Primary energy from renewables per person in South Korea
South Korea: Primary energy from renewables per person was 2,231 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
2,231 kilowatt-hours per person
Change on year
down 0.3%
World rank
38th
of 80 countries
All-time high
2,237 kilowatt-hours per person
in 2024
All-time low
24.26 kilowatt-hours per person
in 1965
Years of data
61
1965–2025
Primary energy from renewables per person in South Korea, 1965–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in kilowatt-hours per person.
Analysis
In 2025, primary energy from renewables per person in South Korea stood at 2,231 kilowatt-hours per person.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.3% on the previous year and up 220.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, primary energy from renewables per person in South Korea peaked at 2,237 kilowatt-hours per person in 2024 and was at its lowest, 24.26 kilowatt-hours per person, in 1965.
South Korea ranks 38th of 80 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.
Primary energy from renewables per person in South Korea, year by year
| Year | kilowatt-hours per person | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | 24.26 kilowatt-hours per person | — |
| 1966 | 33.01 kilowatt-hours per person | +36.1% |
| 1967 | 31.26 kilowatt-hours per person | -5.3% |
| 1968 | 29.81 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.6% |
| 1969 | 44.85 kilowatt-hours per person | +50.4% |
| 1970 | 37.51 kilowatt-hours per person | -16.4% |
| 1971 | 39.71 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.9% |
| 1972 | 40.31 kilowatt-hours per person | +1.5% |
| 1973 | 37.1 kilowatt-hours per person | -8.0% |
| 1974 | 54.01 kilowatt-hours per person | +45.6% |
| 1975 | 46.91 kilowatt-hours per person | -13.2% |
| 1976 | 49.17 kilowatt-hours per person | +4.8% |
| 1977 | 37.8 kilowatt-hours per person | -23.1% |
| 1978 | 48.48 kilowatt-hours per person | +28.3% |
| 1979 | 60.89 kilowatt-hours per person | +25.6% |
| 1980 | 50.35 kilowatt-hours per person | -17.3% |
| 1981 | 67.14 kilowatt-hours per person | +33.4% |
| 1982 | 43.59 kilowatt-hours per person | -35.1% |
| 1983 | 57.35 kilowatt-hours per person | +31.6% |
| 1984 | 49.22 kilowatt-hours per person | -14.2% |
| 1985 | 77.4 kilowatt-hours per person | +57.3% |
| 1986 | 74.54 kilowatt-hours per person | -3.7% |
| 1987 | 93.7 kilowatt-hours per person | +25.7% |
| 1988 | 46.3 kilowatt-hours per person | -50.6% |
| 1989 | 68.1 kilowatt-hours per person | +47.1% |
| 1990 | 106.28 kilowatt-hours per person | +56.1% |
| 1991 | 78.47 kilowatt-hours per person | -26.2% |
| 1992 | 69.41 kilowatt-hours per person | -11.5% |
| 1993 | 94.25 kilowatt-hours per person | +35.8% |
| 1994 | 52.05 kilowatt-hours per person | -44.8% |
| 1995 | 77.58 kilowatt-hours per person | +49.0% |
| 1996 | 79.94 kilowatt-hours per person | +3.1% |
| 1997 | 66.48 kilowatt-hours per person | -16.8% |
| 1998 | 96.5 kilowatt-hours per person | +45.1% |
| 1999 | 95.34 kilowatt-hours per person | -1.2% |
| 2000 | 91.32 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.2% |
| 2001 | 55.59 kilowatt-hours per person | -39.1% |
| 2002 | 80.28 kilowatt-hours per person | +44.4% |
| 2003 | 115.5 kilowatt-hours per person | +43.9% |
| 2004 | 110.19 kilowatt-hours per person | -4.6% |
| 2005 | 96.23 kilowatt-hours per person | -12.7% |
| 2006 | 103.5 kilowatt-hours per person | +7.6% |
| 2007 | 131.74 kilowatt-hours per person | +27.3% |
| 2008 | 161.88 kilowatt-hours per person | +22.9% |
| 2009 | 179.9 kilowatt-hours per person | +11.1% |
| 2010 | 219.2 kilowatt-hours per person | +21.8% |
| 2011 | 274.95 kilowatt-hours per person | +25.4% |
| 2012 | 336.59 kilowatt-hours per person | +22.4% |
| 2013 | 417.88 kilowatt-hours per person | +24.2% |
| 2014 | 598.91 kilowatt-hours per person | +43.3% |
| 2015 | 696.53 kilowatt-hours per person | +16.3% |
| 2016 | 791.69 kilowatt-hours per person | +13.7% |
| 2017 | 940.07 kilowatt-hours per person | +18.7% |
| 2018 | 1,157 kilowatt-hours per person | +23.1% |
| 2019 | 1,315 kilowatt-hours per person | +13.6% |
| 2020 | 1,484 kilowatt-hours per person | +12.9% |
| 2021 | 1,757 kilowatt-hours per person | +18.4% |
| 2022 | 1,924 kilowatt-hours per person | +9.5% |
| 2023 | 2,032 kilowatt-hours per person | +5.6% |
| 2024 | 2,237 kilowatt-hours per person | +10.1% |
| 2025 | 2,231 kilowatt-hours per person | -0.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 2,231 kilowatt-hours per person is below the median for high income countries, which is 3,626 kilowatt-hours per person, 62% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 2,231 kilowatt-hours per person is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,647 kilowatt-hours per person, 1.4× the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 32.64 kilowatt-hours per person | 24.26 kilowatt-hours per person | 44.85 kilowatt-hours per person | 5 |
| 1970s | 45.19 kilowatt-hours per person | 37.1 kilowatt-hours per person | 60.89 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1980s | 62.77 kilowatt-hours per person | 43.59 kilowatt-hours per person | 93.7 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 1990s | 81.63 kilowatt-hours per person | 52.05 kilowatt-hours per person | 106.28 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2000s | 112.61 kilowatt-hours per person | 55.59 kilowatt-hours per person | 179.9 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2010s | 674.84 kilowatt-hours per person | 219.2 kilowatt-hours per person | 1,315 kilowatt-hours per person | 10 |
| 2020s | 1,944 kilowatt-hours per person | 1,484 kilowatt-hours per person | 2,237 kilowatt-hours per person | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 35 Venezuela 2,570 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 36 Poland 2,381 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 37 Hungary 2,279 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 39 North Macedonia 2,048 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 40 United Arab Emirates 1,825 kilowatt-hours per person compare
- 41 Slovakia 1,814 kilowatt-hours per person 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 primary energy from renewables per person in South Korea?
- Primary energy from renewables per person in South Korea was 2,231 kilowatt-hours per person in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026); Smil (2017); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest primary energy from renewables per person recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 2,237 kilowatt-hours per person in 2024.
- What is the lowest primary energy from renewables per person recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.26 kilowatt-hours per person in 1965.
- How does South Korea rank for primary energy from renewables per person?
- South Korea ranks 38th out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
- Is primary energy from renewables per person rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 220.3%. 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); Population based on various sources (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Primary energy from renewables per person. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Measured in kilowatt-hours of total energy supply per person.