Share of primary energy from fossil fuels in South Korea
South Korea: Share of primary energy from fossil fuels was 81.3% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Latest (2025)
81.3%
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
53rd
of 76 countries
All-time high
89.0%
in 1997
All-time low
81.2%
in 2024
Years of data
40
1986–2025
Share of primary energy from fossil fuels in South Korea, 1986–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 81.3% for share of primary energy from fossil fuels in 2025.
That represents a change of up 0.1% on the previous year and down 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of primary energy from fossil fuels in South Korea peaked at 89.0% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 81.2%, in 2024.
South Korea ranks 53rd of 76 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of primary energy from fossil fuels in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 87.3% | — |
| 1987 | 84.1% | -3.6% |
| 1988 | 85.8% | +2.0% |
| 1989 | 84.5% | -1.5% |
| 1990 | 84.7% | +0.3% |
| 1991 | 85.8% | +1.3% |
| 1992 | 87.4% | +1.8% |
| 1993 | 88.1% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 89.0% | +1.1% |
| 1995 | 88.4% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 88.5% | +0.0% |
| 1997 | 89.0% | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 86.0% | -3.4% |
| 1999 | 85.3% | -0.8% |
| 2000 | 85.3% | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 85.3% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 85.1% | -0.3% |
| 2003 | 84.2% | -1.0% |
| 2004 | 84.5% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 83.2% | -1.5% |
| 2006 | 83.3% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 84.3% | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 83.7% | -0.7% |
| 2009 | 84.1% | +0.5% |
| 2010 | 85.1% | +1.2% |
| 2011 | 85.2% | +0.1% |
| 2012 | 85.7% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 86.6% | +1.1% |
| 2014 | 84.8% | -2.0% |
| 2015 | 84.2% | -0.8% |
| 2016 | 84.8% | +0.7% |
| 2017 | 85.9% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 87.1% | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 85.6% | -1.7% |
| 2020 | 83.5% | -2.5% |
| 2021 | 84.2% | +0.7% |
| 2022 | 82.6% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 81.8% | -1.0% |
| 2024 | 81.2% | -0.7% |
| 2025 | 81.3% | +0.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 81.3% is below the median for high income countries, which is 81.7%, 99% of the median. (45 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 81.3% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 88.3%, 92% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 85.4% | 84.1% | 87.3% | 4 |
| 1990s | 87.2% | 84.7% | 89.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 84.3% | 83.2% | 85.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 85.5% | 84.2% | 87.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 82.4% | 81.2% | 84.2% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
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 share of primary energy from fossil fuels in South Korea?
- Share of primary energy from fossil fuels in South Korea was 81.3% in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of primary energy from fossil fuels recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 89.0% in 1997.
- What is the lowest share of primary energy from fossil fuels recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 81.2% in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for share of primary energy from fossil fuels?
- South Korea ranks 53rd out of 76 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of primary energy from fossil fuels rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of primary energy from fossil fuels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 40 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured as a percentage of total energy supply.