Share of primary energy from hydropower in South Korea
South Korea: Share of primary energy from hydropower was 0.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
0.1%
Change on year
down 10.1%
World rank
63rd
of 80 countries
All-time high
1.1%
in 1966
All-time low
0.1%
in 2015
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Share of primary energy from hydropower in South Korea, 1965–2025
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 0.1% for share of primary energy from hydropower in 2025.
That represents a change of down 10.1% on the previous year and up 66.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of primary energy from hydropower in South Korea peaked at 1.1% in 1966 and was at its lowest, 0.1%, in 2015.
That places South Korea 63rd out of 80 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of primary energy from hydropower in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 1.0% | — |
| 1966 | 1.1% | +14.6% |
| 1967 | 0.9% | -16.1% |
| 1968 | 0.8% | -15.1% |
| 1969 | 1.0% | +27.8% |
| 1970 | 0.7% | -26.7% |
| 1971 | 0.7% | -0.1% |
| 1972 | 0.7% | -0.0% |
| 1973 | 0.6% | -24.4% |
| 1974 | 0.8% | +43.4% |
| 1975 | 0.6% | -19.9% |
| 1976 | 0.6% | -5.0% |
| 1977 | 0.4% | -32.5% |
| 1978 | 0.5% | +15.9% |
| 1979 | 0.5% | +10.3% |
| 1980 | 0.4% | -18.9% |
| 1981 | 0.6% | +29.6% |
| 1982 | 0.4% | -34.3% |
| 1983 | 0.4% | +23.0% |
| 1984 | 0.4% | -20.5% |
| 1985 | 0.5% | +44.5% |
| 1986 | 0.4% | -13.3% |
| 1987 | 0.5% | +14.9% |
| 1988 | 0.2% | -55.3% |
| 1989 | 0.3% | +37.3% |
| 1990 | 0.4% | +38.4% |
| 1991 | 0.3% | -34.6% |
| 1992 | 0.2% | -21.0% |
| 1993 | 0.3% | +24.6% |
| 1994 | 0.1% | -48.8% |
| 1995 | 0.2% | +7.8% |
| 1996 | 0.1% | -20.5% |
| 1997 | 0.1% | +6.3% |
| 1998 | 0.2% | +66.2% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | -10.9% |
| 2000 | 0.2% | -8.8% |
| 2001 | 0.1% | -43.4% |
| 2002 | 0.1% | +32.7% |
| 2003 | 0.2% | +46.4% |
| 2004 | 0.2% | -14.2% |
| 2005 | 0.1% | -17.5% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | -7.5% |
| 2007 | 0.1% | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 0.1% | -17.1% |
| 2009 | 0.1% | -8.9% |
| 2010 | 0.1% | +21.4% |
| 2011 | 0.1% | +18.9% |
| 2012 | 0.1% | -14.6% |
| 2013 | 0.1% | +8.2% |
| 2014 | 0.1% | -36.6% |
| 2015 | 0.1% | -23.3% |
| 2016 | 0.1% | +28.3% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | +17.2% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | -15.9% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | +44.6% |
| 2021 | 0.1% | -25.2% |
| 2022 | 0.1% | +14.4% |
| 2023 | 0.1% | +6.9% |
| 2024 | 0.1% | +13.2% |
| 2025 | 0.1% | -10.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 0.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.8%, 13% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 0.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.3%, 8% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.1% | 5 |
| 1970s | 0.6% | 0.4% | 0.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 0.4% | 0.2% | 0.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% | 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 hydropower in South Korea?
- Share of primary energy from hydropower in South Korea was 0.1% 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 hydropower recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.1% in 1966.
- What is the lowest share of primary energy from hydropower recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.1% in 2015.
- How does South Korea rank for share of primary energy from hydropower?
- South Korea ranks 63rd out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of primary energy from hydropower rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 66.3%. 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); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of primary energy from hydropower. 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 as a percentage of total energy supply.