MWh	11.70 MWh
2016	7.95 MWh	11.62 MWh
2017	7.90 MWh	12.83 MWh
2018	7.83 MWh	12.34 MWh
2019	7.73 MWh	12.43 MWh
2020	7.32 MWh	12.28 MWh
2021	7.65 MWh	12.54 MWh
2022	7.29 MWh	12.74 MWh
2023	7.05 MWh	12.90 MWh
2024	7.09 MWh	13.39 MWh
2025	7.15 MWh	n/a

France history · Saudi Arabia history

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

France 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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