Energy intensity in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Energy intensity was 5.81 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021. ▲ Rising
Energy intensity in Saudi Arabia, 2000–2021
Source: International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices.
Analysis
The most recent figure for energy intensity in Saudi Arabia is 5.81 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of down 2.4% on the previous year and down 7.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Saudi Arabia peaked at 6.7 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2010 and was at its lowest, 5.09 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices, in 2004.
Saudi Arabia ranks 54th of 201 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 22 years of available data.
Energy intensity in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 5.14 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | — |
| 2001 | 5.36 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 6.23 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +16.2% |
| 2003 | 5.61 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -10.0% |
| 2004 | 5.09 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -9.3% |
| 2005 | 5.09 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 5.34 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 5.52 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 5.72 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 6.32 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +10.5% |
| 2010 | 6.7 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 6.3 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.0% |
| 2012 | 6.18 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.9% |
| 2013 | 5.94 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 6.32 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +6.4% |
| 2015 | 6.17 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.4% |
| 2016 | 6.07 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -1.6% |
| 2017 | 6.18 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 5.81 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -6.0% |
| 2019 | 5.76 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -0.9% |
| 2020 | 5.95 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | +3.3% |
| 2021 | 5.81 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | -2.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 5.54 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.09 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.32 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.14 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.76 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 6.7 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.88 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.81 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 5.95 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices | 2 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 51 Equatorial Guinea 5.9 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 52 Haiti 5.88 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 52 South Sudan 5.88 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 54 Kazakhstan 5.81 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 56 Nepal 5.63 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
- 57 Algeria 5.61 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices compare
More energy & mining data for Saudi Arabia
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 1.85 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 5.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy intensity in Saudi Arabia?
- Energy intensity in Saudi Arabia was 5.81 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2021, according to International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 6.7 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2010.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.09 megajoules per international-$ in 2021 prices in 2004.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for energy intensity?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 54th out of 201 countries with data for 2021.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), UN Statistics Division, World Health Organization (WHO), and World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Amount of energy needed to produce one unit of economic output. A lower number means that economies produce economic value in a less energy-intensive way. This data is measured in megajoules per dollar, adjusted for inflation and differences in living costs between countries.