Renewable electricity output in South Korea
South Korea: Renewable electricity output was 6.6% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Renewable electricity output in South Korea, 1990–2021
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Measured in % of total electricity output.
Analysis
The most recent figure for renewable electricity output in South Korea is 6.6%, measured in 2021. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
That represents a change of up 5.8% on the previous year and up 221.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, renewable electricity output in South Korea peaked at 6.6% in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1.3%, in 1997.
That places South Korea 154th out of 209 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Renewable electricity output in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of total electricity output | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 5.8% | — |
| 1991 | 2.9% | -50.1% |
| 1992 | 2.3% | -20.7% |
| 1993 | 2.8% | +22.0% |
| 1994 | 1.4% | -51.0% |
| 1995 | 1.6% | +16.7% |
| 1996 | 1.4% | -15.5% |
| 1997 | 1.3% | -6.0% |
| 1998 | 2.0% | +55.3% |
| 1999 | 1.8% | -11.0% |
| 2000 | 2.0% | +11.9% |
| 2001 | 2.0% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 1.7% | -14.0% |
| 2003 | 2.1% | +22.2% |
| 2004 | 1.7% | -19.0% |
| 2005 | 1.4% | -13.8% |
| 2006 | 1.4% | -1.1% |
| 2007 | 1.5% | +3.4% |
| 2008 | 1.6% | +10.4% |
| 2009 | 1.7% | +6.1% |
| 2010 | 1.9% | +9.7% |
| 2011 | 2.0% | +8.3% |
| 2012 | 2.1% | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 2.4% | +14.0% |
| 2014 | 2.5% | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 2.6% | +2.9% |
| 2016 | 3.5% | +35.4% |
| 2017 | 4.0% | +13.0% |
| 2018 | 4.5% | +14.2% |
| 2019 | 5.3% | +16.2% |
| 2020 | 6.2% | +18.2% |
| 2021 | 6.6% | +5.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 2.3% | 1.3% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.7% | 1.4% | 2.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 3.1% | 1.9% | 5.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.4% | 6.2% | 6.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 151 Guyana 7.1% compare
- 152 Guinea-Bissau 7.1% compare
- 153 Uzbekistan 7.1% compare
- 155 Solomon Islands 6.6% compare
- 156 Moldova 6.5% compare
- 157 South Africa 6.4% 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 renewable electricity output in South Korea?
- Renewable electricity output in South Korea was 6.6% in 2021, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA).
- What is the highest renewable electricity output recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 6.6% in 2021.
- What is the lowest renewable electricity output recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.3% in 1997.
- How does South Korea rank for renewable electricity output?
- South Korea ranks 154th out of 209 countries with data for 2021.
- Is renewable electricity output rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 221.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA), published as part of Renewable electricity output (% of total electricity output). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Renewable electricity is the share of electricity generated by renewable power plants in total electricity generated by all types of plants.