Share of final energy use that comes from renewable sources in South Korea
South Korea: Share of final energy use that comes from renewable sources was 4.4% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Share of final energy use that comes from renewable sources in South Korea, 1990–2023
Source: United Nations Statistics Division and International Energy Agency and International Renewable Energy Agency – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 4.4% for share of final energy use that comes from renewable sources in 2023. That is the highest value across all 34 years on record.
That represents a change of up 6.8% on the previous year and up 127.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of final energy use that comes from renewable sources in South Korea peaked at 4.4% in 2023 and was at its lowest, 0.4%, in 1994.
South Korea ranks 178th of 230 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 final energy use that comes from renewable sources in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 1.6% | — |
| 1991 | 0.9% | -42.1% |
| 1992 | 0.7% | -22.8% |
| 1993 | 0.7% | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 0.4% | -39.1% |
| 1995 | 0.4% | +2.4% |
| 1996 | 0.6% | +39.5% |
| 1997 | 0.7% | +11.7% |
| 1998 | 0.9% | +40.3% |
| 1999 | 0.8% | -18.1% |
| 2000 | 0.7% | -7.8% |
| 2001 | 0.7% | -1.4% |
| 2002 | 0.7% | +1.4% |
| 2003 | 0.8% | +18.3% |
| 2004 | 0.8% | -9.5% |
| 2005 | 0.9% | +13.2% |
| 2006 | 0.9% | +9.3% |
| 2007 | 1.0% | +8.5% |
| 2008 | 1.1% | +3.9% |
| 2009 | 1.2% | +12.3% |
| 2010 | 1.3% | +10.1% |
| 2011 | 1.3% | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 1.6% | +22.1% |
| 2013 | 1.9% | +20.0% |
| 2014 | 2.9% | +51.6% |
| 2015 | 2.8% | -5.2% |
| 2016 | 2.6% | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 2.8% | +9.3% |
| 2018 | 3.1% | +11.7% |
| 2019 | 3.2% | +1.3% |
| 2020 | 3.5% | +10.7% |
| 2021 | 3.5% | -0.3% |
| 2022 | 4.1% | +16.2% |
| 2023 | 4.4% | +6.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 4.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.2%, 36% of the median. (83 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 4.4% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 12.5%, 35% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
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 | 3.9% | 3.5% | 4.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More energy & mining data for South Korea
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- 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)
- Fuel imports 22.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of final energy use that comes from renewable sources in South Korea?
- Share of final energy use that comes from renewable sources in South Korea was 4.4% in 2023, according to United Nations Statistics Division and International Energy Agency and International Renewable Energy Agency – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of final energy use that comes from renewable sources recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 4.4% in 2023.
- What is the lowest share of final energy use that comes from renewable sources recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.4% in 1994.
- How does South Korea rank for share of final energy use that comes from renewable sources?
- South Korea ranks 178th out of 230 countries with data for 2023.
- Is share of final energy use that comes from renewable sources rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 127.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division and International Energy Agency and International Renewable Energy Agency – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of final energy use that comes from renewable sources. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption (%).