Saudi Arabia — CO2 per capita
CO2 Emissions per Capita for Saudi Arabia, 1970–2024.
CO2 per capita for Saudi Arabia was 18.48 in 2024, according to the latest World Bank data. The series covers 55 years, from 1970 to 2024. The highest recorded value was 31.87 in 1980. The lowest was 14.60 in 1970 (about 1.3× the low point). Across that span the compound annual growth rate works out to 0.44% per year.
Saudi Arabia ranks 8 of 203 economies on this measure (1 = highest), putting it in the top 4%. The median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan is 3.98, so Saudi Arabia sits above it. It peaked in 1980 and has fallen 42% since. Over the last decade (2014–2024) the figure moved down 11%. Within Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan it ranks 5 of 22 economies; United Arab Emirates (18.26) is just below it. Its sharpest one-year move was down 29% in 1984. That is 5% below this series' own ten-year average.
Data highlights
From its 1970 level: doubled by 1980. Doubling roughly every 159 years at that pace.
World ranking. Climbed: 13th of 203 in 1970 → 5th of 203 in 1980 → 11th of 203 in 1990 → 11th of 203 in 2000 → 8th of 203 in 2010 → 9th of 203 in 2020 → 8th of 203 in 2024.
Key figures
Full history — 1970 to 2024
| Year | metric tons per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18.48 | -2.0% |
| 2023 | 18.85 | -2.2% |
| 2022 | 19.28 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 19.18 | +4.8% |
| 2020 | 18.29 | -5.2% |
| 2019 | 19.29 | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 19.21 | -1.4% |
| 2017 | 19.48 | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 19.69 | -4.0% |
| 2015 | 20.51 | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 20.7 | +4.5% |
| 2013 | 19.81 | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 20.61 | +1.6% |
| 2011 | 20.29 | -0.1% |
| 2010 | 20.3 | +10.7% |
| 2009 | 18.33 | +1.5% |
| 2008 | 18.06 | +4.1% |
| 2007 | 17.34 | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 17.09 | +1.4% |
| 2005 | 16.85 | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 16.63 | +1.3% |
| 2003 | 16.41 | +0.1% |
| 2002 | 16.4 | +1.3% |
| 2001 | 16.18 | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 16.4 | -0.3% |
| 1999 | 16.44 | -1.7% |
| 1998 | 16.72 | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 16.22 | -2.7% |
| 1996 | 16.67 | +2.0% |
| 1995 | 16.34 | -4.8% |
| 1994 | 17.16 | +4.2% |
| 1993 | 16.46 | +0.7% |
| 1992 | 16.34 | +2.7% |
| 1991 | 15.92 | -2.6% |
| 1990 | 16.34 | +3.1% |
| 1989 | 15.85 | -4.2% |
| 1988 | 16.55 | +2.6% |
| 1987 | 16.13 | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 15.74 | -5.4% |
| 1985 | 16.64 | -6.3% |
| 1984 | 17.76 | -29.2% |
| 1983 | 25.1 | -6.4% |
| 1982 | 26.83 | -3.9% |
| 1981 | 27.91 | -12.4% |
| 1980 | 31.87 | +15.9% |
| 1979 | 27.49 | +11.7% |
| 1978 | 24.62 | +0.5% |
| 1977 | 24.5 | +1.7% |
| 1976 | 24.08 | +16.6% |
| 1975 | 20.64 | -21.4% |
| 1974 | 26.28 | -0.4% |
| 1973 | 26.38 | +27.3% |
| 1972 | 20.72 | +22.2% |
| 1971 | 16.95 | +16.1% |
| 1970 | 14.6 | — |
Frequently asked questions
What was Saudi Arabia’s CO2 per capita in 1971?
16.95 (1971). The full year-by-year table above lists every published year, most recent first.
Are Saudi Arabia’s CO2 per capita figures nominal or inflation-adjusted?
They are exactly as the World Bank publishes them — metric tons per capita — with no inflation restatement and no PPP conversion. Years the source does not report are omitted rather than interpolated.
Is Saudi Arabia’s CO2 per capita growing or shrinking?
Between 1970 and 2024 the series was growing overall: +26.6% in total — about 0.4% a year compounded.
Where does this data come from?
World Bank Open Data (CC BY-4.0), indicator EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5. Values are reproduced as published; this page only computes summary statistics such as change, CAGR and extremes.
What are the most recent published figures?
The last five published years: 2024: 18.48; 2023: 18.85; 2022: 19.28; 2021: 19.18; 2020: 18.29. Earlier years are in the full-history table below.
Related data
EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5 — CO2 Emissions per Capita. Data licensed under CC BY 4.0. Values are reproduced as published; this page computes the summary statistics (change, CAGR, extremes) from the underlying annual series. View the original dataset on data.worldbank.org.