Electricity generation from fossil fuels in South Korea
South Korea: Electricity generation from fossil fuels was 375.06 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
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 209 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.
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
- 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 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 209 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.
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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.