Installed solar energy capacity in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Installed solar energy capacity was 11.93 gigawatts in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Installed solar energy capacity in Saudi Arabia, 2000–2025
Source: IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in gigawatts.
Analysis
The most recent figure for installed solar energy capacity in Saudi Arabia is 11.93 gigawatts, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 26 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 92.4% on the previous year and up 49,104.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, installed solar energy capacity in Saudi Arabia peaked at 11.93 gigawatts in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.0003 gigawatts, in 2000.
Saudi Arabia ranks 20th of 218 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Installed solar energy capacity in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | gigawatts | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0.0003 gigawatts | — |
| 2001 | 0.0003 gigawatts | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.0003 gigawatts | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.0003 gigawatts | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 0.0003 gigawatts | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.0003 gigawatts | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 0.0003 gigawatts | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 0.0003 gigawatts | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 0.0003 gigawatts | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 0.0003 gigawatts | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 0.0024 gigawatts | +571.4% |
| 2011 | 0.0029 gigawatts | +21.3% |
| 2012 | 0.0135 gigawatts | +375.4% |
| 2013 | 0.0225 gigawatts | +65.7% |
| 2014 | 0.0243 gigawatts | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 0.0243 gigawatts | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 0.0243 gigawatts | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 0.0344 gigawatts | +41.7% |
| 2018 | 0.0844 gigawatts | +145.5% |
| 2019 | 0.1094 gigawatts | +29.6% |
| 2020 | 0.4094 gigawatts | +274.3% |
| 2021 | 0.4394 gigawatts | +7.3% |
| 2022 | 0.4399 gigawatts | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 2.44 gigawatts | +454.7% |
| 2024 | 6.2 gigawatts | +154.2% |
| 2025 | 11.93 gigawatts | +92.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 11.93 gigawatts is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.01 gigawatts, 11.9× the median. (76 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 11.93 gigawatts is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 1.09 gigawatts, 11.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Installed solar energy capacity in Saudi Arabia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | +571.4% | 0.0003 gigawatts | 0.0024 gigawatts |
| 2023 | +454.7% | 0.4399 gigawatts | 2.44 gigawatts |
| 2012 | +375.4% | 0.0029 gigawatts | 0.0135 gigawatts |
| 2020 | +274.3% | 0.1094 gigawatts | 0.4094 gigawatts |
| 2024 | +154.2% | 2.44 gigawatts | 6.2 gigawatts |
| 2018 | +145.5% | 0.0344 gigawatts | 0.0844 gigawatts |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 0.0003 gigawatts | 0.0003 gigawatts | 0.0003 gigawatts | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.0342 gigawatts | 0.0024 gigawatts | 0.1094 gigawatts | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.64 gigawatts | 0.4094 gigawatts | 11.93 gigawatts | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
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 installed solar energy capacity in Saudi Arabia?
- Installed solar energy capacity in Saudi Arabia was 11.93 gigawatts in 2025, according to IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest installed solar energy capacity recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 11.93 gigawatts in 2025.
- What is the lowest installed solar energy capacity recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0003 gigawatts in 2000.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for installed solar energy capacity?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 20th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is installed solar energy capacity rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 49,104.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from IRENA (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Installed solar energy capacity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Total solar (on- and off-grid) electricity installed capacity, measured in gigawatts. This includes solar photovoltaic and concentrated solar power.