Index Commentary

Saudi Arabia improves by one place in the Index. Environmental performance decreases due a small increase in CO2 emissions from electricity and heat generation, lower quality of air and water and higher energy intensity. Overall, all environmental indicators remain weak. Performance in energy security and almost all underlying indicators is weak and energy consumption continues to grow. However, the ratio of production to total energy supply is very good. Saudi Arabia’s good performance in social equity was maintained, especially supported by low gasoline prices. Saudi Arabia improves in all contextual dimensions. Political strength increases due to more political stability and better effectiveness of government, an improvement in societal strength is driven by increases across all indicators, especially in education, and economic strength increases due to an improvement in macroeconomic stability.