Year-to-year percentage change in primary energy use by source in South Korea
South Korea: Year-to-year percentage change in primary energy use by source was 1.1% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Year-to-year percentage change in primary energy use by source in South Korea, 1991–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 1.1% for year-to-year percentage change in primary energy use by source in 2025.
The figure is down 91.3% on the previous year and down 98.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, year-to-year percentage change in primary energy use by source in South Korea peaked at 298.9% in 2008 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 1991.
That places South Korea 71st out of 78 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.
Year-to-year percentage change in primary energy use by source in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 0.0% | — |
| 1992 | 100.0% | — |
| 1993 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1994 | 0.0% | — |
| 1995 | 0.0% | — |
| 1996 | 50.0% | — |
| 1997 | 0.0% | -100.0% |
| 1998 | 33.3% | — |
| 1999 | 14.3% | -57.1% |
| 2000 | 15.6% | +8.9% |
| 2001 | 17.0% | +9.4% |
| 2002 | 13.9% | -18.4% |
| 2003 | 10.1% | -27.7% |
| 2004 | 27.3% | +172.1% |
| 2005 | 45.9% | +67.7% |
| 2006 | 115.4% | +151.8% |
| 2007 | 129.8% | +12.4% |
| 2008 | 298.9% | +130.3% |
| 2009 | 99.1% | -66.8% |
| 2010 | 36.6% | -63.1% |
| 2011 | 19.3% | -47.2% |
| 2012 | 22.1% | +14.7% |
| 2013 | 48.0% | +116.6% |
| 2014 | 61.6% | +28.4% |
| 2015 | 57.0% | -7.4% |
| 2016 | 30.4% | -46.6% |
| 2017 | 40.3% | +32.5% |
| 2018 | 31.4% | -22.1% |
| 2019 | 39.6% | +26.2% |
| 2020 | 36.3% | -8.4% |
| 2021 | 27.8% | -23.3% |
| 2022 | 24.3% | -12.6% |
| 2023 | 8.2% | -66.4% |
| 2024 | 12.7% | +55.2% |
| 2025 | 1.1% | -91.3% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 23.8%, 5% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 19.8%, 6% of the median. (12 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 22.0% | 0.0% | 100.0% | 9 |
| 2000s | 77.3% | 10.1% | 298.9% | 10 |
| 2010s | 38.6% | 19.3% | 61.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 18.4% | 1.1% | 36.3% | 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 year-to-year percentage change in primary energy use by source in South Korea?
- Year-to-year percentage change in primary energy use by source in South Korea was 1.1% in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest year-to-year percentage change in primary energy use by source recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 298.9% in 2008.
- What is the lowest year-to-year percentage change in primary energy use by source recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 1991.
- How does South Korea rank for year-to-year percentage change in primary energy use by source?
- South Korea ranks 71st out of 78 countries with data for 2025.
- Is year-to-year percentage change in primary energy use by source rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 98.1%. 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) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Year-to-year percentage change in primary energy use by source. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Percentage change in total energy supply relative to the previous year.