South Korea vs United Kingdom: Electricity Compared

South Korea generated 625 TWh of electricity in 2025 and the United Kingdom 293 TWh, according to Ember. South Korea's largest source was coal (31.1%); the United Kingdom's was gas (31.4%). Each kWh generated emitted 417 gCO2/kWh in South Korea and 218 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom. 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.

Key Facts

Coal supplied 31.1% of South Korea's electricity in 2025, against 0.1% in the United Kingdom.
South Korea's electricity was 1.9 times as carbon intensive as the United Kingdom's in 2025, at 417 gCO2/kWh against 218 gCO2/kWh.
Electricity demand rose 8% in South Korea between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 4% in the United Kingdom.
The average person in South Korea used 12.09 MWh of electricity in 2025, 2.6 times as much as in the United Kingdom (4.62 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 39.9% of South Korea's electricity in 2025 and 64.2% of the United Kingdom's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 625 TWh in South Korea and 311 TWh in the United Kingdom.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	South Korea	United Kingdom
Total generation	625 TWh	293 TWh
Electricity demand	625 TWh	311 TWh
Demand per person	12.09 MWh	4.62 MWh
Carbon intensity	417 gCO2/kWh	218 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	261 MtCO2	64.0 MtCO2
Low carbon share	39.9%	64.2%
Largest source	Coal 31.1%	Gas 31.4%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	South Korea	United Kingdom
Gas	28.0%	31.4%
Coal	31.1%	0.1%
Nuclear	29.6%	12.4%
Wind	0.6%	29.4%
Bioenergy	3.2%	14.0%
Solar	6.1%	6.6%
Other fossil	1.0%	4.4%
Hydro	0.6%	1.9%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in South Korea and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 417 gCO2/kWh in South Korea and 218 gCO2/kWh in the United Kingdom.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in South Korea and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
Year	South Korea	United Kingdom
1985	524 gCO2/kWh	694 gCO2/kWh
1986	431 gCO2/kWh	721 gCO2/kWh
1987	345 gCO2/kWh	737 gCO2/kWh
1988	405 gCO2/kWh	710 gCO2/kWh
1989	383 gCO2/kWh	689 gCO2/kWh
1990	379 gCO2/kWh	705 gCO2/kWh
1991	399 gCO2/kWh	700 gCO2/kWh
1992	427 gCO2/kWh	665 gCO2/kWh
1993	451 gCO2/kWh	608 gCO2/kWh
1994	493 gCO2/kWh	589 gCO2/kWh
1995	479 gCO2/kWh	579 gCO2/kWh
1996	481 gCO2/kWh	557 gCO2/kWh
1997	492 gCO2/kWh	512 gCO2/kWh
1998	463 gCO2/kWh	510 gCO2/kWh
1999	453 gCO2/kWh	492 gCO2/kWh
2000	462 gCO2/kWh	522 gCO2/kWh
2001	475 gCO2/kWh	529 gCO2/kWh
2002	473 gCO2/kWh	521 gCO2/kWh
2003	458 gCO2/kWh	537 gCO2/kWh
2004	463 gCO2/kWh	536 gCO2/kWh
2005	450 gCO2/kWh	535 gCO2/kWh
2006	451 gCO2/kWh	559 gCO2/kWh
2007	474 gCO2/kWh	556 gCO2/kWh
2008	477 gCO2/kWh	554 gCO2/kWh
2009	495 gCO2/kWh	505 gCO2/kWh
2010	500 gCO2/kWh	517 gCO2/kWh
2011	497 gCO2/kWh	500 gCO2/kWh
2012	502 gCO2/kWh	537 gCO2/kWh
2013	512 gCO2/kWh	507 gCO2/kWh
2014	493 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2015	488 gCO2/kWh	398 gCO2/kWh
2016	489 gCO2/kWh	333 gCO2/kWh
2017	511 gCO2/kWh	302 gCO2/kWh
2018	519 gCO2/kWh	286 gCO2/kWh
2019	497 gCO2/kWh	268 gCO2/kWh
2020	458 gCO2/kWh	243 gCO2/kWh
2021	460 gCO2/kWh	267 gCO2/kWh
2022	438 gCO2/kWh	255 gCO2/kWh
2023	427 gCO2/kWh	236 gCO2/kWh
2024	416 gCO2/kWh	216 gCO2/kWh
2025	417 gCO2/kWh	218 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in South Korea and the United Kingdom each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 12.09 MWh in South Korea and 4.62 MWh in the United Kingdom.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in South Korea and United Kingdom, 1985 to 2025
Year	South Korea	United Kingdom
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	6.21 MWh	6.63 MWh
2001	6.59 MWh	6.67 MWh
2002	7.02 MWh	6.65 MWh
2003	7.32 MWh	6.69 MWh
2004	7.72 MWh	6.67 MWh
2005	8.14 MWh	6.71 MWh
2006	8.39 MWh	6.63 MWh
2007	8.83 MWh	6.53 MWh
2008	9.15 MWh	6.45 MWh
2009	9.32 MWh	6.07 MWh
2010	10.15 MWh	6.11 MWh
2011	10.55 MWh	5.89 MWh
2012	10.71 MWh	5.87 MWh
2013	10.73 MWh	5.79 MWh
2014	10.69 MWh	5.53 MWh
2015	10.75 MWh	5.51 MWh
2016	10.94 MWh	5.42 MWh
2017	11.20 MWh	5.32 MWh
2018	11.48 MWh	5.29 MWh
2019	11.34 MWh	5.19 MWh
2020	11.13 MWh	4.88 MWh
2021	11.72 MWh	4.92 MWh
2022	12.02 MWh	4.70 MWh
2023	11.93 MWh	4.60 MWh
2024	12.09 MWh	4.59 MWh
2025	12.09 MWh	4.62 MWh

South Korea history · United Kingdom history

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

South Korea vs United Kingdom: 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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