Global primary energy use by source in South Korea
South Korea: Global primary energy use by source was 61.52 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Global primary energy use by source in South Korea, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 61.52 terawatt-hours for global primary energy use by source in 2025. That is the highest value across all 61 years on record.
The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 171.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, global primary energy use by source in South Korea peaked at 61.52 terawatt-hours in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0 terawatt-hours, in 1965.
That places South Korea 14th out of 77 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.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 5 |
| 1970s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2655 terawatt-hours | 0 terawatt-hours | 1.22 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.88 terawatt-hours | 0.2394 terawatt-hours | 1.98 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 19.2 terawatt-hours | 1.27 terawatt-hours | 40.46 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 54.69 terawatt-hours | 42.53 terawatt-hours | 61.52 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More energy & mining data for South Korea
- Fuel imports 25.7% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 6.7% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 2.4% (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)
- Fuel exports 7.7% (2024)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 3.3% (2024)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 53.9% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is global primary energy use by source in South Korea?
- Global primary energy use by source in South Korea was 61.52 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest global primary energy use by source recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 61.52 terawatt-hours in 2025.
- What is the lowest global primary energy use by source recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 terawatt-hours in 1965.
- How does South Korea rank for global primary energy use by source?
- South Korea ranks 14th out of 77 countries with data for 2025.
- Is global primary energy use by source rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 171.4%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Global primary energy use by source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 61 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours of total energy supply.