Fossil fuel consumption per capita by source in South Korea
South Korea: Fossil fuel consumption per capita by source was 15,352 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
15,352 kilowatt-hours per person
Change on year
up 0.2%
World rank
6th
of 79 countries
All-time high
20,485 kilowatt-hours per person
in 2018
All-time low
1,884 kilowatt-hours per person
in 1968
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Fossil fuel consumption per capita by source in South Korea, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per person.
Analysis
In 2025, fossil fuel consumption per capita by source in South Korea stood at 15,352 kilowatt-hours per person.
That represents a change of up 0.2% on the previous year and down 21.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fossil fuel consumption per capita by source in South Korea peaked at 20,485 kilowatt-hours per person in 2018 and was at its lowest, 1,884 kilowatt-hours per person, in 1968.
That places South Korea 6th out of 79 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.
Fossil fuel consumption per capita by source in South Korea, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 1,967 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1966 | 2,185 kilowatt-hours per person | +11.1% |
| 1967 | 2,040 kilowatt-hours per person | -6.6% |
| 1968 | 1,884 kilowatt-hours per person | -7.6% |
| 1969 | 1,926 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.2% |
| 1970 | 2,012 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.5% |
| 1971 | 1,990 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.1% |
| 1972 | 1,998 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 2,477 kilowatt-hours per person | +23.9% |
| 1974 | 2,506 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.2% |
| 1975 | 2,605 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.9% |
| 1976 | 2,863 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.9% |
| 1977 | 3,087 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.8% |
| 1978 | 3,086 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.0% |
| 1979 | 3,652 kilowatt-hours per person | +18.3% |
| 1980 | 4,025 kilowatt-hours per person | +10.2% |
| 1981 | 4,582 kilowatt-hours per person | +13.9% |
| 1982 | 4,566 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.4% |
| 1983 | 4,795 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.0% |
| 1984 | 5,691 kilowatt-hours per person | +18.7% |
| 1985 | 6,224 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.4% |
| 1986 | 6,504 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.5% |
| 1987 | 6,496 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.1% |
| 1988 | 6,818 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.0% |
| 1989 | 6,544 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.0% |
| 1990 | 6,653 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 6,770 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 6,520 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.7% |
| 1993 | 7,116 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.1% |
| 1994 | 7,367 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.5% |
| 1995 | 7,566 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 8,730 kilowatt-hours per person | +15.4% |
| 1997 | 9,190 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.3% |
| 1998 | 9,412 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.4% |
| 1999 | 9,895 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.1% |
| 2000 | 10,993 kilowatt-hours per person | +11.1% |
| 2001 | 11,630 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.8% |
| 2002 | 12,390 kilowatt-hours per person | +6.5% |
| 2003 | 12,808 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.4% |
| 2004 | 13,460 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.1% |
| 2005 | 13,638 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.3% |
| 2006 | 14,049 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 14,715 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 16,310 kilowatt-hours per person | +10.8% |
| 2009 | 16,871 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.4% |
| 2010 | 18,786 kilowatt-hours per person | +11.4% |
| 2011 | 20,406 kilowatt-hours per person | +8.6% |
| 2012 | 19,386 kilowatt-hours per person | -5.0% |
| 2013 | 19,192 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.0% |
| 2014 | 19,596 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.1% |
| 2015 | 19,510 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.4% |
| 2016 | 18,872 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.3% |
| 2017 | 19,952 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.7% |
| 2018 | 20,485 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.7% |
| 2019 | 19,261 kilowatt-hours per person | -6.0% |
| 2020 | 17,024 kilowatt-hours per person | -11.6% |
| 2021 | 17,534 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.0% |
| 2022 | 16,874 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 16,329 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.2% |
| 2024 | 15,322 kilowatt-hours per person | -6.2% |
| 2025 | 15,352 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.2% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 15,352 kilowatt-hours per person is above the median for high income countries, which is 1,585 kilowatt-hours per person, 9.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 15,352 kilowatt-hours per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6,018 kilowatt-hours per person, 2.6× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,000 kilowatt-hours per person | 1,884 kilowatt-hours per person | 2,185 kilowatt-hours per person | 5 |
| 1970s | 2,628 kilowatt-hours per person | 1,990 kilowatt-hours per person | 3,652 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 5,624 kilowatt-hours per person | 4,025 kilowatt-hours per person | 6,818 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 7,922 kilowatt-hours per person | 6,520 kilowatt-hours per person | 9,895 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 13,686 kilowatt-hours per person | 10,993 kilowatt-hours per person | 16,871 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 19,545 kilowatt-hours per person | 18,786 kilowatt-hours per person | 20,485 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,406 kilowatt-hours per person | 15,322 kilowatt-hours per person | 17,534 kilowatt-hours per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 3 China 18,093 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 4 South Africa 15,640 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 5 Taiwan 15,405 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 7 Australia 15,029 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 8 USSR 14,290 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 9 Czechia 9,984 kilowatt-hours per person 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 fossil fuel consumption per capita by source in South Korea?
- Fossil fuel consumption per capita by source in South Korea was 15,352 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fossil fuel consumption per capita by source recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 20,485 kilowatt-hours per person in 2018.
- What is the lowest fossil fuel consumption per capita by source recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,884 kilowatt-hours per person in 1968.
- How does South Korea rank for fossil fuel consumption per capita by source?
- South Korea ranks 6th out of 79 countries with data for 2025.
- Is fossil fuel consumption per capita by source rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Fossil fuel consumption per capita by source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per person.