Number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold in South Korea
South Korea: Number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold was 17,000 cars in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold in South Korea, 2015–2025
Source: International Energy Agency. Global EV Outlook 2025. – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in cars.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold in South Korea is 17,000 cars, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 115.2% on the previous year and up 6,700.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold in South Korea peaked at 19,000 cars in 2021 and was at its lowest, 250 cars, in 2015.
That places South Korea 25th out of 54 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold in South Korea, year by year
| Year | cars | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 250 cars | — |
| 2016 | 330 cars | +32.0% |
| 2017 | 670 cars | +103.0% |
| 2018 | 4,400 cars | +556.7% |
| 2019 | 2,700 cars | -38.6% |
| 2020 | 8,700 cars | +222.2% |
| 2021 | 19,000 cars | +118.4% |
| 2022 | 11,000 cars | -42.1% |
| 2023 | 12,000 cars | +9.1% |
| 2024 | 7,900 cars | -34.2% |
| 2025 | 17,000 cars | +115.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 17,000 cars is above the median for high income countries, which is 15,000 cars, 1.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 17,000 cars is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 16,000 cars, 1.1× the median. (10 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 1,670 cars | 250 cars | 4,400 cars | 5 |
| 2020s | 12,600 cars | 7,900 cars | 19,000 cars | 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 number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold in South Korea?
- Number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold in South Korea was 17,000 cars in 2025, according to International Energy Agency. Global EV Outlook 2025. – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 19,000 cars in 2021.
- What is the lowest number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 250 cars in 2015.
- How does South Korea rank for number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold?
- South Korea ranks 25th out of 54 countries with data for 2025.
- Is number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 6,700.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from International Energy Agency. Global EV Outlook 2025. – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid cars sold. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 11 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
New fully battery-electric and plug-in hybrid sales each year.