Coal production in South Korea
South Korea: Coal production was 2.3 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2.3 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 22.7%
World rank
55th
of 220 countries
All-time high
148.23 terawatt-hours
in 1979
All-time low
0 terawatt-hours
in 1900
Years of data
126
1900–2025
Coal production in South Korea, 1900–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, coal production in South Korea stood at 2.3 terawatt-hours.
That represents a change of down 22.7% on the previous year and down 75.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, coal production in South Korea peaked at 148.23 terawatt-hours in 1979 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1900.
That places South Korea 55th out of 220 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Coal production in South Korea, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1901 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1902 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1903 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1904 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1905 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1906 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1907 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1908 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1909 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1910 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1911 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1912 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1913 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1914 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1915 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1916 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1917 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1918 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1919 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1920 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1921 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1922 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1923 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1924 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1925 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1926 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1927 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1928 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1929 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1930 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1931 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1932 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1933 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1934 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1935 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1936 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1937 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1938 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1939 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1940 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1941 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1942 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1943 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1944 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1945 | 0 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1946 | 2.04 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1947 | 3.77 terawatt-hours | +84.5% |
| 1948 | 7.07 terawatt-hours | +87.5% |
| 1949 | 9.19 terawatt-hours | +30.1% |
| 1950 | 5.49 terawatt-hours | -40.2% |
| 1951 | 1.33 terawatt-hours | -75.7% |
| 1952 | 4.71 terawatt-hours | +253.0% |
| 1953 | 7.06 terawatt-hours | +49.9% |
| 1954 | 7.24 terawatt-hours | +2.5% |
| 1955 | 10.65 terawatt-hours | +47.1% |
| 1956 | 14.78 terawatt-hours | +38.8% |
| 1957 | 19.87 terawatt-hours | +34.5% |
| 1958 | 21.74 terawatt-hours | +9.4% |
| 1959 | 33.67 terawatt-hours | +54.8% |
| 1960 | 43.55 terawatt-hours | +29.4% |
| 1961 | 47.9 terawatt-hours | +10.0% |
| 1962 | 60.6 terawatt-hours | +26.5% |
| 1963 | 72.11 terawatt-hours | +19.0% |
| 1964 | 78.44 terawatt-hours | +8.8% |
| 1965 | 83.52 terawatt-hours | +6.5% |
| 1966 | 94.61 terawatt-hours | +13.3% |
| 1967 | 101.27 terawatt-hours | +7.0% |
| 1968 | 83.38 terawatt-hours | -17.7% |
| 1969 | 83.63 terawatt-hours | +0.3% |
| 1970 | 100.9 terawatt-hours | +20.6% |
| 1971 | 104.08 terawatt-hours | +3.2% |
| 1972 | 100.97 terawatt-hours | -3.0% |
| 1973 | 110.48 terawatt-hours | +9.4% |
| 1974 | 10.28 terawatt-hours | -90.7% |
| 1975 | 143.22 terawatt-hours | +1293.0% |
| 1976 | 133.73 terawatt-hours | -6.6% |
| 1977 | 140.58 terawatt-hours | +5.1% |
| 1978 | 146.98 terawatt-hours | +4.6% |
| 1979 | 148.23 terawatt-hours | +0.9% |
| 1980 | 141.7 terawatt-hours | -4.4% |
| 1981 | 101.65 terawatt-hours | -28.3% |
| 1982 | 102.94 terawatt-hours | +1.3% |
| 1983 | 101.63 terawatt-hours | -1.3% |
| 1984 | 109.36 terawatt-hours | +7.6% |
| 1985 | 115.36 terawatt-hours | +5.5% |
| 1986 | 124.11 terawatt-hours | +7.6% |
| 1987 | 124.22 terawatt-hours | +0.1% |
| 1988 | 124.32 terawatt-hours | +0.1% |
| 1989 | 106.36 terawatt-hours | -14.4% |
| 1990 | 90.11 terawatt-hours | -15.3% |
| 1991 | 78.81 terawatt-hours | -12.5% |
| 1992 | 62.64 terawatt-hours | -20.5% |
| 1993 | 49.23 terawatt-hours | -21.4% |
| 1994 | 38.72 terawatt-hours | -21.4% |
| 1995 | 29.94 terawatt-hours | -22.7% |
| 1996 | 25.91 terawatt-hours | -13.4% |
| 1997 | 23.61 terawatt-hours | -8.9% |
| 1998 | 22.82 terawatt-hours | -3.3% |
| 1999 | 21.96 terawatt-hours | -3.8% |
| 2000 | 21.72 terawatt-hours | -1.1% |
| 2001 | 19.98 terawatt-hours | -8.0% |
| 2002 | 17.36 terawatt-hours | -13.1% |
| 2003 | 17.26 terawatt-hours | -0.6% |
| 2004 | 16.7 terawatt-hours | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 14.82 terawatt-hours | -11.3% |
| 2006 | 14.78 terawatt-hours | -0.3% |
| 2007 | 15.61 terawatt-hours | +5.6% |
| 2008 | 15 terawatt-hours | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 13.62 terawatt-hours | -9.2% |
| 2010 | 11.27 terawatt-hours | -17.3% |
| 2011 | 11.27 terawatt-hours | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 10.96 terawatt-hours | -2.8% |
| 2013 | 9.5 terawatt-hours | -13.3% |
| 2014 | 9.15 terawatt-hours | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 9.23 terawatt-hours | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 9.03 terawatt-hours | -2.2% |
| 2017 | 8.17 terawatt-hours | -9.6% |
| 2018 | 6.6 terawatt-hours | -19.2% |
| 2019 | 5.96 terawatt-hours | -9.7% |
| 2020 | 5.61 terawatt-hours | -6.0% |
| 2021 | 4.94 terawatt-hours | -11.9% |
| 2022 | 4.49 terawatt-hours | -9.1% |
| 2023 | 3.54 terawatt-hours | -21.2% |
| 2024 | 2.97 terawatt-hours | -15.9% |
| 2025 | 2.3 terawatt-hours | -22.7% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Coal production in South 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | +1293.0% | 10.28 terawatt-hours | 143.22 terawatt-hours |
| 1952 | +253.0% | 1.33 terawatt-hours | 4.71 terawatt-hours |
| 1974 | -90.7% | 110.48 terawatt-hours | 10.28 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1910s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1920s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1930s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1940s | 2.21 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 9.19 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1950s | 12.65 terawatt-hours | 1.33 terawatt-hours | 33.67 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1960s | 74.9 terawatt-hours | 43.55 terawatt-hours | 101.27 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1970s | 113.95 terawatt-hours | 10.28 terawatt-hours | 148.23 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 115.16 terawatt-hours | 101.63 terawatt-hours | 141.7 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 44.37 terawatt-hours | 21.96 terawatt-hours | 90.11 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 16.68 terawatt-hours | 13.62 terawatt-hours | 21.72 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.11 terawatt-hours | 5.96 terawatt-hours | 11.27 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.98 terawatt-hours | 2.3 terawatt-hours | 5.61 terawatt-hours | 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 coal production in South Korea?
- Coal production in South Korea was 2.3 terawatt-hours in 2025, 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 coal production recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 148.23 terawatt-hours in 1979.
- What is the lowest coal production recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1900.
- How does South Korea rank for coal production?
- South Korea ranks 55th out of 220 countries with data for 2025.
- Is coal production rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 75.1%. 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) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Coal production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 126 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours.