Oil consumption in North Korea
North Korea: Oil consumption was 11.9 terawatt-hours in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
11.9 terawatt-hours
Change on year
up 2.8%
World rank
144th
of 220 countries
All-time high
46.92 terawatt-hours
in 1991
All-time low
9 terawatt-hours
in 2006
Years of data
45
1980–2024
Oil consumption in North Korea, 1980–2024
Source: Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026); Etemad & Luciani (1991) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
North Korea recorded 11.9 terawatt-hours for oil consumption in 2024.
That represents a change of up 2.8% on the previous year and up 10.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, oil consumption in North Korea peaked at 46.92 terawatt-hours in 1991 and was at its lowest, 9 terawatt-hours, in 2006.
North Korea ranks 144th of 220 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Oil consumption in North Korea, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 29.42 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1981 | 31.17 terawatt-hours | +6.0% |
| 1982 | 31.78 terawatt-hours | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 34.84 terawatt-hours | +9.6% |
| 1984 | 36.77 terawatt-hours | +5.6% |
| 1985 | 39.12 terawatt-hours | +6.4% |
| 1986 | 41.91 terawatt-hours | +7.2% |
| 1987 | 42.6 terawatt-hours | +1.6% |
| 1988 | 39.59 terawatt-hours | -7.1% |
| 1989 | 38.93 terawatt-hours | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 44.58 terawatt-hours | +14.5% |
| 1991 | 46.92 terawatt-hours | +5.2% |
| 1992 | 45.34 terawatt-hours | -3.4% |
| 1993 | 43.66 terawatt-hours | -3.7% |
| 1994 | 42.68 terawatt-hours | -2.3% |
| 1995 | 38.2 terawatt-hours | -10.5% |
| 1996 | 29.03 terawatt-hours | -24.0% |
| 1997 | 24.58 terawatt-hours | -15.3% |
| 1998 | 21.89 terawatt-hours | -11.0% |
| 1999 | 46.78 terawatt-hours | +113.7% |
| 2000 | 12.83 terawatt-hours | -72.6% |
| 2001 | 14.23 terawatt-hours | +10.9% |
| 2002 | 14.27 terawatt-hours | +0.3% |
| 2003 | 13.89 terawatt-hours | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 14.01 terawatt-hours | +0.8% |
| 2005 | 11.76 terawatt-hours | -16.0% |
| 2006 | 9 terawatt-hours | -23.5% |
| 2007 | 10.76 terawatt-hours | +19.6% |
| 2008 | 11.03 terawatt-hours | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 10.68 terawatt-hours | -3.2% |
| 2010 | 10.61 terawatt-hours | -0.6% |
| 2011 | 10.91 terawatt-hours | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 10.47 terawatt-hours | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 11.32 terawatt-hours | +8.0% |
| 2014 | 10.8 terawatt-hours | -4.5% |
| 2015 | 12.31 terawatt-hours | +14.0% |
| 2016 | 13.13 terawatt-hours | +6.6% |
| 2017 | 11.93 terawatt-hours | -9.1% |
| 2018 | 11.74 terawatt-hours | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 12.82 terawatt-hours | +9.2% |
| 2020 | 12.32 terawatt-hours | -3.9% |
| 2021 | 10 terawatt-hours | -18.8% |
| 2022 | 10.44 terawatt-hours | +4.4% |
| 2023 | 11.57 terawatt-hours | +10.9% |
| 2024 | 11.9 terawatt-hours | +2.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 36.61 terawatt-hours | 29.42 terawatt-hours | 42.6 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 38.37 terawatt-hours | 21.89 terawatt-hours | 46.92 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.25 terawatt-hours | 9 terawatt-hours | 14.27 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.6 terawatt-hours | 10.47 terawatt-hours | 13.13 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.25 terawatt-hours | 10 terawatt-hours | 12.32 terawatt-hours | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More energy & mining data for North Korea
- 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)
- Gas production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 4.56 % change on previous year (2024)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is oil consumption in North Korea?
- Oil consumption in North Korea was 11.9 terawatt-hours in 2024, according to Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026); Etemad & Luciani (1991) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest oil consumption recorded in North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 46.92 terawatt-hours in 1991.
- What is the lowest oil consumption recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 9 terawatt-hours in 2006.
- How does North Korea rank for oil consumption?
- North Korea ranks 144th out of 220 countries with data for 2024.
- Is oil consumption rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute - Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); U.S. Energy Information Administration (2026); Etemad & Luciani (1991) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Oil consumption. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 45 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured in terawatt-hours. Includes refined petroleum products and other liquid fuels.