Statistics
Page built 2026-09-19
Data as of 2024
Search
Built 2026-09-19 (19 September 2026)

Saudi Arabia vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared

Saudi Arabia generated 455 TWh of electricity in 2024 and the United Kingdom 284 TWh, according to Ember. Gas was the largest source in both, at 63.3% in Saudi Arabia and 30.4% in the United Kingdom. Each kWh generated emitted 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia and 216 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom. 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 the United Kingdom 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 30.4% in the United Kingdom.
  • Saudi Arabia's electricity was 3.2 times as carbon intensive as the United Kingdom's in 2024, at 692 gCO2/kWh against 216 gCO2/kWh.
  • Electricity demand rose 20% in Saudi Arabia between 2019 and 2024, while it fell 12% in the United Kingdom.
  • The average person in Saudi Arabia used 13.39 MWh of electricity in 2024, 2.9 times as much as in the United Kingdom (4.59 MWh).
  • Low carbon sources supplied 2.2% of Saudi Arabia's electricity in 2024 and 64.9% of the United Kingdom's.
  • Electricity demand in 2024 was 455 TWh in Saudi Arabia and 306 TWh in the United Kingdom.

Key Figures, 2024

Ember annual statistics
MeasureSaudi ArabiaUnited Kingdom
Total generation455 TWh284 TWh
Electricity demand455 TWh306 TWh
Demand per person13.39 MWh4.59 MWh
Carbon intensity692 gCO2/kWh216 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions315 MtCO261.5 MtCO2
Low carbon share2.2%64.9%
Largest sourceGas 63.3%Gas 30.4%

Generation Mix, 2024

Share of generation
SourceSaudi ArabiaUnited Kingdom
Gas 63.3% 30.4%
Other fossil 34.5% 4.0%
Wind 0.4% 29.3%
Nuclear 0.0% 14.3%
Bioenergy 0.0% 14.1%
Solar 1.8% 5.2%
Hydro 0.0% 2.0%
Coal 0.0% 0.7%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2024 it was 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia and 216 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2024 it was 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia and 216 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
YearSaudi ArabiaUnited Kingdom
1985701 gCO2/kWh694 gCO2/kWh
1986699 gCO2/kWh721 gCO2/kWh
1987696 gCO2/kWh737 gCO2/kWh
1988695 gCO2/kWh710 gCO2/kWh
1989696 gCO2/kWh689 gCO2/kWh
1990696 gCO2/kWh705 gCO2/kWh
1991696 gCO2/kWh700 gCO2/kWh
1992693 gCO2/kWh665 gCO2/kWh
1993693 gCO2/kWh608 gCO2/kWh
1994694 gCO2/kWh589 gCO2/kWh
1995692 gCO2/kWh579 gCO2/kWh
1996691 gCO2/kWh557 gCO2/kWh
1997691 gCO2/kWh512 gCO2/kWh
1998690 gCO2/kWh510 gCO2/kWh
1999689 gCO2/kWh492 gCO2/kWh
2000692 gCO2/kWh522 gCO2/kWh
2001697 gCO2/kWh529 gCO2/kWh
2002700 gCO2/kWh521 gCO2/kWh
2003699 gCO2/kWh537 gCO2/kWh
2004700 gCO2/kWh536 gCO2/kWh
2005700 gCO2/kWh535 gCO2/kWh
2006698 gCO2/kWh559 gCO2/kWh
2007695 gCO2/kWh556 gCO2/kWh
2008695 gCO2/kWh554 gCO2/kWh
2009690 gCO2/kWh505 gCO2/kWh
2010691 gCO2/kWh517 gCO2/kWh
2011691 gCO2/kWh500 gCO2/kWh
2012693 gCO2/kWh537 gCO2/kWh
2013693 gCO2/kWh507 gCO2/kWh
2014693 gCO2/kWh463 gCO2/kWh
2015693 gCO2/kWh398 gCO2/kWh
2016697 gCO2/kWh333 gCO2/kWh
2017700 gCO2/kWh302 gCO2/kWh
2018703 gCO2/kWh286 gCO2/kWh
2019702 gCO2/kWh268 gCO2/kWh
2020702 gCO2/kWh243 gCO2/kWh
2021702 gCO2/kWh267 gCO2/kWh
2022700 gCO2/kWh255 gCO2/kWh
2023697 gCO2/kWh236 gCO2/kWh
2024692 gCO2/kWh216 gCO2/kWh
2025n/a222 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2024 it was 13.39 MWh in Saudi Arabia and 4.59 MWh in the United Kingdom. 0 4 8 11 15 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2024 it was 13.39 MWh in Saudi Arabia and 4.59 MWh in the United Kingdom.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in Saudi Arabia and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
YearSaudi ArabiaUnited Kingdom
1985n/an/a
1986n/an/a
1987n/an/a
1988n/an/a
1989n/an/a
1990n/an/a
1991n/an/a
1992n/an/a
1993n/an/a
1994n/an/a
1995n/an/a
1996n/an/a
1997n/an/a
1998n/an/a
1999n/an/a
20008.57 MWh6.63 MWh
20018.57 MWh6.67 MWh
20028.65 MWh6.65 MWh
20038.87 MWh6.69 MWh
20048.82 MWh6.67 MWh
20059.29 MWh6.71 MWh
20069.15 MWh6.63 MWh
20079.14 MWh6.53 MWh
20088.77 MWh6.45 MWh
20098.97 MWh6.07 MWh
20109.89 MWh6.11 MWh
20119.92 MWh5.89 MWh
201210.41 MWh5.87 MWh
201310.51 MWh5.79 MWh
201411.32 MWh5.53 MWh
201511.70 MWh5.51 MWh
201611.62 MWh5.42 MWh
201712.83 MWh5.32 MWh
201812.34 MWh5.29 MWh
201912.43 MWh5.19 MWh
202012.28 MWh4.88 MWh
202112.54 MWh4.92 MWh
202212.74 MWh4.70 MWh
202312.90 MWh4.60 MWh
202413.39 MWh4.59 MWh
2025n/a4.62 MWh

Saudi Arabia history · United Kingdom history

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