Share of electricity generation from renewables in South Korea
South Korea: Share of electricity generation from renewables was 10.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Share of electricity generation from renewables 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 renewables in South Korea is 10.4%, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 41 years on record.
That represents a change of up 7.1% on the previous year and up 274.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of electricity generation from renewables in South Korea peaked at 10.4% in 2025 and was at its lowest, 0.8%, in 2001.
South Korea ranks 160th of 213 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of electricity generation from renewables in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 5.1% | — |
| 1986 | 4.5% | -12.2% |
| 1987 | 4.9% | +10.7% |
| 1988 | 2.1% | -56.8% |
| 1989 | 2.9% | +34.0% |
| 1990 | 4.0% | +38.3% |
| 1991 | 2.6% | -33.0% |
| 1992 | 2.1% | -20.1% |
| 1993 | 2.6% | +23.5% |
| 1994 | 1.3% | -51.0% |
| 1995 | 1.5% | +15.5% |
| 1996 | 1.3% | -15.3% |
| 1997 | 1.2% | -6.3% |
| 1998 | 1.8% | +55.9% |
| 1999 | 1.6% | -11.3% |
| 2000 | 1.4% | -12.6% |
| 2001 | 0.8% | -44.5% |
| 2002 | 1.0% | +31.2% |
| 2003 | 1.5% | +42.2% |
| 2004 | 1.3% | -13.8% |
| 2005 | 1.0% | -17.5% |
| 2006 | 1.0% | -5.5% |
| 2007 | 1.0% | +6.2% |
| 2008 | 1.0% | -4.3% |
| 2009 | 1.0% | +1.6% |
| 2010 | 1.1% | +12.8% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | +24.2% |
| 2012 | 1.5% | +7.7% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | +23.8% |
| 2014 | 2.4% | +25.3% |
| 2015 | 2.8% | +16.3% |
| 2016 | 3.2% | +16.5% |
| 2017 | 3.9% | +19.9% |
| 2018 | 4.7% | +21.0% |
| 2019 | 5.6% | +20.0% |
| 2020 | 7.0% | +24.4% |
| 2021 | 7.9% | +13.1% |
| 2022 | 8.9% | +12.6% |
| 2023 | 9.6% | +7.3% |
| 2024 | 9.7% | +1.5% |
| 2025 | 10.4% | +7.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 10.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 27.7%, 37% of the median. (75 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 10.4% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 23.6%, 44% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 3.9% | 2.1% | 5.1% | 5 |
| 1990s | 2.0% | 1.2% | 4.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.1% | 0.8% | 1.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.9% | 1.1% | 5.6% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.9% | 7.0% | 10.4% | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 157 Moldova 11.2% compare
- 158 Eritrea 11.1% compare
- 159 Sao Tome and Principe 11.1% compare
- 161 Solomon Islands 9.1% compare
- 162 Barbados 9.0% compare
- 163 United Arab Emirates 8.8% 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 share of electricity generation from renewables in South Korea?
- Share of electricity generation from renewables in South Korea was 10.4% 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 renewables recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 10.4% in 2025.
- What is the lowest share of electricity generation from renewables recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.8% in 2001.
- How does South Korea rank for share of electricity generation from renewables?
- South Korea ranks 160th out of 213 countries with data for 2025.
- Is share of electricity generation from renewables rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 274.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 renewables. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Measured as a percentage of total electricity produced in the country or region.