What is the difference in energy intensity of the economy between China and Saudi Arabia?

0.06 kWh per 2011$PPP, with China ahead.

How many years of comparable data are there for China and Saudi Arabia?

52 years are reported by both, from 1965 to 2016.

Where does this data come from?

Our World in Data based on BP; World Bank; and Maddison Project Database, published as Energy intensity of the economy (kWh per 2011$PPP). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

China vs Saudi Arabia: Energy intensity of the economy

China

2.09 kWh per 2011$PPP

in 2016

Saudi Arabia

2.03 kWh per 2011$PPP

in 2016

China rank

20th

Saudi Arabia rank

21st

Energy intensity of the economy over time

China
Saudi Arabia

How they compare

China currently reports 2.09 kWh per 2011$PPP against 2.03 kWh per 2011$PPP in Saudi Arabia, a difference of 0.06 kWh per 2011$PPP.

The two have swapped places 7 times across 52 shared years of data; in 1965 it was Saudi Arabia ahead.

China ranks 20th and Saudi Arabia ranks 21st of 161 countries.

Across the 6 decades both report, China averaged higher in 3 and Saudi Arabia in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade	China	Saudi Arabia	Difference	Ahead
1960s	1.87 kWh per 2011$PPP	3.25 kWh per 2011$PPP	1.38 kWh per 2011$PPP	Saudi Arabia
1970s	2.76 kWh per 2011$PPP	1.81 kWh per 2011$PPP	0.9496 kWh per 2011$PPP	China
1980s	2.7 kWh per 2011$PPP	2.52 kWh per 2011$PPP	0.172 kWh per 2011$PPP	China
1990s	2.65 kWh per 2011$PPP	3.5 kWh per 2011$PPP	0.8519 kWh per 2011$PPP	Saudi Arabia
2000s	2.44 kWh per 2011$PPP	2.79 kWh per 2011$PPP	0.3525 kWh per 2011$PPP	Saudi Arabia
2010s	2.21 kWh per 2011$PPP	2 kWh per 2011$PPP	0.2077 kWh per 2011$PPP	China

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher energy intensity of the economy, China or Saudi Arabia?: China, at 2.09 kWh per 2011$PPP against 2.03 kWh per 2011$PPP in Saudi Arabia as of 2016.
What is the difference in energy intensity of the economy between China and Saudi Arabia?: 0.06 kWh per 2011$PPP, with China ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for China and Saudi Arabia?: 52 years are reported by both, from 1965 to 2016.
How do China and Saudi Arabia rank globally for energy intensity of the economy?: China ranks 20th and Saudi Arabia ranks 21st of 161 countries.
Where does this data come from?: Our World in Data based on BP; World Bank; and Maddison Project Database, published as Energy intensity of the economy (kWh per 2011$PPP). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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China vs Saudi Arabia: Energy intensity of the economy. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data based on BP; World Bank; and Maddison Project Database. Retrieved 03 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/energy-intensity-of-the-economy-kwh-per-2011-ppp/china/saudi-arabia/

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<a href="https://reference.statizoid.com/compare/energy-intensity-of-the-economy-kwh-per-2011-ppp/china/saudi-arabia/">China vs Saudi Arabia: Energy intensity of the economy</a> — Statizoid

About this data

Indicator: Energy intensity of the economy (kWh per 2011$PPP)
Unit: kWh per 2011$PPP
Source: Our World in Data based on BP; World Bank; and Maddison Project Database
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage: 161 places, 6,650 data points, 1965–2016
Last refreshed: 24 August 2026

Energy intensity is measured as primary energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product. This is measured in kilowatt-hours per 2011$ (PPP).