Solar energy generation vs. capacity in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Solar energy generation vs. capacity was 18,179 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Solar energy generation vs. capacity in Saudi Arabia, 1971–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
The most recent figure for solar energy generation vs. capacity in Saudi Arabia is 18,179 terawatt-hours, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 55 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 91.9% on the previous year and up 39,523.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, solar energy generation vs. capacity in Saudi Arabia peaked at 18,179 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1971.
Saudi Arabia ranks 22nd of 79 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Solar energy generation vs. capacity in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1972 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1973 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1974 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1975 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1976 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1977 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1978 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1979 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1980 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1981 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1982 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1983 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1984 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1985 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1987 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1988 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1989 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1990 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1991 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1992 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1993 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1994 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1995 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1996 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1997 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1998 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1999 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2000 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2001 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2002 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2003 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2004 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2005 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2006 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2007 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2008 | 0.609 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2009 | 0.609 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 4.09 terawatt-hours | +571.4% |
| 2011 | 5.39 terawatt-hours | +31.9% |
| 2012 | 25.64 terawatt-hours | +375.5% |
| 2013 | 42.48 terawatt-hours | +65.7% |
| 2014 | 45.88 terawatt-hours | +8.0% |
| 2015 | 45.88 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 45.88 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 65.04 terawatt-hours | +41.7% |
| 2018 | 159.49 terawatt-hours | +145.2% |
| 2019 | 206.74 terawatt-hours | +29.6% |
| 2020 | 910.91 terawatt-hours | +340.6% |
| 2021 | 994.32 terawatt-hours | +9.2% |
| 2022 | 1,216 terawatt-hours | +22.3% |
| 2023 | 3,126 terawatt-hours | +157.1% |
| 2024 | 9,474 terawatt-hours | +203.1% |
| 2025 | 18,179 terawatt-hours | +91.9% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 18,179 terawatt-hours is above the median for high income countries, which is 4,936 terawatt-hours, 3.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 18,179 terawatt-hours is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 4,207 terawatt-hours, 4.3× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Solar energy generation vs. 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% | 0.609 terawatt-hours | 4.09 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 9 |
| 1980s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1218 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0.609 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 64.65 terawatt-hours | 4.09 terawatt-hours | 206.74 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 5,650 terawatt-hours | 910.91 terawatt-hours | 18,179 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 19 United Kingdom 19,996 terawatt-hours compare
- 20 South Africa 18,560 terawatt-hours compare
- 21 United Arab Emirates 18,204 terawatt-hours compare
- 23 Taiwan 15,975 terawatt-hours compare
- 24 Israel 13,392 terawatt-hours compare
- 25 Hungary 10,738 terawatt-hours 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 solar energy generation vs. capacity in Saudi Arabia?
- Solar energy generation vs. capacity in Saudi Arabia was 18,179 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest solar energy generation vs. capacity recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 18,179 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest solar energy generation vs. capacity recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1971.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for solar energy generation vs. capacity?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 22nd out of 79 countries with data for 2025.
- Is solar energy generation vs. capacity rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 39,523.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Solar energy generation vs. capacity. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 55 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Figures are based on gross generation and do not account for cross-border electricity supply.