Electricity generation from fossil fuels in South Korea
South Korea: Electricity generation from fossil fuels was 375.06 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
375.06 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 0.2%
World rank
7th
of 214 countries
All-time high
431.6 terawatt-hours
in 2018
All-time low
35.59 terawatt-hours
in 1987
Years of data
41
1985–2025
Electricity generation from fossil fuels in South Korea, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, electricity generation from fossil fuels in South Korea stood at 375.06 terawatt-hours.
The figure is down 0.2% on the previous year and up 2.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from fossil fuels in South Korea peaked at 431.6 terawatt-hours in 2018 and was at its lowest, 35.59 terawatt-hours, in 1987.
That places South Korea 7th out of 214 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity generation from fossil fuels in South Korea, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 42.26 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 37.35 terawatt-hours | -11.6% |
| 1987 | 35.59 terawatt-hours | -4.7% |
| 1988 | 49.44 terawatt-hours | +38.9% |
| 1989 | 51.7 terawatt-hours | +4.6% |
| 1990 | 59.21 terawatt-hours | +14.5% |
| 1991 | 70.25 terawatt-hours | +18.6% |
| 1992 | 85.04 terawatt-hours | +21.1% |
| 1993 | 97.75 terawatt-hours | +14.9% |
| 1994 | 120.61 terawatt-hours | +23.4% |
| 1995 | 130.79 terawatt-hours | +8.4% |
| 1996 | 146.31 terawatt-hours | +11.9% |
| 1997 | 164.06 terawatt-hours | +12.1% |
| 1998 | 141.34 terawatt-hours | -13.8% |
| 1999 | 152.91 terawatt-hours | +8.2% |
| 2000 | 177.37 terawatt-hours | +16.0% |
| 2001 | 195.31 terawatt-hours | +10.1% |
| 2002 | 209.48 terawatt-hours | +7.3% |
| 2003 | 212.99 terawatt-hours | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 232.65 terawatt-hours | +9.2% |
| 2005 | 238.62 terawatt-hours | +2.6% |
| 2006 | 250.26 terawatt-hours | +4.9% |
| 2007 | 278.01 terawatt-hours | +11.1% |
| 2008 | 287.21 terawatt-hours | +3.3% |
| 2009 | 300.07 terawatt-hours | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 340.74 terawatt-hours | +13.6% |
| 2011 | 356.04 terawatt-hours | +4.5% |
| 2012 | 372.71 terawatt-hours | +4.7% |
| 2013 | 388.15 terawatt-hours | +4.1% |
| 2014 | 371.08 terawatt-hours | -4.4% |
| 2015 | 367.84 terawatt-hours | -0.9% |
| 2016 | 380.86 terawatt-hours | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 405.65 terawatt-hours | +6.5% |
| 2018 | 431.6 terawatt-hours | +6.4% |
| 2019 | 407.88 terawatt-hours | -5.5% |
| 2020 | 376.53 terawatt-hours | -7.7% |
| 2021 | 401.65 terawatt-hours | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 391.05 terawatt-hours | -2.6% |
| 2023 | 377.93 terawatt-hours | -3.4% |
| 2024 | 375.91 terawatt-hours | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 375.06 terawatt-hours | -0.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 375.06 terawatt-hours is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.3 terawatt-hours, 87.2× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 375.06 terawatt-hours is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 7.21 terawatt-hours, 52.0× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 43.27 terawatt-hours | 35.59 terawatt-hours | 51.7 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 116.83 terawatt-hours | 59.21 terawatt-hours | 164.06 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 238.2 terawatt-hours | 177.37 terawatt-hours | 300.07 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 382.25 terawatt-hours | 340.74 terawatt-hours | 431.6 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 383.02 terawatt-hours | 375.06 terawatt-hours | 401.65 terawatt-hours | 6 |
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 electricity generation from fossil fuels in South Korea?
- Electricity generation from fossil fuels in South Korea was 375.06 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 431.6 terawatt-hours in 2018.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 35.59 terawatt-hours in 1987.
- How does South Korea rank for electricity generation from fossil fuels?
- South Korea ranks 7th out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from fossil fuels rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation from fossil fuels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 41 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured in terawatt-hours.