Country energy profile · South Korea · 2025
What percentage of South Korea’s energy comes from fossil fuels?
In 2025, fossil fuels supplied 81.3% of South Korea’s total energy. Oil is its largest single source. That compares with a world average of 86.2%.
Oil 41.8%, natural gas 17.5%, coal 22.0% · non-fossil 18.7%.
Source: Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy 2025 data. Site updated August 13, 2026.
South Korea energy mix, 2025
Share of total primary energy by source
Key facts
| Fossil-fuel share | 81.3% |
| World average | 86.2% |
| Main fossil fuel | Oil |
| Change since 2010 | -3.8 pts |
| Fossil energy per person | 204.1 GJ |
| CO₂ per person | 11.4 t |
| Fossil share of electricity | 59.4% |
| World rank, fossil energy used | #8 of 80 |
Is South Korea getting less dependent on fossil fuels?
Fossil-fuel share of total energy since 1965, with the absolute amount of fossil fuel used. Share and volume can move in opposite directions.
Fossil share vs. consumption
Left axis: % of primary energy · Right axis: exajoules (EJ)
Oil vs. gas vs. coal in South Korea
Consumption by fuel, 1965–2025
Exajoules (EJ) per year
Total energy vs. electricity
South Korea’s electricity has a lower fossil share than its overall energy use, because transport, heating and industry still lean heavily on oil, gas and coal.
Total energy
| Fossil share | 81.3% |
| Oil | 41.8% |
| Gas | 17.5% |
| Coal | 22.0% |
Electricity
| Fossil share | 59.4% |
| Low-carbon share | 39.9% |
| Nuclear + hydro | 30.0% |
| Wind + solar + other renewables | 9.8% |
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of South Korea's energy comes from fossil fuels?
In 2025, fossil fuels supplied about 81.3% of South Korea's total primary energy: oil 41.8%, natural gas 17.5% and coal 22.0%. The world average is 86.2%.
What is South Korea's main energy source?
South Korea's largest fossil fuel is oil. Non-fossil sources make up 18.7% of its energy.
Is South Korea reducing its dependence on fossil fuels?
Since 2010, South Korea's fossil-fuel share of energy has fallen by 3.8 percentage points, to 81.3%.
How much of South Korea's electricity comes from fossil fuels?
About 59.4% of South Korea's electricity came from fossil fuels in 2025, versus 81.3% of its total energy. Electricity is usually the lower-carbon of the two.
Compare with other countries
Source: Energy Institute Statistical Review of World Energy, 2025 data (annual series back to 1965). See methodology.