Renewable energy consumption in South Korea
South Korea: Renewable energy consumption was 3.6% in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Renewable energy consumption in South Korea, 1990–2021
Source: IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA). Measured in % of total final energy consumption.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 3.6% for renewable energy consumption in 2021. That is the highest value across all 32 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 157.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, renewable energy consumption in South Korea peaked at 3.6% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1994.
That places South Korea 171st out of 212 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Renewable energy consumption in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of total final energy consumption | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.6% | — |
| 1991 | 1.0% | -37.5% |
| 1992 | 0.8% | -20.0% |
| 1993 | 0.7% | -12.5% |
| 1994 | 0.4% | -42.9% |
| 1995 | 0.4% | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | +50.0% |
| 1997 | 0.7% | +16.7% |
| 1998 | 0.9% | +28.6% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | -11.1% |
| 2000 | 0.7% | -12.5% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 0.7% | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | +14.3% |
| 2004 | 0.8% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 0.9% | +12.5% |
| 2006 | 0.9% | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 1.0% | +11.1% |
| 2008 | 1.1% | +10.0% |
| 2009 | 1.2% | +9.1% |
| 2010 | 1.3% | +8.3% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | +7.7% |
| 2012 | 1.6% | +14.3% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | +18.7% |
| 2014 | 2.9% | +52.6% |
| 2015 | 2.7% | -6.9% |
| 2016 | 2.6% | -3.7% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | +7.7% |
| 2018 | 3.2% | +14.3% |
| 2019 | 3.2% | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 3.6% | +12.5% |
| 2021 | 3.6% | +0.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 0.8% | 0.4% | 1.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 0.9% | 0.7% | 1.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.4% | 1.3% | 3.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.6% | 3.6% | 3.6% | 2 |
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 renewable energy consumption in South Korea?
- Renewable energy consumption in South Korea was 3.6% in 2021, according to IEA Energy Statistics Data Browser, International Energy Agency (IEA).
- What is the highest renewable energy consumption recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.6% in 2020.
- What is the lowest renewable energy consumption recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1994.
- How does South Korea rank for renewable energy consumption?
- South Korea ranks 171st out of 212 countries with data for 2021.
- Is renewable energy consumption rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 157.1%. 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 energy consumption (% of total final energy consumption). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Renewable energy consumption is the share of renewable energy in total final energy consumption.