Electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in South Korea
South Korea: Electricity generation from fossil fuels per person was 7,259 kilowatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
7,259 kilowatt-hours
Change on year
down 0.1%
World rank
18th
of 214 countries
All-time high
8,358 kilowatt-hours
in 2018
All-time low
841 kilowatt-hours
in 1987
Years of data
41
1985–2025
Electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in South Korea, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 7,259 kilowatt-hours for electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in 2025.
That represents a change of down 0.1% on the previous year and up 0.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in South Korea peaked at 8,358 kilowatt-hours in 2018 and was at its lowest, 841 kilowatt-hours, in 1987.
South Korea ranks 18th of 214 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in South Korea, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 1,027 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 895.29 kilowatt-hours | -12.8% |
| 1987 | 841 kilowatt-hours | -6.1% |
| 1988 | 1,152 kilowatt-hours | +37.0% |
| 1989 | 1,188 kilowatt-hours | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 1,343 kilowatt-hours | +13.1% |
| 1991 | 1,581 kilowatt-hours | +17.7% |
| 1992 | 1,905 kilowatt-hours | +20.5% |
| 1993 | 2,178 kilowatt-hours | +14.3% |
| 1994 | 2,673 kilowatt-hours | +22.7% |
| 1995 | 2,883 kilowatt-hours | +7.9% |
| 1996 | 3,206 kilowatt-hours | +11.2% |
| 1997 | 3,571 kilowatt-hours | +11.4% |
| 1998 | 3,057 kilowatt-hours | -14.4% |
| 1999 | 3,288 kilowatt-hours | +7.6% |
| 2000 | 3,793 kilowatt-hours | +15.3% |
| 2001 | 4,152 kilowatt-hours | +9.5% |
| 2002 | 4,429 kilowatt-hours | +6.7% |
| 2003 | 4,483 kilowatt-hours | +1.2% |
| 2004 | 4,878 kilowatt-hours | +8.8% |
| 2005 | 4,987 kilowatt-hours | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 5,213 kilowatt-hours | +4.5% |
| 2007 | 5,770 kilowatt-hours | +10.7% |
| 2008 | 5,939 kilowatt-hours | +2.9% |
| 2009 | 6,181 kilowatt-hours | +4.1% |
| 2010 | 6,987 kilowatt-hours | +13.0% |
| 2011 | 7,247 kilowatt-hours | +3.7% |
| 2012 | 7,514 kilowatt-hours | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 7,752 kilowatt-hours | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 7,342 kilowatt-hours | -5.3% |
| 2015 | 7,215 kilowatt-hours | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 7,424 kilowatt-hours | +2.9% |
| 2017 | 7,879 kilowatt-hours | +6.1% |
| 2018 | 8,358 kilowatt-hours | +6.1% |
| 2019 | 7,879 kilowatt-hours | -5.7% |
| 2020 | 7,261 kilowatt-hours | -7.8% |
| 2021 | 7,747 kilowatt-hours | +6.7% |
| 2022 | 7,552 kilowatt-hours | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 7,303 kilowatt-hours | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 7,269 kilowatt-hours | -0.5% |
| 2025 | 7,259 kilowatt-hours | -0.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 7,259 kilowatt-hours is above the median for high income countries, which is 3,115 kilowatt-hours, 2.3× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 7,259 kilowatt-hours is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,616 kilowatt-hours, 4.5× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1,021 kilowatt-hours | 841 kilowatt-hours | 1,188 kilowatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 2,568 kilowatt-hours | 1,343 kilowatt-hours | 3,571 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 4,982 kilowatt-hours | 3,793 kilowatt-hours | 6,181 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 7,560 kilowatt-hours | 6,987 kilowatt-hours | 8,358 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 7,398 kilowatt-hours | 7,259 kilowatt-hours | 7,747 kilowatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 15 United States Virgin Islands 7,700 kilowatt-hours compare
- 16 Aruba 7,680 kilowatt-hours compare
- 17 United States 7,418 kilowatt-hours compare
- 19 Israel 7,166 kilowatt-hours compare
- 20 Australia 6,516 kilowatt-hours compare
- 21 Trinidad and Tobago 6,327 kilowatt-hours compare
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 from fossil fuels per person in South Korea?
- Electricity generation from fossil fuels per person in South Korea was 7,259 kilowatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from fossil fuels per person recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 8,358 kilowatt-hours in 2018.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from fossil fuels per person recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 841 kilowatt-hours in 1987.
- How does South Korea rank for electricity generation from fossil fuels per person?
- South Korea ranks 18th out of 214 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from fossil fuels per person rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 0.6%. 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 from fossil fuels per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured in kilowatt-hours per person.