India vs Saudi Arabia: Electricity Compared

India generated 2,035 TWh of electricity in 2024 and Saudi Arabia 455 TWh, according to Ember. India's largest source was coal (74.6%); Saudi Arabia's was gas (63.3%). Each kWh generated emitted 707 gCO2/kWh in India 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 India has figures to 2025, so this comparison uses 2024 for both.

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

Key Facts

Coal supplied 74.6% of India's electricity in 2024, against none in Saudi Arabia.
The average person in Saudi Arabia used 13.39 MWh of electricity in 2024, 9.6 times as much as in India (1.40 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 22.4% of India's electricity in 2024 and 2.2% of Saudi Arabia's.
Electricity demand in 2024 was 2,033 TWh in India and 455 TWh in Saudi Arabia.

Key Figures, 2024

Ember annual statistics

Measure	India	Saudi Arabia
Total generation	2,035 TWh	455 TWh
Electricity demand	2,033 TWh	455 TWh
Demand per person	1.40 MWh	13.39 MWh
Carbon intensity	707 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	1,439 MtCO2	315 MtCO2
Low carbon share	22.4%	2.2%
Largest source	Coal 74.6%	Gas 63.3%

Generation Mix, 2024

Share of generation

Source	India	Saudi Arabia
Coal	74.6%	0.0%
Gas	2.8%	63.3%
Other fossil	0.2%	34.5%
Hydro	7.7%	0.0%
Solar	7.0%	1.8%
Wind	4.0%	0.4%
Nuclear	2.7%	0.0%
Bioenergy	1.1%	0.0%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in India and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2024 it was 707 gCO2/kWh in India and 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in India and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025
Year	India	Saudi Arabia
1985	635 gCO2/kWh	701 gCO2/kWh
1986	652 gCO2/kWh	699 gCO2/kWh
1987	690 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1988	684 gCO2/kWh	695 gCO2/kWh
1989	686 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1990	679 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1991	683 gCO2/kWh	696 gCO2/kWh
1992	700 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
1993	713 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
1994	705 gCO2/kWh	694 gCO2/kWh
1995	723 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
1996	738 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
1997	738 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
1998	720 gCO2/kWh	690 gCO2/kWh
1999	729 gCO2/kWh	689 gCO2/kWh
2000	740 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
2001	747 gCO2/kWh	697 gCO2/kWh
2002	756 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2003	758 gCO2/kWh	699 gCO2/kWh
2004	724 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2005	734 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2006	723 gCO2/kWh	698 gCO2/kWh
2007	718 gCO2/kWh	695 gCO2/kWh
2008	733 gCO2/kWh	695 gCO2/kWh
2009	745 gCO2/kWh	690 gCO2/kWh
2010	739 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
2011	722 gCO2/kWh	691 gCO2/kWh
2012	743 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2013	739 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2014	743 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2015	751 gCO2/kWh	693 gCO2/kWh
2016	752 gCO2/kWh	697 gCO2/kWh
2017	743 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2018	738 gCO2/kWh	703 gCO2/kWh
2019	723 gCO2/kWh	702 gCO2/kWh
2020	710 gCO2/kWh	702 gCO2/kWh
2021	716 gCO2/kWh	702 gCO2/kWh
2022	707 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
2023	714 gCO2/kWh	697 gCO2/kWh
2024	707 gCO2/kWh	692 gCO2/kWh
2025	671 gCO2/kWh	n/a

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in India and Saudi Arabia each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2024 it was 1.40 MWh in India and 13.39 MWh in Saudi Arabia.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in India and Saudi Arabia, 1985 to 2025
Year	India	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	0.54 MWh	8.57 MWh
2001	0.55 MWh	8.57 MWh
2002	0.56 MWh	8.65 MWh
2003	0.57 MWh	8.87 MWh
2004	0.62 MWh	8.82 MWh
2005	0.61 MWh	9.29 MWh
2006	0.64 MWh	9.15 MWh
2007	0.67 MWh	9.14 MWh
2008	0.69 MWh	8.77 MWh
2009	0.72 MWh	8.97 MWh
2010	0.76 MWh	9.89 MWh
2011	0.82 MWh	9.92 MWh
2012	0.86 MWh	10.41 MWh
2013	0.88 MWh	10.51 MWh
2014	0.96 MWh	11.32 MWh
2015	0.99 MWh	11.70 MWh
2016	1.04 MWh	11.62 MWh
2017	1.07 MWh	12.83 MWh
2018	1.14 MWh	12.34 MWh
2019	1.15 MWh	12.43 MWh
2020	1.12 MWh	12.28 MWh
2021	1.19 MWh	12.54 MWh
2022	1.27 MWh	12.74 MWh
2023	1.33 MWh	12.90 MWh
2024	1.40 MWh	13.39 MWh
2025	1.42 MWh	n/a

India history · Saudi Arabia history

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

India vs Saudi Arabia: Electricity Compared

Key Facts

Key Figures, 2024

Generation Mix, 2024

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Related