Electricity production by source in South Korea
South Korea: Electricity production by source was 194.53 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
194.53 terawatt-hours
Change on year
up 2.0%
World rank
8th
of 211 countries
All-time high
260.79 terawatt-hours
in 2017
All-time low
23.65 terawatt-hours
in 1987
Years of data
41
1985–2025
Electricity production by source 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 production by source in South Korea stood at 194.53 terawatt-hours.
The figure is up 2.0% on the previous year and down 16.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity production by source in South Korea peaked at 260.79 terawatt-hours in 2017 and was at its lowest, 23.65 terawatt-hours, in 1987.
That places South Korea 8th out of 211 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 production by source in South Korea, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 24.76 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 25 terawatt-hours | +0.9% |
| 1987 | 23.65 terawatt-hours | -5.4% |
| 1988 | 29.56 terawatt-hours | +25.0% |
| 1989 | 30.62 terawatt-hours | +3.6% |
| 1990 | 33.51 terawatt-hours | +9.4% |
| 1991 | 36.83 terawatt-hours | +9.9% |
| 1992 | 42.36 terawatt-hours | +15.0% |
| 1993 | 53.5 terawatt-hours | +26.3% |
| 1994 | 65.1 terawatt-hours | +21.7% |
| 1995 | 72.01 terawatt-hours | +10.6% |
| 1996 | 81.71 terawatt-hours | +13.5% |
| 1997 | 93.94 terawatt-hours | +15.0% |
| 1998 | 102.95 terawatt-hours | +9.6% |
| 1999 | 111.1 terawatt-hours | +7.9% |
| 2000 | 114.88 terawatt-hours | +3.4% |
| 2001 | 127.36 terawatt-hours | +10.9% |
| 2002 | 137.49 terawatt-hours | +8.0% |
| 2003 | 139.13 terawatt-hours | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 143.41 terawatt-hours | +3.1% |
| 2005 | 150.36 terawatt-hours | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 153.99 terawatt-hours | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 170.89 terawatt-hours | +11.0% |
| 2008 | 190.95 terawatt-hours | +11.7% |
| 2009 | 209.35 terawatt-hours | +9.6% |
| 2010 | 218.41 terawatt-hours | +4.3% |
| 2011 | 225.08 terawatt-hours | +3.1% |
| 2012 | 223.43 terawatt-hours | -0.7% |
| 2013 | 223.75 terawatt-hours | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 226.07 terawatt-hours | +1.0% |
| 2015 | 232.68 terawatt-hours | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 232.91 terawatt-hours | +0.1% |
| 2017 | 260.79 terawatt-hours | +12.0% |
| 2018 | 257.67 terawatt-hours | -1.2% |
| 2019 | 245.04 terawatt-hours | -4.9% |
| 2020 | 207.97 terawatt-hours | -15.1% |
| 2021 | 213.32 terawatt-hours | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 209.22 terawatt-hours | -1.9% |
| 2023 | 201.34 terawatt-hours | -3.8% |
| 2024 | 190.78 terawatt-hours | -5.2% |
| 2025 | 194.53 terawatt-hours | +2.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 194.53 terawatt-hours is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.12 terawatt-hours, 173.7× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 26.72 terawatt-hours | 23.65 terawatt-hours | 30.62 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 69.3 terawatt-hours | 33.51 terawatt-hours | 111.1 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 153.78 terawatt-hours | 114.88 terawatt-hours | 209.35 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 234.58 terawatt-hours | 218.41 terawatt-hours | 260.79 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 202.86 terawatt-hours | 190.78 terawatt-hours | 213.32 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 production by source in South Korea?
- Electricity production by source in South Korea was 194.53 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity production by source recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 260.79 terawatt-hours in 2017.
- What is the lowest electricity production by source recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 23.65 terawatt-hours in 1987.
- How does South Korea rank for electricity production by source?
- South Korea ranks 8th out of 211 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity production by source rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.4%. 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 production by source. 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
Measured in terawatt-hours.