Saudi Arabia vs Vietnam: Electricity Compared

Saudi Arabia generated 455 TWh of electricity in 2024 and Vietnam 311 TWh, according to Ember. Saudi Arabia's largest source was gas (63.3%); Vietnam's was coal (49.2%). Each kWh generated emitted 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia and 477 gCO2/kWh in Vietnam. 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 Vietnam 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 7.0% in Vietnam.
The average person in Saudi Arabia used 13.39 MWh of electricity in 2024, 4.4 times as much as in Vietnam (3.04 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 2.2% of Saudi Arabia's electricity in 2024 and 43.6% of Vietnam's.
Electricity demand in 2024 was 455 TWh in Saudi Arabia and 314 TWh in Vietnam.

Key Figures, 2024

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Saudi Arabia	Vietnam
Total generation	455 TWh	311 TWh
Electricity demand	455 TWh	314 TWh
Demand per person	13.39 MWh	3.04 MWh
Carbon intensity	692 gCO2/kWh	477 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	315 MtCO2	148 MtCO2
Low carbon share	2.2%	43.6%
Largest source	Gas 63.3%	Coal 49.2%

Generation Mix, 2024

Share of generation

Source	Saudi Arabia	Vietnam
Gas	63.3%	7.0%
Coal	0.0%	49.2%
Other fossil	34.5%	0.2%
Hydro	0.0%	28.6%
Solar	1.8%	10.6%
Wind	0.4%	4.1%
Bioenergy	0.0%	0.3%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Saudi Arabia and Vietnam each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2024 it was 692 gCO2/kWh in Saudi Arabia and 477 gCO2/kWh in Vietnam.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Saudi Arabia and Vietnam, 1985 to 2025
Year	Saudi Arabia	Vietnam
1985	701 gCO2/kWh	579 gCO2/kWh
1986	699 gCO2/kWh	609 gCO2/kWh
1987	696 gCO2/kWh	632 gCO2/kWh
1988	695 gCO2/kWh	610 gCO2/kWh
1989	696 gCO2/kWh	428 gCO2/kWh
1990	696 gCO2/kWh	320 gCO2/kWh
1991	696 gCO2/kWh	258 gCO2/kWh
1992	693 gCO2/kWh	206 gCO2/kWh
1993	693 gCO2/kWh	198 gCO2/kWh
1994	694 gCO2/kWh	202 gCO2/kWh
1995	692 gCO2/kWh	227 gCO2/kWh
1996	691 gCO2/kWh	235 gCO2/kWh
1997	691 gCO2/kWh	302 gCO2/kWh
1998	690 gCO2/kWh	356 gCO2/kWh
1999	689 gCO2/kWh	301 gCO2/kWh
2000	692 gCO2/kWh	322 gCO2/kWh
2001	697 gCO2/kWh	291 gCO2/kWh
2002	700 gCO2/kWh	344 gCO2/kWh
2003	699 gCO2/kWh	376 gCO2/kWh
2004	700 gCO2/kWh	407 gCO2/kWh
2005	700 gCO2/kWh	462 gCO2/kWh
2006	698 gCO2/kWh	448 gCO2/kWh
2007	695 gCO2/kWh	439 gCO2/kWh
2008	695 gCO2/kWh	422 gCO2/kWh
2009	690 gCO2/kWh	413 gCO2/kWh
2010	691 gCO2/kWh	452 gCO2/kWh
2011	691 gCO2/kWh	408 gCO2/kWh
2012	693 gCO2/kWh	372 gCO2/kWh
2013	693 gCO2/kWh	374 gCO2/kWh
2014	693 gCO2/kWh	404 gCO2/kWh
2015	693 gCO2/kWh	487 gCO2/kWh
2016	697 gCO2/kWh	492 gCO2/kWh
2017	700 gCO2/kWh	433 gCO2/kWh
2018	703 gCO2/kWh	486 gCO2/kWh
2019	702 gCO2/kWh	557 gCO2/kWh
2020	702 gCO2/kWh	531 gCO2/kWh
2021	702 gCO2/kWh	475 gCO2/kWh
2022	700 gCO2/kWh	415 gCO2/kWh
2023	697 gCO2/kWh	467 gCO2/kWh
2024	692 gCO2/kWh	477 gCO2/kWh
2025	n/a	459 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Saudi Arabia and Vietnam each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2024 it was 13.39 MWh in Saudi Arabia and 3.04 MWh in Vietnam.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Saudi Arabia and Vietnam, 1985 to 2025
Year	Saudi Arabia	Vietnam
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	8.57 MWh	0.34 MWh
2001	8.57 MWh	0.39 MWh
2002	8.65 MWh	0.45 MWh
2003	8.87 MWh	0.51 MWh
2004	8.82 MWh	0.58 MWh
2005	9.29 MWh	0.65 MWh
2006	9.15 MWh	0.72 MWh
2007	9.14 MWh	0.80 MWh
2008	8.77 MWh	0.87 MWh
2009	8.97 MWh	0.98 MWh
2010	9.89 MWh	1.10 MWh
2011	9.92 MWh	1.19 MWh
2012	10.41 MWh	1.30 MWh
2013	10.51 MWh	1.40 MWh
2014	11.32 MWh	1.56 MWh
2015	11.70 MWh	1.76 MWh
2016	11.62 MWh	1.92 MWh
2017	12.83 MWh	2.05 MWh
2018	12.34 MWh	2.27 MWh
2019	12.43 MWh	2.45 MWh
2020	12.28 MWh	2.50 MWh
2021	12.54 MWh	2.57 MWh
2022	12.74 MWh	2.68 MWh
2023	12.90 MWh	2.79 MWh
2024	13.39 MWh	3.04 MWh
2025	n/a	3.09 MWh

Saudi Arabia history · Vietnam history

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

Saudi Arabia vs Vietnam: 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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