Electricity generation in South Korea
South Korea: Electricity generation was 624.66 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
624.66 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
8th
of 214 countries
All-time high
625.38 terawatt-hours
in 2024
All-time low
62.67 terawatt-hours
in 1985
Years of data
41
1985–2025
Electricity generation 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 in South Korea stood at 624.66 terawatt-hours.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 14.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation in South Korea peaked at 625.38 terawatt-hours in 2024 and was at its lowest, 62.67 terawatt-hours, in 1985.
That places South Korea 8th 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 in South Korea, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 62.67 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 69.68 terawatt-hours | +11.2% |
| 1987 | 80.25 terawatt-hours | +15.2% |
| 1988 | 93.11 terawatt-hours | +16.0% |
| 1989 | 103.62 terawatt-hours | +11.3% |
| 1990 | 118.46 terawatt-hours | +14.3% |
| 1991 | 131.62 terawatt-hours | +11.1% |
| 1992 | 146.44 terawatt-hours | +11.3% |
| 1993 | 161.9 terawatt-hours | +10.6% |
| 1994 | 183.37 terawatt-hours | +13.3% |
| 1995 | 203.55 terawatt-hours | +11.0% |
| 1996 | 225.85 terawatt-hours | +11.0% |
| 1997 | 246.59 terawatt-hours | +9.2% |
| 1998 | 237.2 terawatt-hours | -3.8% |
| 1999 | 262.15 terawatt-hours | +10.5% |
| 2000 | 290.45 terawatt-hours | +10.8% |
| 2001 | 309.88 terawatt-hours | +6.7% |
| 2002 | 332.01 terawatt-hours | +7.1% |
| 2003 | 347.77 terawatt-hours | +4.7% |
| 2004 | 368.02 terawatt-hours | +5.8% |
| 2005 | 389.47 terawatt-hours | +5.8% |
| 2006 | 402.99 terawatt-hours | +3.5% |
| 2007 | 425.41 terawatt-hours | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 442.61 terawatt-hours | +4.0% |
| 2009 | 452.45 terawatt-hours | +2.2% |
| 2010 | 495.03 terawatt-hours | +9.4% |
| 2011 | 518.16 terawatt-hours | +4.7% |
| 2012 | 531.21 terawatt-hours | +2.5% |
| 2013 | 537.16 terawatt-hours | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 540.38 terawatt-hours | +0.6% |
| 2015 | 547.8 terawatt-hours | +1.4% |
| 2016 | 560.98 terawatt-hours | +2.4% |
| 2017 | 576.41 terawatt-hours | +2.8% |
| 2018 | 592.91 terawatt-hours | +2.9% |
| 2019 | 586.8 terawatt-hours | -1.0% |
| 2020 | 577.11 terawatt-hours | -1.7% |
| 2021 | 607.76 terawatt-hours | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 622.59 terawatt-hours | +2.4% |
| 2023 | 617.49 terawatt-hours | -0.8% |
| 2024 | 625.38 terawatt-hours | +1.3% |
| 2025 | 624.66 terawatt-hours | -0.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 624.66 terawatt-hours is above the median for high income countries, which is 30.95 terawatt-hours, 20.2× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 624.66 terawatt-hours is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 13.73 terawatt-hours, 45.5× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 81.87 terawatt-hours | 62.67 terawatt-hours | 103.62 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 191.71 terawatt-hours | 118.46 terawatt-hours | 262.15 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 376.11 terawatt-hours | 290.45 terawatt-hours | 452.45 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 548.68 terawatt-hours | 495.03 terawatt-hours | 592.91 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 612.5 terawatt-hours | 577.11 terawatt-hours | 625.38 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 in South Korea?
- Electricity generation in South Korea was 624.66 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 recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 625.38 terawatt-hours in 2024.
- What is the lowest electricity generation recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 62.67 terawatt-hours in 1985.
- How does South Korea rank for electricity generation?
- South Korea ranks 8th out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.0%. 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. 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
Total electricity generated in each country or region, measured in terawatt-hours.