Canada vs South Korea: Electricity Compared
Canada generated 660 TWh of electricity in 2025 and South Korea 628 TWh, according to Ember. Canada's largest source was hydro (52.8%); South Korea's was coal (31.1%). Each kWh generated emitted 192 gCO2/kWh in Canada and 418 gCO2/kWh in South Korea. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.
Who is bigger and who is cleaner? Canada is the bigger electricity producer, generating 1.1 times as much as South Korea in 2025 (660 TWh against 628 TWh). Canada has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 192 gCO2/kWh against 418 gCO2/kWh in South Korea in 2025.
Why this comparison: both among the 20 largest electricity users.
Open this comparison in the interactive tool to add more countries or change the metric.
Key Facts
- Hydro supplied 52.8% of Canada's electricity in 2025, against 0.6% in South Korea.
- South Korea's electricity was 2.2 times as carbon intensive as Canada's in 2025, at 418 gCO2/kWh against 192 gCO2/kWh.
- Carbon intensity rose 18% in Canada between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 9% in South Korea.
- Low carbon sources supplied 76.5% of Canada's electricity in 2025 and 39.9% of South Korea's.
- Electricity demand in 2025 was 654 TWh in Canada and 628 TWh in South Korea.
Key Figures, 2025
Ember annual statistics| Measure | Canada | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Total generation | 660 TWh | 628 TWh |
| Electricity demand | 654 TWh | 628 TWh |
| Demand per person | 16.09 MWh | 12.09 MWh |
| Carbon intensity | 192 gCO2/kWh | 418 gCO2/kWh |
| Power sector emissions | 126 MtCO2 | 262 MtCO2 |
| Low carbon share | 76.5% | 39.9% |
| Largest source | Hydro 52.8% | Coal 31.1% |
Generation Mix, 2025
Share of generationCarbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statistics| Year | Canada | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 191 gCO2/kWh | 524 gCO2/kWh |
| 1986 | 172 gCO2/kWh | 431 gCO2/kWh |
| 1987 | 190 gCO2/kWh | 345 gCO2/kWh |
| 1988 | 206 gCO2/kWh | 405 gCO2/kWh |
| 1989 | 225 gCO2/kWh | 383 gCO2/kWh |
| 1990 | 206 gCO2/kWh | 379 gCO2/kWh |
| 1991 | 202 gCO2/kWh | 399 gCO2/kWh |
| 1992 | 209 gCO2/kWh | 427 gCO2/kWh |
| 1993 | 191 gCO2/kWh | 451 gCO2/kWh |
| 1994 | 188 gCO2/kWh | 493 gCO2/kWh |
| 1995 | 199 gCO2/kWh | 479 gCO2/kWh |
| 1996 | 192 gCO2/kWh | 481 gCO2/kWh |
| 1997 | 213 gCO2/kWh | 492 gCO2/kWh |
| 1998 | 241 gCO2/kWh | 463 gCO2/kWh |
| 1999 | 235 gCO2/kWh | 453 gCO2/kWh |
| 2000 | 246 gCO2/kWh | 462 gCO2/kWh |
| 2001 | 256 gCO2/kWh | 475 gCO2/kWh |
| 2002 | 245 gCO2/kWh | 473 gCO2/kWh |
| 2003 | 252 gCO2/kWh | 458 gCO2/kWh |
| 2004 | 235 gCO2/kWh | 463 gCO2/kWh |
| 2005 | 225 gCO2/kWh | 450 gCO2/kWh |
| 2006 | 217 gCO2/kWh | 451 gCO2/kWh |
| 2007 | 228 gCO2/kWh | 474 gCO2/kWh |
| 2008 | 214 gCO2/kWh | 477 gCO2/kWh |
| 2009 | 204 gCO2/kWh | 495 gCO2/kWh |
| 2010 | 215 gCO2/kWh | 500 gCO2/kWh |
| 2011 | 206 gCO2/kWh | 497 gCO2/kWh |
| 2012 | 193 gCO2/kWh | 502 gCO2/kWh |
| 2013 | 187 gCO2/kWh | 512 gCO2/kWh |
| 2014 | 189 gCO2/kWh | 493 gCO2/kWh |
| 2015 | 184 gCO2/kWh | 488 gCO2/kWh |
| 2016 | 181 gCO2/kWh | 489 gCO2/kWh |
| 2017 | 172 gCO2/kWh | 511 gCO2/kWh |
| 2018 | 171 gCO2/kWh | 519 gCO2/kWh |
| 2019 | 170 gCO2/kWh | 497 gCO2/kWh |
| 2020 | 162 gCO2/kWh | 458 gCO2/kWh |
| 2021 | 165 gCO2/kWh | 460 gCO2/kWh |
| 2022 | 161 gCO2/kWh | 438 gCO2/kWh |
| 2023 | 174 gCO2/kWh | 427 gCO2/kWh |
| 2024 | 185 gCO2/kWh | 416 gCO2/kWh |
| 2025 | 192 gCO2/kWh | 418 gCO2/kWh |
Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025
Ember annual statistics| Year | Canada | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | n/a | n/a |
| 1986 | n/a | n/a |
| 1987 | n/a | n/a |
| 1988 | n/a | n/a |
| 1989 | n/a | n/a |
| 1990 | n/a | n/a |
| 1991 | n/a | n/a |
| 1992 | n/a | n/a |
| 1993 | n/a | n/a |
| 1994 | n/a | n/a |
| 1995 | n/a | n/a |
| 1996 | n/a | n/a |
| 1997 | n/a | n/a |
| 1998 | n/a | n/a |
| 1999 | n/a | n/a |
| 2000 | 18.39 MWh | 6.21 MWh |
| 2001 | 18.12 MWh | 6.59 MWh |
| 2002 | 18.34 MWh | 7.02 MWh |
| 2003 | 18.30 MWh | 7.32 MWh |
| 2004 | 18.30 MWh | 7.72 MWh |
| 2005 | 18.39 MWh | 8.14 MWh |
| 2006 | 17.99 MWh | 8.39 MWh |
| 2007 | 18.23 MWh | 8.83 MWh |
| 2008 | 18.03 MWh | 9.15 MWh |
| 2009 | 17.15 MWh | 9.32 MWh |
| 2010 | 17.02 MWh | 10.15 MWh |
| 2011 | 17.41 MWh | 10.55 MWh |
| 2012 | 16.89 MWh | 10.71 MWh |
| 2013 | 17.11 MWh | 10.73 MWh |
| 2014 | 17.04 MWh | 10.69 MWh |
| 2015 | 16.73 MWh | 10.75 MWh |
| 2016 | 16.60 MWh | 10.94 MWh |
| 2017 | 16.49 MWh | 11.20 MWh |
| 2018 | 16.44 MWh | 11.48 MWh |
| 2019 | 16.11 MWh | 11.34 MWh |
| 2020 | 15.67 MWh | 11.13 MWh |
| 2021 | 15.74 MWh | 11.72 MWh |
| 2022 | 15.79 MWh | 12.02 MWh |
| 2023 | 15.61 MWh | 11.93 MWh |
| 2024 | 15.71 MWh | 12.09 MWh |
| 2025 | 16.09 MWh | 12.09 MWh |
Canada history · South Korea history
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.
Related
Cite this page
World Power Monitor. (2025). Canada vs South Korea: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/canada-vs-south-korea/
World Power Monitor. Canada vs South Korea: Electricity Compared. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/canada-vs-south-korea/
@misc{wpm_compare_canada_vs_south_korea_2025,
title = {{Canada vs South Korea: Electricity Compared}},
author = {{World Power Monitor}},
year = {2025},
note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/canada-vs-south-korea/}
} Permalink: https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/canada-vs-south-korea/
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