Italy vs Saudi Arabia: Electricity Compared
Italy generated 268 TWh of electricity in 2024 and Saudi Arabia 455 TWh, according to Ember. Gas was the largest source in both, at 44.3% in Italy and 63.3% in Saudi Arabia. Each kWh generated emitted 281 gCO2/kWh in Italy 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 Italy 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 4.0% in Italy.
- Saudi Arabia's electricity was 2.5 times as carbon intensive as Italy's in 2024, at 692 gCO2/kWh against 281 gCO2/kWh.
- The average person in Saudi Arabia used 13.39 MWh of electricity in 2024, 2.5 times as much as in Italy (5.37 MWh).
- Low carbon sources supplied 50.2% of Italy's electricity in 2024 and 2.2% of Saudi Arabia's.
- Electricity demand in 2024 was 319 TWh in Italy and 455 TWh in Saudi Arabia.
Key Figures, 2024
Ember annual statistics| Measure | Italy | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 268 TWh | 455 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 319 TWh | 455 TWh |
| Demand per person | 5.37 MWh | 13.39 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 281 gCO2/kWh | 692 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 75.3 MtCO2 | 315 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 50.2% | 2.2% |
| Largest source | Gas 44.3% | Gas 63.3% |
Generation Mix, 2024
Share of generation| Source | Italy | Saudi Arabia |
|---|---|---|
| Gas | 44.3% | 63.3% |
| Other fossil | 4.0% | 34.5% |
| Hydro | 19.9% | 0.0% |
| Solar | 13.5% | 1.8% |
| Wind | 8.3% | 0.4% |
| Bioenergy | 6.4% | 0.0% |
| Other renewables | 2.1% | 0.0% |
| Coal | 1.5% | 0.0% |
Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
| Year | Italy | 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 | 564 gCO2/kWh | 696 gCO2/kWh |
| 1991 | 534 gCO2/kWh | 696 gCO2/kWh |
| 1992 | 527 gCO2/kWh | 693 gCO2/kWh |
| 1993 | 518 gCO2/kWh | 693 gCO2/kWh |
| 1994 | 518 gCO2/kWh | 694 gCO2/kWh |
| 1995 | 542 gCO2/kWh | 692 gCO2/kWh |
| 1996 | 525 gCO2/kWh | 691 gCO2/kWh |
| 1997 | 520 gCO2/kWh | 691 gCO2/kWh |
| 1998 | 520 gCO2/kWh | 690 gCO2/kWh |
| 1999 | 501 gCO2/kWh | 689 gCO2/kWh |
| 2000 | 502 gCO2/kWh | 692 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 499 gCO2/kWh | 697 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 523 gCO2/kWh | 700 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 523 gCO2/kWh | 699 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 511 gCO2/kWh | 700 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 510 gCO2/kWh | 700 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 507 gCO2/kWh | 698 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 505 gCO2/kWh | 695 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 485 gCO2/kWh | 695 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 459 gCO2/kWh | 690 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 446 gCO2/kWh | 691 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 446 gCO2/kWh | 691 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 438 gCO2/kWh | 693 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 399 gCO2/kWh | 693 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 379 gCO2/kWh | 693 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 399 gCO2/kWh | 693 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 390 gCO2/kWh | 697 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 393 gCO2/kWh | 700 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 367 gCO2/kWh | 703 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 351 gCO2/kWh | 702 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 334 gCO2/kWh | 702 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 339 gCO2/kWh | 702 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 378 gCO2/kWh | 700 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 323 gCO2/kWh | 697 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 281 gCO2/kWh | 692 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 284 gCO2/kWh | n/a |
Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statisticsAnnual statistics through 2025, MWh
| Year | Italy | 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 | 5.49 MWh | 8.57 MWh |
| 2001 | 5.59 MWh | 8.57 MWh |
| 2002 | 5.71 MWh | 8.65 MWh |
| 2003 | 5.84 MWh | 8.87 MWh |
| 2004 | 5.83 MWh | 8.82 MWh |
| 2005 | 5.88 MWh | 9.29 MWh |
| 2006 | 5.97 MWh | 9.15 MWh |
| 2007 | 5.96 MWh | 9.14 MWh |
| 2008 | 5.90 MWh | 8.77 MWh |
| 2009 | 5.53 MWh | 8.97 MWh |
| 2010 | 5.66 MWh | 9.89 MWh |
| 2011 | 5.70 MWh | 9.92 MWh |
| 2012 | 5.59 MWh | 10.41 MWh |
| 2013 | 5.41 MWh | 10.51 MWh |
| 2014 | 5.28 MWh | 11.32 MWh |
| 2015 | 5.38 MWh | 11.70 MWh |
| 2016 | 5.34 MWh | 11.62 MWh |
| 2017 | 5.46 MWh | 12.83 MWh |
| 2018 | 5.47 MWh | 12.34 MWh |
| 2019 | 5.46 MWh | 12.43 MWh |
| 2020 | 5.16 MWh | 12.28 MWh |
| 2021 | 5.50 MWh | 12.54 MWh |
| 2022 | 5.42 MWh | 12.74 MWh |
| 2023 | 5.26 MWh | 12.90 MWh |
| 2024 | 5.37 MWh | 13.39 MWh |
| 2025 | 5.27 MWh | n/a |
Italy history · Saudi Arabia history
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2024.