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Built 2026-11-05 (5 November 2026)

Saudi Arabia vs United States: Electricity Compared

Saudi Arabia generated 471 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United States 4,520 TWh, according to Ember. Gas was the largest source in both, at 63.7% in Saudi Arabia and 40.0% in the United States. Each kWh generated emitted 680 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Who is bigger and who is cleaner? The United States is the bigger electricity producer, generating 9.6 times as much as Saudi Arabia in 2025 (4,520 TWh against 471 TWh). The United States has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 384 gCO2/kWh against 680 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia in 2025.

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

Open this comparison in the interactive tool to add more countries or change the metric.

Key Facts

  • Other fossil supplied 32.1% of Saudi Arabia's electricity in 2025, against 0.7% in the United States.
  • Saudi Arabia's electricity was 1.8 times as carbon intensive as the United States' in 2025, at 680 gCO2/kWh against 384 gCO2/kWh.
  • Low carbon sources supplied 4.2% of Saudi Arabia's electricity in 2025 and 43.0% of the United States'.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 471 TWh in Saudi Arabia and 4,532 TWh in the United States.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure Saudi Arabia United States
Total generation471 TWh4,520 TWh
Electricity demand471 TWh4,532 TWh
Demand per personn/a13.06 MWh
Carbon intensity680 gCO2/kWh384 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions320 MtCO21,737 MtCO2
Low carbon share4.2%43.0%
Largest sourceGas 63.7%Gas 40.0%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source Saudi Arabia United States
Gas 63.7% 40.0%
Other fossil 32.1% 0.7%
Nuclear 0.0% 17.4%
Coal 0.0% 16.3%
Wind 0.3% 10.3%
Solar 3.9% 8.6%
Hydro 0.0% 5.4%
Bioenergy 0.0% 1.0%
Other renewables 0.0% 0.4%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in Saudi Arabia and United States, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Saudi Arabia and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 680 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Saudi Arabia and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 680 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia and 384 gCO2/kWh in the United States.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in Saudi Arabia and United States, 1985 to 2025
YearSaudi ArabiaUnited States
1985701 gCO2/kWhn/a
1986699 gCO2/kWhn/a
1987696 gCO2/kWhn/a
1988695 gCO2/kWhn/a
1989696 gCO2/kWhn/a
1990696 gCO2/kWhn/a
1991696 gCO2/kWhn/a
1992693 gCO2/kWhn/a
1993693 gCO2/kWhn/a
1994694 gCO2/kWhn/a
1995692 gCO2/kWhn/a
1996691 gCO2/kWhn/a
1997691 gCO2/kWhn/a
1998690 gCO2/kWhn/a
1999689 gCO2/kWhn/a
2000692 gCO2/kWh608 gCO2/kWh
2001697 gCO2/kWh610 gCO2/kWh
2002700 gCO2/kWh601 gCO2/kWh
2003699 gCO2/kWh606 gCO2/kWh
2004700 gCO2/kWh602 gCO2/kWh
2005700 gCO2/kWh604 gCO2/kWh
2006698 gCO2/kWh595 gCO2/kWh
2007695 gCO2/kWh598 gCO2/kWh
2008695 gCO2/kWh591 gCO2/kWh
2009690 gCO2/kWh565 gCO2/kWh
2010691 gCO2/kWh571 gCO2/kWh
2011691 gCO2/kWh551 gCO2/kWh
2012693 gCO2/kWh533 gCO2/kWh
2013693 gCO2/kWh533 gCO2/kWh
2014693 gCO2/kWh529 gCO2/kWh
2015693 gCO2/kWh505 gCO2/kWh
2016697 gCO2/kWh483 gCO2/kWh
2017700 gCO2/kWh469 gCO2/kWh
2018703 gCO2/kWh463 gCO2/kWh
2019702 gCO2/kWh439 gCO2/kWh
2020702 gCO2/kWh412 gCO2/kWh
2021702 gCO2/kWh424 gCO2/kWh
2022700 gCO2/kWh410 gCO2/kWh
2023697 gCO2/kWh393 gCO2/kWh
2024692 gCO2/kWh384 gCO2/kWh
2025680 gCO2/kWh384 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in Saudi Arabia and United States, 1985 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in Saudi Arabia and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was n/a in Saudi Arabia and 13.06 MWh in the United States. 0 4 8 11 15 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in Saudi Arabia and the United States each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was n/a in Saudi Arabia and 13.06 MWh in the United States.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in Saudi Arabia and United States, 1985 to 2025
YearSaudi ArabiaUnited States
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 MWh13.63 MWh
20018.57 MWh13.19 MWh
20028.65 MWh13.46 MWh
20038.87 MWh13.37 MWh
20048.82 MWh13.54 MWh
20059.29 MWh13.73 MWh
20069.15 MWh13.61 MWh
20079.14 MWh13.83 MWh
20088.77 MWh13.58 MWh
20098.97 MWh12.90 MWh
20109.89 MWh13.31 MWh
20119.92 MWh13.14 MWh
201210.41 MWh12.89 MWh
201310.51 MWh12.85 MWh
201411.32 MWh12.84 MWh
201511.70 MWh12.73 MWh
201611.62 MWh12.62 MWh
201712.83 MWh12.37 MWh
201812.34 MWh12.67 MWh
201912.43 MWh12.43 MWh
202012.28 MWh12.05 MWh
202112.54 MWh12.33 MWh
202212.74 MWh12.67 MWh
202312.90 MWh12.44 MWh
202413.39 MWh12.75 MWh
2025n/a13.06 MWh

Saudi Arabia history · United States history

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.

Cite this page
APA 7

World Power Monitor. (2025). Saudi Arabia vs United States: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/saudi-arabia-vs-united-states/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. Saudi Arabia vs United States: Electricity Compared. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/saudi-arabia-vs-united-states/

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_compare_saudi_arabia_vs_united_states_2025,
  title = {{Saudi Arabia vs United States: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/saudi-arabia-vs-united-states/}
}

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