Net energy embedded in traded goods in South Korea
South Korea: Net energy embedded in traded goods was -339.83 terawatt-hours in 2020. ◆ Volatile
Net energy embedded in traded goods in South Korea, 1995–2020
Source: Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2020, net energy embedded in traded goods in South Korea stood at -339.83 terawatt-hours.
The figure is up 5.7% on the previous year and up 25.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, net energy embedded in traded goods in South Korea peaked at 155.72 terawatt-hours in 1996 and was at its lowest, -615.38 terawatt-hours, in 2013.
South Korea ranks 39th of 43 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Net energy embedded in traded goods in South Korea, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 36.51 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1996 | 155.72 terawatt-hours | +326.5% |
| 1997 | -30.32 terawatt-hours | -119.5% |
| 1998 | -448.76 terawatt-hours | +1380.3% |
| 1999 | -264.14 terawatt-hours | -41.1% |
| 2000 | -254.26 terawatt-hours | -3.7% |
| 2001 | -264.76 terawatt-hours | +4.1% |
| 2002 | -190.26 terawatt-hours | -28.1% |
| 2003 | -204.86 terawatt-hours | +7.7% |
| 2004 | -234.62 terawatt-hours | +14.5% |
| 2005 | -177.74 terawatt-hours | -24.2% |
| 2006 | -87.84 terawatt-hours | -50.6% |
| 2007 | -113.54 terawatt-hours | +29.2% |
| 2008 | -281.35 terawatt-hours | +147.8% |
| 2009 | -503.06 terawatt-hours | +78.8% |
| 2010 | -453.17 terawatt-hours | -9.9% |
| 2011 | -509.11 terawatt-hours | +12.3% |
| 2012 | -564.61 terawatt-hours | +10.9% |
| 2013 | -615.38 terawatt-hours | +9.0% |
| 2014 | -551.62 terawatt-hours | -10.4% |
| 2015 | -611.53 terawatt-hours | +10.9% |
| 2016 | -592.88 terawatt-hours | -3.0% |
| 2017 | -467.9 terawatt-hours | -21.1% |
| 2018 | -399.77 terawatt-hours | -14.6% |
| 2019 | -360.34 terawatt-hours | -9.9% |
| 2020 | -339.83 terawatt-hours | -5.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's -339.83 terawatt-hours is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.06 terawatt-hours. (36 countries reporting)
- South Korea's -339.83 terawatt-hours is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is -65.4 terawatt-hours, 5.2× the median. (5 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Net energy embedded in traded goods in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | -1380.3% | -30.32 terawatt-hours | -448.76 terawatt-hours |
| 1996 | +326.5% | 36.51 terawatt-hours | 155.72 terawatt-hours |
| 2008 | -147.8% | -113.54 terawatt-hours | -281.35 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | -110.2 terawatt-hours | -448.76 terawatt-hours | 155.72 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 2000s | -231.23 terawatt-hours | -503.06 terawatt-hours | -87.84 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | -512.63 terawatt-hours | -615.38 terawatt-hours | -360.34 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | -339.83 terawatt-hours | -339.83 terawatt-hours | -339.83 terawatt-hours | 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 net energy embedded in traded goods in South Korea?
- Net energy embedded in traded goods in South Korea was -339.83 terawatt-hours in 2020, according to Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest net energy embedded in traded goods recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 155.72 terawatt-hours in 1996.
- What is the lowest net energy embedded in traded goods recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -615.38 terawatt-hours in 2013.
- How does South Korea rank for net energy embedded in traded goods?
- South Korea ranks 39th out of 43 countries with data for 2020.
- Is net energy embedded in traded goods rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Kulionis (2021) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Net energy embedded in traded goods. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 26 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Net energy embedded in traded goods is the difference in energy embedded in exported goods, and imported goods. A positive value means that a country is a net importer; a negative means it's a net exporter. Measured in terawatt-hours.