Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Korea
South Korea: Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables was 375.06 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
375.06 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
7th
of 208 countries
All-time high
431.6 terawatt-hours
in 2018
All-time low
35.59 terawatt-hours
in 1987
Years of data
41
1985–2025
Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Korea, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Korea stood at 375.06 terawatt-hours.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Korea peaked at 431.6 terawatt-hours in 2018 and was at its lowest, 35.59 terawatt-hours, in 1987.
That places South Korea 7th out of 208 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Korea, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 42.26 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 37.35 terawatt-hours | -11.6% |
| 1987 | 35.59 terawatt-hours | -4.7% |
| 1988 | 49.44 terawatt-hours | +38.9% |
| 1989 | 51.7 terawatt-hours | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 59.21 terawatt-hours | +14.5% |
| 1991 | 70.25 terawatt-hours | +18.6% |
| 1992 | 85.04 terawatt-hours | +21.1% |
| 1993 | 97.75 terawatt-hours | +14.9% |
| 1994 | 120.61 terawatt-hours | +23.4% |
| 1995 | 130.79 terawatt-hours | +8.4% |
| 1996 | 146.31 terawatt-hours | +11.9% |
| 1997 | 164.06 terawatt-hours | +12.1% |
| 1998 | 141.34 terawatt-hours | -13.8% |
| 1999 | 152.91 terawatt-hours | +8.2% |
| 2000 | 177.37 terawatt-hours | +16.0% |
| 2001 | 195.31 terawatt-hours | +10.1% |
| 2002 | 209.48 terawatt-hours | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 212.99 terawatt-hours | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 232.65 terawatt-hours | +9.2% |
| 2005 | 238.62 terawatt-hours | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 250.26 terawatt-hours | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 278.01 terawatt-hours | +11.1% |
| 2008 | 287.21 terawatt-hours | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 300.07 terawatt-hours | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 340.74 terawatt-hours | +13.6% |
| 2011 | 356.04 terawatt-hours | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 372.71 terawatt-hours | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 388.15 terawatt-hours | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 371.08 terawatt-hours | -4.4% |
| 2015 | 367.84 terawatt-hours | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 380.86 terawatt-hours | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 405.65 terawatt-hours | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 431.6 terawatt-hours | +6.4% |
| 2019 | 407.88 terawatt-hours | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 376.53 terawatt-hours | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 401.65 terawatt-hours | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 391.05 terawatt-hours | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 377.93 terawatt-hours | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 375.91 terawatt-hours | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 375.06 terawatt-hours | -0.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 375.06 terawatt-hours is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.3 terawatt-hours, 87.2× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 375.06 terawatt-hours is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.55 terawatt-hours, 67.6× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 43.27 terawatt-hours | 35.59 terawatt-hours | 51.7 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 116.83 terawatt-hours | 59.21 terawatt-hours | 164.06 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 238.2 terawatt-hours | 177.37 terawatt-hours | 300.07 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 382.25 terawatt-hours | 340.74 terawatt-hours | 431.6 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 383.02 terawatt-hours | 375.06 terawatt-hours | 401.65 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More reference data data for South Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9281 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2074 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Korea?
- Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in South Korea was 375.06 terawatt-hours in 2025, 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 431.6 terawatt-hours in 2018.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.59 terawatt-hours in 1987.
- How does South Korea rank for electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables?
- South Korea ranks 7th out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 41 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured in terawatt-hours.