Per capita electricity generation by source in South Korea
South Korea: Per capita electricity generation by source was 3,765 kilowatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
3,765 kilowatt-hours
Change on year
up 2.1%
World rank
5th
of 207 countries
All-time high
5,065 kilowatt-hours
in 2017
All-time low
558.81 kilowatt-hours
in 1987
Years of data
41
1985–2025
Per capita electricity generation by source in South Korea, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, per capita electricity generation by source in South Korea stood at 3,765 kilowatt-hours.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.1% on the previous year and down 17.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, per capita electricity generation by source in South Korea peaked at 5,065 kilowatt-hours in 2017 and was at its lowest, 558.81 kilowatt-hours, in 1987.
That places South Korea 5th out of 207 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Per capita electricity generation by source in South Korea, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 601.73 kilowatt-hours | — |
| 1986 | 599.14 kilowatt-hours | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 558.81 kilowatt-hours | -6.7% |
| 1988 | 688.68 kilowatt-hours | +23.2% |
| 1989 | 703.5 kilowatt-hours | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 760.24 kilowatt-hours | +8.1% |
| 1991 | 828.78 kilowatt-hours | +9.0% |
| 1992 | 948.61 kilowatt-hours | +14.5% |
| 1993 | 1,192 kilowatt-hours | +25.6% |
| 1994 | 1,442 kilowatt-hours | +21.0% |
| 1995 | 1,587 kilowatt-hours | +10.0% |
| 1996 | 1,790 kilowatt-hours | +12.8% |
| 1997 | 2,045 kilowatt-hours | +14.2% |
| 1998 | 2,227 kilowatt-hours | +8.9% |
| 1999 | 2,389 kilowatt-hours | +7.3% |
| 2000 | 2,456 kilowatt-hours | +2.8% |
| 2001 | 2,707 kilowatt-hours | +10.2% |
| 2002 | 2,907 kilowatt-hours | +7.4% |
| 2003 | 2,928 kilowatt-hours | +0.7% |
| 2004 | 3,007 kilowatt-hours | +2.7% |
| 2005 | 3,142 kilowatt-hours | +4.5% |
| 2006 | 3,208 kilowatt-hours | +2.1% |
| 2007 | 3,547 kilowatt-hours | +10.6% |
| 2008 | 3,949 kilowatt-hours | +11.3% |
| 2009 | 4,312 kilowatt-hours | +9.2% |
| 2010 | 4,478 kilowatt-hours | +3.9% |
| 2011 | 4,582 kilowatt-hours | +2.3% |
| 2012 | 4,505 kilowatt-hours | -1.7% |
| 2013 | 4,469 kilowatt-hours | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 4,473 kilowatt-hours | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 4,564 kilowatt-hours | +2.0% |
| 2016 | 4,540 kilowatt-hours | -0.5% |
| 2017 | 5,065 kilowatt-hours | +11.6% |
| 2018 | 4,990 kilowatt-hours | -1.5% |
| 2019 | 4,733 kilowatt-hours | -5.1% |
| 2020 | 4,010 kilowatt-hours | -15.3% |
| 2021 | 4,114 kilowatt-hours | +2.6% |
| 2022 | 4,040 kilowatt-hours | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 3,891 kilowatt-hours | -3.7% |
| 2024 | 3,689 kilowatt-hours | -5.2% |
| 2025 | 3,765 kilowatt-hours | +2.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 3,765 kilowatt-hours is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 97.09 kilowatt-hours, 38.8× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 630.37 kilowatt-hours | 558.81 kilowatt-hours | 703.5 kilowatt-hours | 5 |
| 1990s | 1,521 kilowatt-hours | 760.24 kilowatt-hours | 2,389 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,216 kilowatt-hours | 2,456 kilowatt-hours | 4,312 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 4,640 kilowatt-hours | 4,469 kilowatt-hours | 5,065 kilowatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 3,918 kilowatt-hours | 3,689 kilowatt-hours | 4,114 kilowatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 2 Taiwan 4,523 kilowatt-hours compare
- 3 China 4,062 kilowatt-hours compare
- 4 New Caledonia 3,895 kilowatt-hours compare
- 6 Serbia 3,561 kilowatt-hours compare
- 7 Kazakhstan 3,220 kilowatt-hours compare
- 8 South Africa 3,050 kilowatt-hours compare
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 per capita electricity generation by source in South Korea?
- Per capita electricity generation by source in South Korea was 3,765 kilowatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest per capita electricity generation by source recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 5,065 kilowatt-hours in 2017.
- What is the lowest per capita electricity generation by source recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 558.81 kilowatt-hours in 1987.
- How does South Korea rank for per capita electricity generation by source?
- South Korea ranks 5th out of 207 countries with data for 2025.
- Is per capita electricity generation by source rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Per capita electricity generation by source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours per person.