Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in North Korea
North Korea: Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables was 9.93 terawatt-hours in 2024. ▲ Rising
Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in North Korea, 2000–2024
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2024, electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in North Korea stood at 9.93 terawatt-hours.
The figure is down 0.4% on the previous year and up 15.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in North Korea peaked at 12.8 terawatt-hours in 2019 and was at its lowest, 7.8 terawatt-hours, in 2011.
That places North Korea 71st out of 208 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 25 years of available data.
Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in North Korea, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 9.2 terawatt-hours | — |
| 2001 | 9.6 terawatt-hours | +4.3% |
| 2002 | 9.15 terawatt-hours | -4.7% |
| 2003 | 9.28 terawatt-hours | +1.4% |
| 2004 | 9.48 terawatt-hours | +2.2% |
| 2005 | 9.77 terawatt-hours | +3.1% |
| 2006 | 9.82 terawatt-hours | +0.5% |
| 2007 | 8.24 terawatt-hours | -16.1% |
| 2008 | 9.13 terawatt-hours | +10.8% |
| 2009 | 11 terawatt-hours | +20.5% |
| 2010 | 10.3 terawatt-hours | -6.4% |
| 2011 | 7.8 terawatt-hours | -24.3% |
| 2012 | 8 terawatt-hours | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 8.2 terawatt-hours | +2.5% |
| 2014 | 8.6 terawatt-hours | +4.9% |
| 2015 | 9 terawatt-hours | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 11.1 terawatt-hours | +23.3% |
| 2017 | 11.6 terawatt-hours | +4.5% |
| 2018 | 12.1 terawatt-hours | +4.3% |
| 2019 | 12.8 terawatt-hours | +5.8% |
| 2020 | 11.2 terawatt-hours | -12.5% |
| 2021 | 9.4 terawatt-hours | -16.1% |
| 2022 | 9.8 terawatt-hours | +4.3% |
| 2023 | 9.97 terawatt-hours | +1.7% |
| 2024 | 9.93 terawatt-hours | -0.4% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 9.93 terawatt-hours is above the median for low income countries, which is 0.4 terawatt-hours, 24.8× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 9.93 terawatt-hours is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.55 terawatt-hours, 1.8× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 9.47 terawatt-hours | 8.24 terawatt-hours | 11 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.95 terawatt-hours | 7.8 terawatt-hours | 12.8 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 10.06 terawatt-hours | 9.4 terawatt-hours | 11.2 terawatt-hours | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More reference data data for North Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 1.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Burning - Crop residues 3.54 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) (AR5) - Agricultural Soils 1,939 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.838 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 5.57 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Direct emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.91 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 325.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 11.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Agricultural 1,939 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from N2O (AR5) - Burning - Crop 24.3 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in North Korea?
- Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in North Korea was 9.93 terawatt-hours in 2024, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 12.8 terawatt-hours in 2019.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.8 terawatt-hours in 2011.
- How does North Korea rank for electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables?
- North Korea ranks 71st out of 208 countries with data for 2024.
- Is electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured in terawatt-hours.