Oil consumption per person in North Korea
North Korea: Oil consumption per person was 449.11 kilowatt-hours per person in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
449.11 kilowatt-hours per person
Change on year
up 2.5%
World rank
208th
of 219 countries
All-time high
2,189 kilowatt-hours per person
in 1991
All-time low
367.13 kilowatt-hours per person
in 2006
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Oil consumption per person in North Korea, 1980–2024
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for oil consumption per person in North Korea is 449.11 kilowatt-hours per person, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.5% on the previous year and up 5.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, oil consumption per person in North Korea peaked at 2,189 kilowatt-hours per person in 1991 and was at its lowest, 367.13 kilowatt-hours per person, in 2006.
That places North Korea 208th out of 219 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Oil consumption per person in North Korea, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 1,613 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1981 | 1,685 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.4% |
| 1982 | 1,693 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.5% |
| 1983 | 1,828 kilowatt-hours per person | +8.0% |
| 1984 | 1,902 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.0% |
| 1985 | 1,994 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.8% |
| 1986 | 2,105 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.6% |
| 1987 | 2,108 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 1,931 kilowatt-hours per person | -8.4% |
| 1989 | 1,871 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.1% |
| 1990 | 2,112 kilowatt-hours per person | +12.8% |
| 1991 | 2,189 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.7% |
| 1992 | 2,084 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.8% |
| 1993 | 1,978 kilowatt-hours per person | -5.1% |
| 1994 | 1,906 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.7% |
| 1995 | 1,685 kilowatt-hours per person | -11.6% |
| 1996 | 1,268 kilowatt-hours per person | -24.8% |
| 1997 | 1,064 kilowatt-hours per person | -16.1% |
| 1998 | 938.88 kilowatt-hours per person | -11.7% |
| 1999 | 1,991 kilowatt-hours per person | +112.1% |
| 2000 | 542.32 kilowatt-hours per person | -72.8% |
| 2001 | 597.39 kilowatt-hours per person | +10.2% |
| 2002 | 595.8 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 576.75 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.2% |
| 2004 | 577.63 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.2% |
| 2005 | 482.22 kilowatt-hours per person | -16.5% |
| 2006 | 367.13 kilowatt-hours per person | -23.9% |
| 2007 | 436.75 kilowatt-hours per person | +19.0% |
| 2008 | 445.59 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.0% |
| 2009 | 429.19 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.7% |
| 2010 | 424.67 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.1% |
| 2011 | 434.55 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 415.42 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.4% |
| 2013 | 446.72 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.5% |
| 2014 | 424.4 kilowatt-hours per person | -5.0% |
| 2015 | 481.28 kilowatt-hours per person | +13.4% |
| 2016 | 510.77 kilowatt-hours per person | +6.1% |
| 2017 | 462.09 kilowatt-hours per person | -9.5% |
| 2018 | 452.83 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.0% |
| 2019 | 492.33 kilowatt-hours per person | +8.7% |
| 2020 | 471.35 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.3% |
| 2021 | 381.19 kilowatt-hours per person | -19.1% |
| 2022 | 396.35 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.0% |
| 2023 | 438.09 kilowatt-hours per person | +10.5% |
| 2024 | 449.11 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.5% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 449.11 kilowatt-hours per person is below the median for low income countries, which is 518.27 kilowatt-hours per person, 87% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 449.11 kilowatt-hours per person is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 8,326 kilowatt-hours per person, 5% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Oil consumption per person in North Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +112.1% | 938.88 kilowatt-hours per person | 1,991 kilowatt-hours per person |
| 2000 | -72.8% | 1,991 kilowatt-hours per person | 542.32 kilowatt-hours per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,873 kilowatt-hours per person | 1,613 kilowatt-hours per person | 2,108 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 1,722 kilowatt-hours per person | 938.88 kilowatt-hours per person | 2,189 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 505.08 kilowatt-hours per person | 367.13 kilowatt-hours per person | 597.39 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 454.51 kilowatt-hours per person | 415.42 kilowatt-hours per person | 510.77 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 427.22 kilowatt-hours per person | 381.19 kilowatt-hours per person | 471.35 kilowatt-hours per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 205 Uganda 518.27 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 206 Liberia 514.79 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 207 Ethiopia 478.17 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 209 Niger 431.33 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 210 Rwanda 401.44 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 211 Chad 380.63 kilowatt-hours per person compare
More reference data data for North Korea
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Enteric Fermentation 91.9 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - IPCC Agriculture 245.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 1.25 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 8.66 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1.75 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - Manure Management 325.47 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.3562 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CO2eq) from CH4 (AR5) - IPCC Agriculture 6,873 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (CH4) - Manure Management 11.62 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is oil consumption per person in North Korea?
- Oil consumption per person in North Korea was 449.11 kilowatt-hours per person in 2024, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest oil consumption per person recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 2,189 kilowatt-hours per person in 1991.
- What is the lowest oil consumption per person recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 367.13 kilowatt-hours per person in 2006.
- How does North Korea rank for oil consumption per person?
- North Korea ranks 208th out of 219 countries with data for 2024.
- Is oil consumption per person rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Oil consumption per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours per person. Includes refined petroleum products and other liquid fuels.