Annual change in primary energy use in South Korea
South Korea: Annual change in primary energy use was -56.71 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Annual change in primary energy use in South Korea, 1966–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
South Korea recorded -56.71 terawatt-hours for annual change in primary energy use in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 171.4% on the previous year and down 201.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, annual change in primary energy use in South Korea peaked at 223.93 terawatt-hours in 2010 and was at its lowest, -182.98 terawatt-hours, in 1998.
That places South Korea 218th out of 218 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 17.03 terawatt-hours | 13.58 terawatt-hours | 23.84 terawatt-hours | 4 |
| 1970s | 29.57 terawatt-hours | 6.57 terawatt-hours | 57.65 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 50.83 terawatt-hours | 2.11 terawatt-hours | 94.24 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 120.61 terawatt-hours | -182.98 terawatt-hours | 187.07 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 72.54 terawatt-hours | 16.33 terawatt-hours | 122.29 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 67.68 terawatt-hours | -45.03 terawatt-hours | 223.93 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.28 terawatt-hours | -137.06 terawatt-hours | 181.19 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More energy & mining data for South Korea
- Fuel imports 25.7% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 6.7% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 2.4% (2024)
- Gas production 0 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 0 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 0 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 0 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel exports 7.7% (2024)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 3.3% (2024)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 53.9% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is annual change in primary energy use in South Korea?
- Annual change in primary energy use in South Korea was -56.71 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest annual change in primary energy use recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 223.93 terawatt-hours in 2010.
- What is the lowest annual change in primary energy use recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -182.98 terawatt-hours in 1998.
- How does South Korea rank for annual change in primary energy use?
- South Korea ranks 218th out of 218 countries with data for 2025.
- Is annual change in primary energy use rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 201.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Annual change in primary energy use. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Change in total energy supply relative to the previous year, measured in terawatt-hours.