India vs South Korea: Electricity Compared

India generated 2,084 TWh of electricity in 2025 and South Korea 625 TWh, according to Ember. Coal was the largest source in both, at 70.9% in India and 31.1% in South Korea. Each kWh generated emitted 671 gCO2/kWh in India and 417 gCO2/kWh in South Korea. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Why this comparison: both among the 20 largest electricity users and similar electricity demand on the same continent.

Key Facts

Coal supplied 70.9% of India's electricity in 2025, against 31.1% in South Korea.
India's electricity was 1.6 times as carbon intensive as South Korea's in 2025, at 671 gCO2/kWh against 417 gCO2/kWh.
The average person in South Korea used 12.09 MWh of electricity in 2025, 8.5 times as much as in India (1.42 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 26.5% of India's electricity in 2025 and 39.9% of South Korea's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 2,086 TWh in India and 625 TWh in South Korea.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	India	South Korea
Total generation	2,084 TWh	625 TWh
Electricity demand	2,086 TWh	625 TWh
Demand per person	1.42 MWh	12.09 MWh
Carbon intensity	671 gCO2/kWh	417 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	1,399 MtCO2	261 MtCO2
Low carbon share	26.5%	39.9%
Largest source	Coal 70.9%	Coal 31.1%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	India	South Korea
Coal	70.9%	31.1%
Nuclear	2.6%	29.6%
Gas	2.3%	28.0%
Solar	9.3%	6.1%
Hydro	8.5%	0.6%
Wind	5.0%	0.6%
Bioenergy	1.1%	3.2%
Other fossil	0.2%	1.0%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in India and South Korea each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 671 gCO2/kWh in India and 417 gCO2/kWh in South Korea.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in India and South Korea, 1985 to 2025
Year	India	South Korea
1985	635 gCO2/kWh	524 gCO2/kWh
1986	652 gCO2/kWh	431 gCO2/kWh
1987	690 gCO2/kWh	345 gCO2/kWh
1988	684 gCO2/kWh	405 gCO2/kWh
1989	686 gCO2/kWh	383 gCO2/kWh
1990	679 gCO2/kWh	379 gCO2/kWh
1991	683 gCO2/kWh	399 gCO2/kWh
1992	700 gCO2/kWh	427 gCO2/kWh
1993	713 gCO2/kWh	451 gCO2/kWh
1994	705 gCO2/kWh	493 gCO2/kWh
1995	723 gCO2/kWh	479 gCO2/kWh
1996	738 gCO2/kWh	481 gCO2/kWh
1997	738 gCO2/kWh	492 gCO2/kWh
1998	720 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
1999	729 gCO2/kWh	453 gCO2/kWh
2000	740 gCO2/kWh	462 gCO2/kWh
2001	747 gCO2/kWh	475 gCO2/kWh
2002	756 gCO2/kWh	473 gCO2/kWh
2003	758 gCO2/kWh	458 gCO2/kWh
2004	724 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2005	734 gCO2/kWh	450 gCO2/kWh
2006	723 gCO2/kWh	451 gCO2/kWh
2007	718 gCO2/kWh	474 gCO2/kWh
2008	733 gCO2/kWh	477 gCO2/kWh
2009	745 gCO2/kWh	495 gCO2/kWh
2010	739 gCO2/kWh	500 gCO2/kWh
2011	722 gCO2/kWh	497 gCO2/kWh
2012	743 gCO2/kWh	502 gCO2/kWh
2013	739 gCO2/kWh	512 gCO2/kWh
2014	743 gCO2/kWh	493 gCO2/kWh
2015	751 gCO2/kWh	488 gCO2/kWh
2016	752 gCO2/kWh	489 gCO2/kWh
2017	743 gCO2/kWh	511 gCO2/kWh
2018	738 gCO2/kWh	519 gCO2/kWh
2019	723 gCO2/kWh	497 gCO2/kWh
2020	710 gCO2/kWh	458 gCO2/kWh
2021	716 gCO2/kWh	460 gCO2/kWh
2022	707 gCO2/kWh	438 gCO2/kWh
2023	714 gCO2/kWh	427 gCO2/kWh
2024	707 gCO2/kWh	416 gCO2/kWh
2025	671 gCO2/kWh	417 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in India and South Korea each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 1.42 MWh in India and 12.09 MWh in South Korea.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in India and South Korea, 1985 to 2025
Year	India	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	0.54 MWh	6.21 MWh
2001	0.55 MWh	6.59 MWh
2002	0.56 MWh	7.02 MWh
2003	0.57 MWh	7.32 MWh
2004	0.62 MWh	7.72 MWh
2005	0.61 MWh	8.14 MWh
2006	0.64 MWh	8.39 MWh
2007	0.67 MWh	8.83 MWh
2008	0.69 MWh	9.15 MWh
2009	0.72 MWh	9.32 MWh
2010	0.76 MWh	10.15 MWh
2011	0.82 MWh	10.55 MWh
2012	0.86 MWh	10.71 MWh
2013	0.88 MWh	10.73 MWh
2014	0.96 MWh	10.69 MWh
2015	0.99 MWh	10.75 MWh
2016	1.04 MWh	10.94 MWh
2017	1.07 MWh	11.20 MWh
2018	1.14 MWh	11.48 MWh
2019	1.15 MWh	11.34 MWh
2020	1.12 MWh	11.13 MWh
2021	1.19 MWh	11.72 MWh
2022	1.27 MWh	12.02 MWh
2023	1.33 MWh	11.93 MWh
2024	1.40 MWh	12.09 MWh
2025	1.42 MWh	12.09 MWh

India history · South Korea history

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.

India vs South Korea: Electricity Compared

Key Facts

Key Figures, 2025

Generation Mix, 2025

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

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