Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in North Korea

North Korea: Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels was 36.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
36.6%
Change on year
down 1.8%
World rank
146th
of 213 countries
All-time high
53.6%
in 2019
All-time low
36.6%
in 2024
Years of data
25
2000–2024

Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in North Korea, 2000–2024

02040602000201220242000: 47.7 %2001: 47.8 %2002: 46.5 %2003: 44.4 %2004: 43.4 %2005: 42.9 %2006: 44 %2007: 38.5 %2008: 39.6 %2009: 47 %2010: 43.7 %2011: 37.4 %2012: 37.5 %2013: 37.3 %2014: 40 %2015: 47.5 %2016: 46.6 %2017: 49.5 %2018: 48.7 %2019: 53.6 %2020: 46.5 %2021: 36.7 %2022: 36.9 %2023: 37.3 %2024: 36.6 %

Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2024, share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in North Korea stood at 36.6%. That is the lowest value across all 25 years on record.

That represents a change of down 1.8% on the previous year and down 8.5% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in North Korea peaked at 53.6% in 2019 and was at its lowest, 36.6%, in 2024.

North Korea ranks 146th of 213 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 25 years of available data.

Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in North Korea, year by year

Annual values for Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in North Korea, 2000 to 2024.
Year % Change
2000 47.7%
2001 47.8% +0.2%
2002 46.5% -2.6%
2003 44.4% -4.5%
2004 43.4% -2.4%
2005 42.9% -1.1%
2006 44.0% +2.6%
2007 38.5% -12.5%
2008 39.6% +2.8%
2009 47.0% +18.8%
2010 43.7% -7.1%
2011 37.4% -14.5%
2012 37.5% +0.2%
2013 37.3% -0.3%
2014 40.0% +7.3%
2015 47.5% +18.7%
2016 46.6% -1.9%
2017 49.5% +6.2%
2018 48.7% -1.6%
2019 53.6% +10.0%
2020 46.5% -13.3%
2021 36.7% -21.1%
2022 36.9% +0.6%
2023 37.3% +1.1%
2024 36.6% -1.8%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 44.2% 38.5% 47.8% 10
2010s 44.2% 37.3% 53.6% 10
2020s 38.8% 36.6% 46.5% 5

Countries ranked near North Korea

  1. 143 Estonia 40.4% compare
  2. 144 Sri Lanka 38.4% compare
  3. 145 Nicaragua 37.6% compare
  4. 147 Fiji 36.5% compare
  5. 148 Peru 36.4% compare
  6. 149 United Kingdom 35.6% compare

See the full ranking of 215 places →

More energy & mining data for North Korea

All data for North Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in North Korea?
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in North Korea was 36.6% in 2024, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in North Korea?
The highest recorded value was 53.6% in 2019.
What is the lowest share of electricity generation from fossil fuels recorded in North Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 36.6% in 2024.
How does North Korea rank for share of electricity generation from fossil fuels?
North Korea ranks 146th out of 213 countries with data for 2024.
Is share of electricity generation from fossil fuels rising or falling in North Korea?
Over the last ten years it is down 8.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this North 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 fossil fuels. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels in North Korea. Statizoid, drawing on Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Retrieved 27 August 2026, from https://energy.statizoid.com/stat/share-electricity-fossil-fuels/korea-dem-people-s-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of electricity generation from fossil fuels
Unit
%
Source
Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
215 places, 6,213 data points, 1920–2025
Last refreshed

Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.