South Korea Nuclear Power: Generation, Share and Trend
South Korea generated 185 TWh of electricity from nuclear in 2025, 29.6% of its total, according to Ember. That made it the 5th largest nuclear power producer in 2025 of the 32 countries with Ember data, comparing each country's latest year. Nuclear supplied 8.9% of the world's electricity in 2025. These are annual statistics for 2025, with monthly figures through June 2026; they are compiled from national sources and are not real time.
Key Facts
- South Korea generated 185 TWh of electricity from nuclear in 2025.
- Nuclear supplied 29.6% of South Korea's electricity in 2025.
- South Korea was the 5th largest nuclear power producer in 2025 among the 32 countries with Ember data, comparing each country's latest year.
- South Korea's nuclear generation in 2025 was 15% higher than in 2020, when it was 160 TWh.
- South Korea's nuclear generation in 2025 was 12% higher than in 2015, when it was 165 TWh.
- South Korea's nuclear generation peaked at 189 TWh in 2024.
- South Korea's nuclear share in 2025 was above the world share of 8.9%.
- South Korea had 26.1 GW of nuclear generating capacity in 2025.
Key Figures, 2025
| Measure | Value | As of / source |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear generation | 185 TWh | 2025 · Ember |
| Share of South Korea's electricity | 29.6% | 2025 · Ember |
| World share of nuclear | 8.9% | 2025 · Ember |
| Rank by nuclear generation (each country's latest year) | 5 of 32 | 2025 · Ember |
| Nuclear capacity | 26.1 GW | 2025 · Ember |
Nuclear Generation Year by Year
Ember annual statistics, 1985 to 2025Annual statistics through 2025, TWh
| Year | Nuclear |
|---|---|
| 1985 | 16.8 TWh |
| 1986 | 28.3 TWh |
| 1987 | 39.3 TWh |
| 1988 | 40.1 TWh |
| 1989 | 47.4 TWh |
| 1990 | 52.9 TWh |
| 1991 | 56.3 TWh |
| 1992 | 56.5 TWh |
| 1993 | 58.1 TWh |
| 1994 | 58.7 TWh |
| 1995 | 67.0 TWh |
| 1996 | 73.9 TWh |
| 1997 | 77.1 TWh |
| 1998 | 89.7 TWh |
| 1999 | 103 TWh |
| 2000 | 109 TWh |
| 2001 | 112 TWh |
| 2002 | 119 TWh |
| 2003 | 130 TWh |
| 2004 | 131 TWh |
| 2005 | 147 TWh |
| 2006 | 149 TWh |
| 2007 | 143 TWh |
| 2008 | 151 TWh |
| 2009 | 148 TWh |
| 2010 | 149 TWh |
| 2011 | 155 TWh |
| 2012 | 150 TWh |
| 2013 | 139 TWh |
| 2014 | 156 TWh |
| 2015 | 165 TWh |
| 2016 | 162 TWh |
| 2017 | 148 TWh |
| 2018 | 134 TWh |
| 2019 | 146 TWh |
| 2020 | 160 TWh |
| 2021 | 158 TWh |
| 2022 | 176 TWh |
| 2023 | 180 TWh |
| 2024 | 189 TWh |
| 2025 | 185 TWh |
Annual statistics through 2025, % of generation
| Year | South Korea | World |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 26.7% | n/a |
| 1986 | 40.6% | n/a |
| 1987 | 49.0% | n/a |
| 1988 | 43.1% | n/a |
| 1989 | 45.7% | n/a |
| 1990 | 44.7% | n/a |
| 1991 | 42.8% | n/a |
| 1992 | 38.6% | n/a |
| 1993 | 35.9% | n/a |
| 1994 | 32.0% | n/a |
| 1995 | 32.9% | n/a |
| 1996 | 32.7% | n/a |
| 1997 | 31.3% | n/a |
| 1998 | 37.8% | n/a |
| 1999 | 39.3% | n/a |
| 2000 | 37.5% | 16.6% |
| 2001 | 36.2% | 16.9% |
| 2002 | 35.9% | 16.5% |
| 2003 | 37.3% | 15.6% |
| 2004 | 35.5% | 15.6% |
| 2005 | 37.7% | 15.0% |
| 2006 | 36.9% | 14.7% |
| 2007 | 33.6% | 13.7% |
| 2008 | 34.1% | 13.4% |
| 2009 | 32.7% | 13.3% |
| 2010 | 30.0% | 12.8% |
| 2011 | 29.9% | 11.9% |
| 2012 | 28.3% | 10.8% |
| 2013 | 25.8% | 10.6% |
| 2014 | 28.9% | 10.5% |
| 2015 | 30.1% | 10.6% |
| 2016 | 28.9% | 10.4% |
| 2017 | 25.8% | 10.2% |
| 2018 | 22.5% | 10.1% |
| 2019 | 24.9% | 10.3% |
| 2020 | 27.8% | 9.9% |
| 2021 | 26.0% | 9.8% |
| 2022 | 28.3% | 9.1% |
| 2023 | 29.2% | 9.1% |
| 2024 | 30.2% | 9.0% |
| 2025 | 29.6% | 8.9% |
| Year | Generation | Share | World share | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 185 TWh | 29.6% | 8.9% | 26.1 GW |
| 2024 | 189 TWh | 30.2% | 9.0% | 26.1 GW |
| 2023 | 180 TWh | 29.2% | 9.1% | 24.7 GW |
| 2022 | 176 TWh | 28.3% | 9.1% | 24.7 GW |
| 2021 | 158 TWh | 26.0% | 9.8% | 23.3 GW |
| 2020 | 160 TWh | 27.8% | 9.9% | 23.3 GW |
| 2019 | 146 TWh | 24.9% | 10.3% | 23.3 GW |
| 2018 | 134 TWh | 22.5% | 10.1% | 21.9 GW |
| 2017 | 148 TWh | 25.8% | 10.2% | 22.5 GW |
| 2016 | 162 TWh | 28.9% | 10.4% | 23.1 GW |
Full year by year history for South Korea
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025. World shares are Ember's World totals; ranks compare each country's latest year, which can differ between countries.
Nuclear Generation Month by Month
Ember monthly statistics through June 2026Monthly statistics through June 2026, TWh
| Month | Nuclear |
|---|---|
| 2024-07 | 16.5 TWh |
| 2024-08 | 15.5 TWh |
| 2024-09 | 15.9 TWh |
| 2024-10 | 17.1 TWh |
| 2024-11 | 16.1 TWh |
| 2024-12 | 16.7 TWh |
| 2025-01 | 17.9 TWh |
| 2025-02 | 16.2 TWh |
| 2025-03 | 17.9 TWh |
| 2025-04 | 15.9 TWh |
| 2025-05 | 15.9 TWh |
| 2025-06 | 15.1 TWh |
| 2025-07 | 15.2 TWh |
| 2025-08 | 14.1 TWh |
| 2025-09 | 14.3 TWh |
| 2025-10 | 13.8 TWh |
| 2025-11 | 13.1 TWh |
| 2025-12 | 15.4 TWh |
| 2026-01 | 14.7 TWh |
| 2026-02 | 12.1 TWh |
| 2026-03 | 13.3 TWh |
| 2026-04 | 13.6 TWh |
| 2026-05 | 14.2 TWh |
| 2026-06 | 14.3 TWh |
Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of June 2026. Monthly figures for South Korea can differ slightly from the annual totals.