Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels was 97.8% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Saudi Arabia, 1985–2024
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2024, share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Saudi Arabia stood at 97.8%. That is the lowest value across all 40 years on record.
That represents a change of down 1.1% on the previous year and down 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Saudi Arabia peaked at 100.0% in 1989 and was at its lowest, 97.8%, in 2024.
That places Saudi Arabia 26th out of 213 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 100.0% | — |
| 1986 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1987 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1988 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1989 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1990 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1991 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1992 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1993 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 100.0% | -0.0% |
| 2012 | 100.0% | -0.0% |
| 2013 | 100.0% | -0.0% |
| 2014 | 100.0% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 100.0% | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 100.0% | -0.0% |
| 2018 | 100.0% | -0.0% |
| 2019 | 99.9% | -0.0% |
| 2020 | 99.8% | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 99.7% | -0.0% |
| 2022 | 99.5% | -0.2% |
| 2023 | 98.9% | -0.6% |
| 2024 | 97.8% | -1.1% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 97.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 60.0%, 1.6× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 97.8% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 88.8%, 1.1× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5 |
| 1990s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 100.0% | 99.9% | 100.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 99.2% | 97.8% | 99.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 23 Bermuda 98.4% compare
- 24 South Sudan 98.2% compare
- 25 Bangladesh 97.9% compare
- 27 Kuwait 97.8% compare
- 28 Saint Lucia 97.5% compare
- 29 Guyana 97.1% compare
More energy & mining data for Saudi Arabia
- Primary energy from fossil nuclear renewables, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fuel imports 4.5% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 3.1% (2025)
- Fuel exports 78.7% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 1.2% (2025)
- 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)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Saudi Arabia?
- Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in Saudi Arabia was 97.8% in 2024, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 100.0% in 1989.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 97.8% in 2024.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for share of electricity generation from fossil fuels?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 26th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.