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

01002003004001985200520251985: 42.3 terawatt-hours1986: 37.4 terawatt-hours1987: 35.6 terawatt-hours1988: 49.4 terawatt-hours1989: 51.7 terawatt-hours1990: 59.2 terawatt-hours1991: 70.3 terawatt-hours1992: 85 terawatt-hours1993: 97.8 terawatt-hours1994: 120.6 terawatt-hours1995: 130.8 terawatt-hours1996: 146.3 terawatt-hours1997: 164.1 terawatt-hours1998: 141.3 terawatt-hours1999: 152.9 terawatt-hours2000: 177.4 terawatt-hours2001: 195.3 terawatt-hours2002: 209.5 terawatt-hours2003: 213 terawatt-hours2004: 232.7 terawatt-hours2005: 238.6 terawatt-hours2006: 250.3 terawatt-hours2007: 278 terawatt-hours2008: 287.2 terawatt-hours2009: 300.1 terawatt-hours2010: 340.7 terawatt-hours2011: 356 terawatt-hours2012: 372.7 terawatt-hours2013: 388.1 terawatt-hours2014: 371.1 terawatt-hours2015: 367.8 terawatt-hours2016: 380.9 terawatt-hours2017: 405.6 terawatt-hours2018: 431.6 terawatt-hours2019: 407.9 terawatt-hours2020: 376.5 terawatt-hours2021: 401.6 terawatt-hours2022: 391.1 terawatt-hours2023: 377.9 terawatt-hours2024: 375.9 terawatt-hours2025: 375.1 terawatt-hours

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.

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest 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

  1. 4 Russia 767.16 terawatt-hours compare
  2. 5 Japan 693.04 terawatt-hours compare
  3. 6 Saudi Arabia 444.82 terawatt-hours compare
  4. 8 Iran 373.22 terawatt-hours compare
  5. 9 Indonesia 304.33 terawatt-hours compare
  6. 10 Mexico 264.38 terawatt-hours compare

See the full ranking of 210 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

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

Indicator
Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables
Unit
terawatt-hours
Source
Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
210 places, 6,017 data points, 1920–2025
Last refreshed

Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured in terawatt-hours.