What is energy intensity vs. gdp per capita in South Korea?

Energy intensity vs. gdp per capita in South Korea was 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.

What is the highest energy intensity vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?

The highest recorded value was 2.23 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1997.

What is the lowest energy intensity vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?

The lowest recorded value was 1.33 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1965.

How does South Korea rank for energy intensity vs. gdp per capita?

South Korea ranks 23rd out of 163 countries with data for 2022.

Is energy intensity vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in South Korea?

Over the last ten years it is down 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.

Where does this South Korea data come from?

The figures come from Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Energy intensity vs. GDP per capita in South Korea

Name: Energy intensity vs. GDP per capita in South Korea
Creator: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
License: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)

South Korea: Energy intensity vs. GDP per capita was 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022. ▲ Rising

Latest (2022)

1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar

Change on year

down 1.2%

World rank

23rd

of 163 countries

All-time high

2.23 kilowatt-hours per dollar

in 1997

All-time low

1.33 kilowatt-hours per dollar

in 1965

Years of data

1965–2022

Energy intensity vs. GDP per capita in South Korea, 1965–2022

Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per dollar.

Analysis

In 2022, energy intensity vs. gdp per capita in South Korea stood at 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar.

The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 14.6% over ten years.

Over the whole period, energy intensity vs. gdp per capita in South Korea peaked at 2.23 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1997 and was at its lowest, 1.33 kilowatt-hours per dollar, in 1965.

That places South Korea 23rd out of 163 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 58 years of available data.

Averages by decade

Decade	Average	Lowest	Highest	Years
1960s	1.49 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.33 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.62 kilowatt-hours per dollar	5
1970s	1.72 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.63 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.86 kilowatt-hours per dollar	10
1980s	1.76 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.68 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.95 kilowatt-hours per dollar	10
1990s	2.06 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.82 kilowatt-hours per dollar	2.23 kilowatt-hours per dollar	10
2000s	2.01 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.94 kilowatt-hours per dollar	2.09 kilowatt-hours per dollar	10
2010s	1.9 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.76 kilowatt-hours per dollar	2.02 kilowatt-hours per dollar	10
2020s	1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar	1.73 kilowatt-hours per dollar	3

Countries ranked near South Korea

20 Barbados 1.74 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
21 Belarus 1.73 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
22 Saudi Arabia 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
24 Jamaica 1.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
25 Kyrgyzstan 1.67 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare
26 United Arab Emirates 1.66 kilowatt-hours per dollar compare

See the full ranking of 164 places →

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)

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is energy intensity vs. gdp per capita in South Korea?: Energy intensity vs. gdp per capita in South Korea was 1.71 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 2022, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest energy intensity vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?: The highest recorded value was 2.23 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1997.
What is the lowest energy intensity vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Korea?: The lowest recorded value was 1.33 kilowatt-hours per dollar in 1965.
How does South Korea rank for energy intensity vs. gdp per capita?: South Korea ranks 23rd out of 163 countries with data for 2022.
Is energy intensity vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in South Korea?: Over the last ten years it is down 14.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
Where does this South Korea data come from?: The figures come from Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Energy intensity vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

Download this data

CSV · JSON — 58 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).

About this data

Indicator: Energy intensity vs. GDP per capita
Unit: kilowatt-hours per dollar
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage: 164 places, 7,728 data points, 1965–2022
Last refreshed: 07 August 2026

Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per international-$ of GDP.