Fossil fuel consumption per person in North Korea
North Korea: Fossil fuel consumption per person was 6,653 kilowatt-hours per person in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
6,653 kilowatt-hours per person
Change on year
up 4.4%
World rank
140th
of 219 countries
All-time high
16,095 kilowatt-hours per person
in 1984
All-time low
4,328 kilowatt-hours per person
in 2016
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Fossil fuel consumption per person in North Korea, 1980–2024
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 person.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fossil fuel consumption per person in North Korea is 6,653 kilowatt-hours per person, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 4.4% on the previous year and up 36.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fossil fuel consumption per person in North Korea peaked at 16,095 kilowatt-hours per person in 1984 and was at its lowest, 4,328 kilowatt-hours per person, in 2016.
That places North Korea 140th out of 219 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 45 years of available data.
Fossil fuel consumption per person in North Korea, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 14,494 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1981 | 14,878 kilowatt-hours per person | +2.7% |
| 1982 | 15,361 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 15,865 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.3% |
| 1984 | 16,095 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.5% |
| 1985 | 13,031 kilowatt-hours per person | -19.0% |
| 1986 | 12,862 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.3% |
| 1987 | 12,353 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.0% |
| 1988 | 14,490 kilowatt-hours per person | +17.3% |
| 1989 | 11,420 kilowatt-hours per person | -21.2% |
| 1990 | 11,390 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.3% |
| 1991 | 11,234 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.4% |
| 1992 | 11,320 kilowatt-hours per person | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 12,218 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.9% |
| 1994 | 11,611 kilowatt-hours per person | -5.0% |
| 1995 | 13,312 kilowatt-hours per person | +14.6% |
| 1996 | 12,720 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.4% |
| 1997 | 12,412 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.4% |
| 1998 | 10,835 kilowatt-hours per person | -12.7% |
| 1999 | 13,884 kilowatt-hours per person | +28.1% |
| 2000 | 12,414 kilowatt-hours per person | -10.6% |
| 2001 | 11,990 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.4% |
| 2002 | 11,586 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.4% |
| 2003 | 11,358 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.0% |
| 2004 | 11,736 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.3% |
| 2005 | 11,486 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 10,950 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.7% |
| 2007 | 9,629 kilowatt-hours per person | -12.1% |
| 2008 | 10,407 kilowatt-hours per person | +8.1% |
| 2009 | 8,883 kilowatt-hours per person | -14.6% |
| 2010 | 8,283 kilowatt-hours per person | -6.8% |
| 2011 | 5,748 kilowatt-hours per person | -30.6% |
| 2012 | 5,405 kilowatt-hours per person | -6.0% |
| 2013 | 4,969 kilowatt-hours per person | -8.1% |
| 2014 | 4,881 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 4,378 kilowatt-hours per person | -10.3% |
| 2016 | 4,328 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 8,374 kilowatt-hours per person | +93.5% |
| 2018 | 7,511 kilowatt-hours per person | -10.3% |
| 2019 | 8,363 kilowatt-hours per person | +11.3% |
| 2020 | 7,839 kilowatt-hours per person | -6.3% |
| 2021 | 6,421 kilowatt-hours per person | -18.1% |
| 2022 | 6,273 kilowatt-hours per person | -2.3% |
| 2023 | 6,370 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.5% |
| 2024 | 6,653 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.4% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 6,653 kilowatt-hours per person is above the median for low income countries, which is 610.54 kilowatt-hours per person, 10.9× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 6,653 kilowatt-hours per person is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 10,915 kilowatt-hours per person, 61% of the median. (35 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fossil fuel consumption per person in North 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +93.5% | 4,328 kilowatt-hours per person | 8,374 kilowatt-hours per person |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 14,085 kilowatt-hours per person | 11,420 kilowatt-hours per person | 16,095 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 12,094 kilowatt-hours per person | 10,835 kilowatt-hours per person | 13,884 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 11,044 kilowatt-hours per person | 8,883 kilowatt-hours per person | 12,414 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,224 kilowatt-hours per person | 4,328 kilowatt-hours per person | 8,374 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 6,711 kilowatt-hours per person | 6,273 kilowatt-hours per person | 7,839 kilowatt-hours per person | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
- 137 Costa Rica 7,420 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 138 India 6,899 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 139 Morocco 6,873 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 141 Samoa 6,290 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 142 El Salvador 6,256 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 143 Micronesia (country) 6,204 kilowatt-hours per person compare
More energy & mining data for North Korea
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 4.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fossil fuel consumption per person in North Korea?
- Fossil fuel consumption per person in North Korea was 6,653 kilowatt-hours per person in 2024, 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 fossil fuel consumption per person recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 16,095 kilowatt-hours per person in 1984.
- What is the lowest fossil fuel consumption per person recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,328 kilowatt-hours per person in 2016.
- How does North Korea rank for fossil fuel consumption per person?
- North Korea ranks 140th out of 219 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fossil fuel consumption per person rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 36.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this North 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 Fossil fuel consumption per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours per person. Fossil fuels include coal, oil, and gas.