Energy intensity in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Energy intensity was 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022. ▼ Falling
Latest (2022)
1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar
Change on year
down 3.5%
World rank
25th
of 166 countries
All-time high
5.06 kilowatt-hours per dollar
in 1965
All-time low
1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar
in 2022
Years of data
58
1965–2022
Energy intensity in Saudi Arabia, 1965–2022
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per dollar.
Analysis
Saudi Arabia recorded 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar for energy intensity in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 58 years on record.
The figure is down 3.5% on the previous year and down 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy intensity in Saudi Arabia peaked at 5.06 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1965 and was at its lowest, 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar, in 2022.
Saudi Arabia ranks 25th of 166 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 58 years of available data.
Energy intensity in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 5.06 kilowatt-hours per dollar | — |
| 1966 | 4.48 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -11.5% |
| 1967 | 4.18 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -6.8% |
| 1968 | 3.89 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -6.8% |
| 1969 | 3.68 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -5.6% |
| 1970 | 3.54 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.8% |
| 1971 | 3.1 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -12.5% |
| 1972 | 2.88 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -7.1% |
| 1973 | 2.57 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -10.9% |
| 1974 | 2.37 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -7.8% |
| 1975 | 1.87 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -20.9% |
| 1976 | 1.99 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +6.4% |
| 1977 | 2.04 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.6% |
| 1978 | 2.15 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +5.2% |
| 1979 | 2.44 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +13.6% |
| 1980 | 1.99 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -18.3% |
| 1981 | 2.2 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +10.6% |
| 1982 | 2.39 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +8.3% |
| 1983 | 2.9 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +21.4% |
| 1984 | 3.47 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +19.7% |
| 1985 | 3.8 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +9.3% |
| 1986 | 4.35 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +14.5% |
| 1987 | 4.4 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.3% |
| 1988 | 4.47 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.4% |
| 1989 | 4.24 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -5.0% |
| 1990 | 4.03 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.9% |
| 1991 | 3.48 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -13.6% |
| 1992 | 3.21 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -7.9% |
| 1993 | 3.15 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -1.7% |
| 1994 | 3.45 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +9.3% |
| 1995 | 3.19 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -7.5% |
| 1996 | 3.06 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.0% |
| 1997 | 2.94 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.9% |
| 1998 | 2.87 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.4% |
| 1999 | 2.9 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.9% |
| 2000 | 2.73 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -5.6% |
| 2001 | 2.81 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +2.6% |
| 2002 | 2.86 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.9% |
| 2003 | 2.58 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -9.6% |
| 2004 | 2.46 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 2.36 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.4% |
| 2006 | 2.28 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 2.17 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -4.8% |
| 2008 | 2.12 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.4% |
| 2009 | 2.12 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 2.12 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.0% |
| 2011 | 1.9 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -10.5% |
| 2012 | 1.91 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.7% |
| 2013 | 1.87 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -2.2% |
| 2014 | 1.93 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +3.2% |
| 2015 | 1.92 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 1.95 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.6% |
| 2017 | 1.95 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +0.1% |
| 2018 | 1.85 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -5.1% |
| 2019 | 1.76 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 1.79 kilowatt-hours per dollar | +1.7% |
| 2021 | 1.78 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -0.6% |
| 2022 | 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar | -3.5% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.01 kilowatt-hours per dollar, 1.7× the median. (55 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.23 kilowatt-hours per dollar, 1.4× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 4.26 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3.68 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 5.06 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 5 |
| 1970s | 2.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.87 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3.54 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.42 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.99 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 4.47 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 1990s | 3.23 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.87 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 4.03 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.45 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.12 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.86 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.92 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.76 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 2.12 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.76 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 1.79 kilowatt-hours per dollar | 3 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 22 South Africa 1.79 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 23 Barbados 1.74 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 24 Belarus 1.73 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 26 South Korea 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 27 Jamaica 1.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 28 Kyrgyzstan 1.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar 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 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy intensity recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 5.06 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1965.
- What is the lowest energy intensity recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for energy intensity?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 25th out of 166 countries with data for 2022.
- Is energy intensity rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per international-$ of GDP.