Renewable electricity in South Korea

South Korea: Renewable electricity was 1.9% in 2015. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2015)
1.9%
Change on year
up 20.9%
World rank
170th
of 233 countries
All-time high
6.0%
in 1990
All-time low
1.0%
in 2008
Years of data
26
1990–2015

Renewable electricity in South Korea, 1990–2015

02461990200220151990: 6 % in total electricity output1991: 3.1 % in total electricity output1992: 2.5 % in total electricity output1993: 3 % in total electricity output1994: 1.5 % in total electricity output1995: 1.7 % in total electricity output1996: 1.4 % in total electricity output1997: 1.3 % in total electricity output1998: 2 % in total electricity output1999: 1.8 % in total electricity output2000: 1.4 % in total electricity output2001: 1.4 % in total electricity output2002: 1 % in total electricity output2003: 1.5 % in total electricity output2004: 1.3 % in total electricity output2005: 1 % in total electricity output2006: 0.999 % in total electricity output2007: 1.1 % in total electricity output2008: 0.986 % in total electricity output2009: 1 % in total electricity output2010: 1.2 % in total electricity output2011: 1.4 % in total electricity output2012: 1.3 % in total electricity output2013: 1.6 % in total electricity output2014: 1.6 % in total electricity output2015: 1.9 % in total electricity output

Source: World Bank and International Energy Agency (IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA, http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp). Measured in % in total electricity output.

Analysis

The most recent figure for renewable electricity in South Korea is 1.9%, measured in 2015.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 20.9% on the previous year and up 81.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, renewable electricity in South Korea peaked at 6.0% in 1990 and was at its lowest, 1.0%, in 2008.

South Korea ranks 170th of 233 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Renewable electricity in South Korea, year by year

Annual values for Renewable electricity (% in total electricity output) in South Korea, 1990 to 2015.
Year % in total electricity output Change
1990 6.0%
1991 3.1% -49.0%
1992 2.5% -19.1%
1993 3.0% +18.7%
1994 1.5% -50.9%
1995 1.7% +14.5%
1996 1.4% -16.0%
1997 1.3% -6.7%
1998 2.0% +54.2%
1999 1.8% -10.1%
2000 1.4% -21.1%
2001 1.4% -3.3%
2002 1.0% -24.4%
2003 1.5% +43.4%
2004 1.3% -15.4%
2005 1.0% -17.3%
2006 1.0% -4.4%
2007 1.1% +7.1%
2008 1.0% -7.9%
2009 1.0% +5.3%
2010 1.2% +20.0%
2011 1.4% +15.5%
2012 1.3% -7.1%
2013 1.6% +22.2%
2014 1.6% -4.0%
2015 1.9% +20.9%

South Korea compared with similar countries

  • South Korea's 1.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 13.2%, 14% of the median. (85 countries reporting)
  • South Korea's 1.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 10.0%, 19% of the median. (37 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 2.4% 1.3% 6.0% 10
2000s 1.2% 1.0% 1.5% 10
2010s 1.5% 1.2% 1.9% 6

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 167 Solomon Islands 2.3% compare
  2. 168 South Africa 2.3% compare
  3. 169 Niue 2.0% compare
  4. 171 Israel 1.9% compare
  5. 172 Puerto Rico 1.8% compare
  6. 173 Singapore 1.8% compare

See the full ranking of 234 places →

More reference data data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is renewable electricity in South Korea?
Renewable electricity in South Korea was 1.9% in 2015, according to World Bank and International Energy Agency (IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA, http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp).
What is the highest renewable electricity recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 6.0% in 1990.
What is the lowest renewable electricity recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 1.0% in 2008.
How does South Korea rank for renewable electricity?
South Korea ranks 170th out of 233 countries with data for 2015.
Is renewable electricity rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is up 81.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from World Bank and International Energy Agency (IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA, http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp), published as part of Renewable electricity (% in total electricity output). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Renewable electricity in South Korea. Statizoid, drawing on World Bank and International Energy Agency (IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA, http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp). Retrieved 24 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/renewable-electricity-percent-in-total-electricity-output/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Renewable electricity (% in total electricity output)
Unit
% in total electricity output
Source
World Bank and International Energy Agency (IEA Statistics © OECD/IEA, http://www.iea.org/stats/index.asp)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
234 places, 6,084 data points, 1990–2015
Last refreshed

Renewable electricity (% in total electricity output): Share of electrity generated by renewable power plants in total electricity generated by all types of plants