Iran vs South Korea: Electricity Compared

Iran generated 398 TWh of electricity in 2025 and South Korea 625 TWh, according to Ember. Iran's largest source was gas (88.3%); South Korea's was coal (31.1%). Each kWh generated emitted 658 gCO2/kWh in Iran 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

Gas supplied 88.3% of Iran's electricity in 2025, against 28.0% in South Korea.
Iran's electricity was 1.6 times as carbon intensive as South Korea's in 2025, at 658 gCO2/kWh against 417 gCO2/kWh.
Carbon intensity rose 4% in Iran between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 9% in South Korea.
The average person in South Korea used 12.09 MWh of electricity in 2025, 2.8 times as much as in Iran (4.28 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 5.9% of Iran's electricity in 2025 and 39.9% of South Korea's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 397 TWh in Iran and 625 TWh in South Korea.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Iran	South Korea
Total generation	398 TWh	625 TWh
Electricity demand	397 TWh	625 TWh
Demand per person	4.28 MWh	12.09 MWh
Carbon intensity	658 gCO2/kWh	417 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	262 MtCO2	261 MtCO2
Low carbon share	5.9%	39.9%
Largest source	Gas 88.3%	Coal 31.1%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Iran	South Korea
Gas	88.3%	28.0%
Coal	0.2%	31.1%
Nuclear	1.8%	29.6%
Solar	0.2%	6.1%
Other fossil	5.7%	1.0%
Hydro	3.5%	0.6%
Bioenergy	0.0%	3.2%
Wind	0.3%	0.6%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Iran and South Korea each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 658 gCO2/kWh in Iran and 417 gCO2/kWh in South Korea.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Iran and South Korea, 1985 to 2025
Year	Iran	South Korea
1985	577 gCO2/kWh	524 gCO2/kWh
1986	568 gCO2/kWh	431 gCO2/kWh
1987	561 gCO2/kWh	345 gCO2/kWh
1988	565 gCO2/kWh	405 gCO2/kWh
1989	597 gCO2/kWh	383 gCO2/kWh
1990	599 gCO2/kWh	379 gCO2/kWh
1991	625 gCO2/kWh	399 gCO2/kWh
1992	595 gCO2/kWh	427 gCO2/kWh
1993	592 gCO2/kWh	451 gCO2/kWh
1994	629 gCO2/kWh	493 gCO2/kWh
1995	619 gCO2/kWh	479 gCO2/kWh
1996	619 gCO2/kWh	481 gCO2/kWh
1997	645 gCO2/kWh	492 gCO2/kWh
1998	641 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
1999	659 gCO2/kWh	453 gCO2/kWh
2000	667 gCO2/kWh	462 gCO2/kWh
2001	668 gCO2/kWh	475 gCO2/kWh
2002	652 gCO2/kWh	473 gCO2/kWh
2003	649 gCO2/kWh	458 gCO2/kWh
2004	642 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2005	636 gCO2/kWh	450 gCO2/kWh
2006	625 gCO2/kWh	451 gCO2/kWh
2007	631 gCO2/kWh	474 gCO2/kWh
2008	662 gCO2/kWh	477 gCO2/kWh
2009	667 gCO2/kWh	495 gCO2/kWh
2010	661 gCO2/kWh	500 gCO2/kWh
2011	654 gCO2/kWh	497 gCO2/kWh
2012	648 gCO2/kWh	502 gCO2/kWh
2013	634 gCO2/kWh	512 gCO2/kWh
2014	644 gCO2/kWh	493 gCO2/kWh
2015	651 gCO2/kWh	488 gCO2/kWh
2016	642 gCO2/kWh	489 gCO2/kWh
2017	642 gCO2/kWh	511 gCO2/kWh
2018	658 gCO2/kWh	519 gCO2/kWh
2019	605 gCO2/kWh	497 gCO2/kWh
2020	630 gCO2/kWh	458 gCO2/kWh
2021	658 gCO2/kWh	460 gCO2/kWh
2022	651 gCO2/kWh	438 gCO2/kWh
2023	638 gCO2/kWh	427 gCO2/kWh
2024	643 gCO2/kWh	416 gCO2/kWh
2025	658 gCO2/kWh	417 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Iran and South Korea each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 4.28 MWh in Iran and 12.09 MWh in South Korea.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Iran and South Korea, 1985 to 2025
Year	Iran	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	1.79 MWh	6.21 MWh
2001	1.89 MWh	6.59 MWh
2002	2.04 MWh	7.02 MWh
2003	2.21 MWh	7.32 MWh
2004	2.32 MWh	7.72 MWh
2005	2.46 MWh	8.14 MWh
2006	2.63 MWh	8.39 MWh
2007	2.71 MWh	8.83 MWh
2008	2.76 MWh	9.15 MWh
2009	2.85 MWh	9.32 MWh
2010	3.00 MWh	10.15 MWh
2011	2.94 MWh	10.55 MWh
2012	3.04 MWh	10.71 MWh
2013	3.12 MWh	10.73 MWh
2014	3.31 MWh	10.69 MWh
2015	3.36 MWh	10.75 MWh
2016	3.39 MWh	10.94 MWh
2017	3.54 MWh	11.20 MWh
2018	3.58 MWh	11.48 MWh
2019	3.58 MWh	11.34 MWh
2020	3.77 MWh	11.13 MWh
2021	3.95 MWh	11.72 MWh
2022	4.03 MWh	12.02 MWh
2023	4.14 MWh	11.93 MWh
2024	4.30 MWh	12.09 MWh
2025	4.28 MWh	12.09 MWh

Iran history · South Korea history

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

Iran 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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