Year-to-year change in primary energy from fossil fuels vs. in South Korea
South Korea: Year-to-year change in primary energy from fossil fuels vs. was -12.72 terawatt-hours in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2025)
-12.72 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 135.8%
World rank
76th
of 80 countries
All-time high
63.2 terawatt-hours
in 2022
All-time low
-33.85 terawatt-hours
in 2018
Years of data
60
1966–2025
Year-to-year change in primary energy from fossil fuels vs. low-carbon energy in South Korea, 1966–2025
Source: Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, year-to-year change in primary energy from fossil fuels vs. low-carbon energy in South Korea stood at -12.72 terawatt-hours.
That represents a change of down 135.8% on the previous year and down 141.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, year-to-year change in primary energy from fossil fuels vs. low-carbon energy in South Korea peaked at 63.2 terawatt-hours in 2022 and was at its lowest, -33.85 terawatt-hours, in 2018.
South Korea ranks 76th of 80 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Year-to-year change in primary energy from fossil fuels vs. in South Korea, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 0.2749 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1967 | -0.0322 terawatt-hours | -111.7% |
| 1968 | -0.0237 terawatt-hours | -26.3% |
| 1969 | 0.499 terawatt-hours | -2206.7% |
| 1970 | -0.2078 terawatt-hours | -141.6% |
| 1971 | 0.0993 terawatt-hours | -147.8% |
| 1972 | 0.0481 terawatt-hours | -51.6% |
| 1973 | -0.0836 terawatt-hours | -273.8% |
| 1974 | 0.6214 terawatt-hours | -843.2% |
| 1975 | -0.223 terawatt-hours | -135.9% |
| 1976 | 0.1059 terawatt-hours | -147.5% |
| 1977 | -0.1794 terawatt-hours | -269.5% |
| 1978 | 7.24 terawatt-hours | -4137.4% |
| 1979 | 3 terawatt-hours | -58.6% |
| 1980 | 0.6098 terawatt-hours | -79.6% |
| 1981 | -1.08 terawatt-hours | -277.1% |
| 1982 | 1.78 terawatt-hours | -265.2% |
| 1983 | 16.3 terawatt-hours | +813.3% |
| 1984 | 8.27 terawatt-hours | -49.3% |
| 1985 | 16.2 terawatt-hours | +95.8% |
| 1986 | 34.97 terawatt-hours | +115.9% |
| 1987 | 34.2 terawatt-hours | -2.2% |
| 1988 | 0.4051 terawatt-hours | -98.8% |
| 1989 | 22.99 terawatt-hours | +5574.7% |
| 1990 | 18.45 terawatt-hours | -19.7% |
| 1991 | 9.18 terawatt-hours | -50.3% |
| 1992 | 0.2774 terawatt-hours | -97.0% |
| 1993 | 6 terawatt-hours | +2064.0% |
| 1994 | -0.3278 terawatt-hours | -105.5% |
| 1995 | 26.56 terawatt-hours | -8202.3% |
| 1996 | 21.03 terawatt-hours | -20.8% |
| 1997 | 8.99 terawatt-hours | -57.3% |
| 1998 | 39.6 terawatt-hours | +340.7% |
| 1999 | 40.5 terawatt-hours | +2.3% |
| 2000 | 17.72 terawatt-hours | -56.3% |
| 2001 | 7.95 terawatt-hours | -55.1% |
| 2002 | 22.3 terawatt-hours | +180.6% |
| 2003 | 33.72 terawatt-hours | +51.2% |
| 2004 | 2.93 terawatt-hours | -91.3% |
| 2005 | 48.03 terawatt-hours | +1539.9% |
| 2006 | 6.33 terawatt-hours | -86.8% |
| 2007 | -16.23 terawatt-hours | -356.3% |
| 2008 | 25.79 terawatt-hours | -258.9% |
| 2009 | -8.75 terawatt-hours | -133.9% |
| 2010 | 4.46 terawatt-hours | -150.9% |
| 2011 | 21.39 terawatt-hours | +379.9% |
| 2012 | -10.13 terawatt-hours | -147.4% |
| 2013 | -30.75 terawatt-hours | +203.5% |
| 2014 | 62.75 terawatt-hours | -304.0% |
| 2015 | 30.56 terawatt-hours | -51.3% |
| 2016 | -3.29 terawatt-hours | -110.8% |
| 2017 | -33.33 terawatt-hours | +914.3% |
| 2018 | -33.85 terawatt-hours | +1.6% |
| 2019 | 45.9 terawatt-hours | -235.6% |
| 2020 | 52.15 terawatt-hours | +13.6% |
| 2021 | 7.57 terawatt-hours | -85.5% |
| 2022 | 63.2 terawatt-hours | +734.7% |
| 2023 | 18.96 terawatt-hours | -70.0% |
| 2024 | 35.56 terawatt-hours | +87.6% |
| 2025 | -12.72 terawatt-hours | -135.8% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's -12.72 terawatt-hours is below the median for high income countries, which is 0.5633 terawatt-hours. (47 countries reporting)
- South Korea's -12.72 terawatt-hours is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1.77 terawatt-hours. (12 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Year-to-year change in primary energy from fossil fuels vs. in South Korea changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | +8202.3% | -0.3278 terawatt-hours | 26.56 terawatt-hours |
| 1989 | +5574.7% | 0.4051 terawatt-hours | 22.99 terawatt-hours |
| 1978 | +4137.4% | -0.1794 terawatt-hours | 7.24 terawatt-hours |
| 1969 | +2206.7% | -0.0237 terawatt-hours | 0.499 terawatt-hours |
| 1993 | +2064.0% | 0.2774 terawatt-hours | 6 terawatt-hours |
| 2005 | +1539.9% | 2.93 terawatt-hours | 48.03 terawatt-hours |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.1795 terawatt-hours | -0.0322 terawatt-hours | 0.499 terawatt-hours | 4 |
| 1970s | 1.04 terawatt-hours | -0.223 terawatt-hours | 7.24 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1980s | 13.46 terawatt-hours | -1.08 terawatt-hours | 34.97 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 1990s | 17.03 terawatt-hours | -0.3278 terawatt-hours | 40.5 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.98 terawatt-hours | -16.23 terawatt-hours | 48.03 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.37 terawatt-hours | -33.85 terawatt-hours | 62.75 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 27.45 terawatt-hours | -12.72 terawatt-hours | 63.2 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More climate change data for South Korea
- Spring temperature anomalies 1.1 °C (2026)
- Summer temperature anomalies 0.7164 °C (2026)
- Temperature anomalies by month -0.8996 °C (2026)
- Share of global CO₂ emissions and population 0.2% (2100)
- Population, total, annual growth rate -0.1285 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population, total, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, annual growth rate -0.1214 % change on previous year (2025)
- Urban population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Urban population, per capita 0.8117 units per person (2025)
- Precipitation anomalies, annual growth rate -78.08 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is year-to-year change in primary energy from fossil fuels vs. low-carbon energy in South Korea?
- Year-to-year change in primary energy from fossil fuels vs. low-carbon energy in South Korea was -12.72 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest year-to-year change in primary energy from fossil fuels vs. low-carbon energy recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 63.2 terawatt-hours in 2022.
- What is the lowest year-to-year change in primary energy from fossil fuels vs. low-carbon energy recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was -33.85 terawatt-hours in 2018.
- How does South Korea rank for year-to-year change in primary energy from fossil fuels vs. low-carbon energy?
- South Korea ranks 76th out of 80 countries with data for 2025.
- Is year-to-year change in primary energy from fossil fuels vs. low-carbon energy rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 141.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2026) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Year-to-year change in primary energy from fossil fuels vs. low-carbon energy. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 60 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Change in total energy supply relative to the previous year, measured in terawatt-hours.