Energy imports and exports in South Korea
South Korea: Energy imports and exports was 84.6% in 2023. ▬ Flat
Energy imports and exports in South Korea, 1990–2023
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of energy use.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 84.6% for energy imports and exports in 2023.
The figure is down 1.1% on the previous year and down 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, energy imports and exports in South Korea peaked at 93.4% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 76.6%, in 1990.
That places South Korea 18th out of 142 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top quarter.
Energy imports and exports in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of energy use | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 76.6% | — |
| 1991 | 81.3% | +6.0% |
| 1992 | 86.0% | +5.8% |
| 1993 | 87.9% | +2.2% |
| 1994 | 92.4% | +5.2% |
| 1995 | 90.7% | -1.9% |
| 1996 | 92.7% | +2.2% |
| 1997 | 93.4% | +0.7% |
| 1998 | 89.4% | -4.3% |
| 1999 | 88.4% | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 88.9% | +0.5% |
| 2001 | 87.9% | -1.1% |
| 2002 | 86.5% | -1.6% |
| 2003 | 87.3% | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 87.7% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 83.4% | -4.9% |
| 2006 | 86.8% | +4.0% |
| 2007 | 85.4% | -1.7% |
| 2008 | 85.6% | +0.3% |
| 2009 | 86.3% | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 88.1% | +2.1% |
| 2011 | 87.2% | -1.0% |
| 2012 | 86.5% | -0.8% |
| 2013 | 88.1% | +1.8% |
| 2014 | 86.9% | -1.4% |
| 2015 | 86.7% | -0.2% |
| 2016 | 86.9% | +0.2% |
| 2017 | 88.5% | +1.8% |
| 2018 | 89.5% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 88.2% | -1.5% |
| 2020 | 84.5% | -4.1% |
| 2021 | 84.9% | +0.5% |
| 2022 | 85.5% | +0.7% |
| 2023 | 84.6% | -1.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 87.9% | 76.6% | 93.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 86.6% | 83.4% | 88.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 87.7% | 86.5% | 89.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 84.9% | 84.5% | 85.5% | 4 |
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)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Gas production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is energy imports and exports in South Korea?
- Energy imports and exports in South Korea was 84.6% in 2023, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest energy imports and exports recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 93.4% in 1997.
- What is the lowest energy imports and exports recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 76.6% in 1990.
- How does South Korea rank for energy imports and exports?
- South Korea ranks 18th out of 142 countries with data for 2023.
- Is energy imports and exports rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, IEA, via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy imports and exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Energy trade, measured as the percentage of energy use. Positive values indicate a country or region is a net importer of energy. Negative numbers indicate a country or region is a net exporter.