Energy intensity in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Energy intensity was 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022. ▼ Falling
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 24th of 165 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 58 years of available data.
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
- 21 South Africa 1.79 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 22 Barbados 1.74 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 23 Belarus 1.73 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 25 South Korea 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 26 Jamaica 1.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
- 27 Kyrgyzstan 1.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
More energy & mining data for Saudi Arabia
- Fuel imports 5.7% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 2.9% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 1.9% (2024)
- Gas production 1,338 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 38,695 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 1,338 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 38,695 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel exports 79.4% (2024)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 9.1% (2023)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 61.8% (2023)
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 24th out of 165 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
CSV · JSON — 58 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per international-$ of GDP.