Share of electricity generation from coal in South Korea
South Korea: Share of electricity generation from coal was 31.1% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Share of electricity generation from coal in South Korea, 1985–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of electricity generation from coal in South Korea is 31.1%, measured in 2025.
The figure is up 2.1% on the previous year and down 26.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from coal in South Korea peaked at 46.3% in 2009 and was at its lowest, 28.0%, in 1991.
South Korea ranks 26th of 210 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 41 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 33.2% | 29.5% | 39.5% | 5 |
| 1990s | 34.9% | 28.0% | 43.4% | 10 |
| 2000s | 40.7% | 38.2% | 46.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 42.8% | 41.5% | 45.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 33.2% | 30.5% | 36.0% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 23 North Korea 34.1% compare
- 24 Hong Kong 33.7% compare
- 25 Japan 32.1% compare
- 27 North Macedonia 30.6% compare
- 28 Dominican Republic 29.1% compare
- 29 Sri Lanka 27.5% compare
More energy & mining data for South Korea
- Fuel imports 25.7% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 6.7% (2024)
- Ores and metals exports 2.4% (2024)
- Gas production 0 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 0 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 0 terawatt-hours (2024)
- Gas production per person 0 kilowatt-hours per person (2024)
- Fuel exports 7.7% (2024)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 3.3% (2024)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 53.9% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of electricity generation from coal in South Korea?
- Share of electricity generation from coal in South Korea was 31.1% in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of electricity generation from coal recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 46.3% in 2009.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from coal recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 28.0% in 1991.
- How does South Korea rank for share of electricity generation from coal?
- South Korea ranks 26th out of 210 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of electricity generation from coal rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Share of electricity generation from coal. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 41 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.