Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in South Korea
South Korea: Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar was 1.4 kilowatt-hours per $ in 2020. ▼ Falling
Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in South Korea, 1995–2020
Source: Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per $.
Analysis
In 2020, consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in South Korea stood at 1.4 kilowatt-hours per $.
That represents a change of up 1.9% on the previous year and down 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in South Korea peaked at 2.42 kilowatt-hours per $ in 1996 and was at its lowest, 1.31 kilowatt-hours per $, in 2016.
South Korea ranks 16th of 43 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 26 years of available data.
Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in South Korea, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per $ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2.32 kilowatt-hours per $ | — |
| 1996 | 2.42 kilowatt-hours per $ | +4.5% |
| 1997 | 2.24 kilowatt-hours per $ | -7.6% |
| 1998 | 1.68 kilowatt-hours per $ | -24.8% |
| 1999 | 1.87 kilowatt-hours per $ | +11.0% |
| 2000 | 1.89 kilowatt-hours per $ | +0.9% |
| 2001 | 1.8 kilowatt-hours per $ | -4.6% |
| 2002 | 1.79 kilowatt-hours per $ | -0.4% |
| 2003 | 1.8 kilowatt-hours per $ | +0.1% |
| 2004 | 1.77 kilowatt-hours per $ | -1.7% |
| 2005 | 1.72 kilowatt-hours per $ | -2.7% |
| 2006 | 1.8 kilowatt-hours per $ | +5.1% |
| 2007 | 1.68 kilowatt-hours per $ | -7.1% |
| 2008 | 1.58 kilowatt-hours per $ | -6.0% |
| 2009 | 1.44 kilowatt-hours per $ | -8.7% |
| 2010 | 1.54 kilowatt-hours per $ | +6.9% |
| 2011 | 1.49 kilowatt-hours per $ | -2.9% |
| 2012 | 1.44 kilowatt-hours per $ | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 1.39 kilowatt-hours per $ | -3.9% |
| 2014 | 1.43 kilowatt-hours per $ | +3.1% |
| 2015 | 1.42 kilowatt-hours per $ | -1.0% |
| 2016 | 1.31 kilowatt-hours per $ | -7.3% |
| 2017 | 1.43 kilowatt-hours per $ | +8.9% |
| 2018 | 1.39 kilowatt-hours per $ | -2.7% |
| 2019 | 1.38 kilowatt-hours per $ | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 1.4 kilowatt-hours per $ | +1.9% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.4 kilowatt-hours per $ is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.28 kilowatt-hours per $, 1.1× the median. (36 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.4 kilowatt-hours per $ is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.29 kilowatt-hours per $, 1.1× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.11 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.68 kilowatt-hours per $ | 2.42 kilowatt-hours per $ | 5 |
| 2000s | 1.73 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.44 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.89 kilowatt-hours per $ | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.42 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.31 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.54 kilowatt-hours per $ | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.4 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.4 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1.4 kilowatt-hours per $ | 1 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More energy & mining data for South Korea
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -1.55 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0.0001 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 25.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in South Korea?
- Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar in South Korea was 1.4 kilowatt-hours per $ in 2020, according to Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest consumption-based energy intensity per dollar recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 2.42 kilowatt-hours per $ in 1996.
- What is the lowest consumption-based energy intensity per dollar recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.31 kilowatt-hours per $ in 2016.
- How does South Korea rank for consumption-based energy intensity per dollar?
- South Korea ranks 16th out of 43 countries with data for 2020.
- Is consumption-based energy intensity per dollar rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Consumption-based energy intensity per dollar. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Energy intensity is measured as the number of kilowatt-hours used per dollar of gross domestic product (GDP). Consumption-based energy adjusts for the energy embedded in traded goods: it is the energy used domestically minus energy used to produce exported goods; plus the energy used for imported goods.