Germany vs South Korea: Electricity Compared

Germany generated 497 TWh of electricity in 2025 and South Korea 625 TWh, according to Ember. Germany's largest source was wind (26.6%); South Korea's was coal (31.1%). Each kWh generated emitted 334 gCO2/kWh in Germany 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.

Key Facts

Nuclear supplied 29.6% of South Korea's electricity in 2025, against none in Germany.
Electricity demand rose 8% in South Korea between 2020 and 2025, while it fell 6% in Germany.
Low carbon sources supplied 58.5% of Germany's electricity in 2025 and 39.9% of South Korea's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 517 TWh in Germany and 625 TWh in South Korea.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Germany	South Korea
Total generation	497 TWh	625 TWh
Electricity demand	517 TWh	625 TWh
Demand per person	6.19 MWh	12.09 MWh
Carbon intensity	334 gCO2/kWh	417 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	166 MtCO2	261 MtCO2
Low carbon share	58.5%	39.9%
Largest source	Wind 26.6%	Coal 31.1%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Germany	South Korea
Coal	21.0%	31.1%
Nuclear	0.0%	29.6%
Gas	16.8%	28.0%
Wind	26.6%	0.6%
Solar	18.1%	6.1%
Bioenergy	10.1%	3.2%
Other fossil	3.8%	1.0%
Hydro	3.7%	0.6%
Other renewables	0.1%	0.0%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Germany and South Korea each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 334 gCO2/kWh in Germany and 417 gCO2/kWh in South Korea.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Germany and South Korea, 1985 to 2025
Year	Germany	South Korea
1985	431 gCO2/kWh	524 gCO2/kWh
1986	431 gCO2/kWh	431 gCO2/kWh
1987	431 gCO2/kWh	345 gCO2/kWh
1988	431 gCO2/kWh	405 gCO2/kWh
1989	431 gCO2/kWh	383 gCO2/kWh
1990	622 gCO2/kWh	379 gCO2/kWh
1991	628 gCO2/kWh	399 gCO2/kWh
1992	605 gCO2/kWh	427 gCO2/kWh
1993	608 gCO2/kWh	451 gCO2/kWh
1994	604 gCO2/kWh	493 gCO2/kWh
1995	596 gCO2/kWh	479 gCO2/kWh
1996	591 gCO2/kWh	481 gCO2/kWh
1997	575 gCO2/kWh	492 gCO2/kWh
1998	587 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
1999	566 gCO2/kWh	453 gCO2/kWh
2000	573 gCO2/kWh	462 gCO2/kWh
2001	565 gCO2/kWh	475 gCO2/kWh
2002	570 gCO2/kWh	473 gCO2/kWh
2003	570 gCO2/kWh	458 gCO2/kWh
2004	555 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2005	546 gCO2/kWh	450 gCO2/kWh
2006	536 gCO2/kWh	451 gCO2/kWh
2007	552 gCO2/kWh	474 gCO2/kWh
2008	525 gCO2/kWh	477 gCO2/kWh
2009	522 gCO2/kWh	495 gCO2/kWh
2010	517 gCO2/kWh	500 gCO2/kWh
2011	530 gCO2/kWh	497 gCO2/kWh
2012	534 gCO2/kWh	502 gCO2/kWh
2013	538 gCO2/kWh	512 gCO2/kWh
2014	522 gCO2/kWh	493 gCO2/kWh
2015	504 gCO2/kWh	488 gCO2/kWh
2016	498 gCO2/kWh	489 gCO2/kWh
2017	470 gCO2/kWh	511 gCO2/kWh
2018	455 gCO2/kWh	519 gCO2/kWh
2019	392 gCO2/kWh	497 gCO2/kWh
2020	356 gCO2/kWh	458 gCO2/kWh
2021	395 gCO2/kWh	460 gCO2/kWh
2022	420 gCO2/kWh	438 gCO2/kWh
2023	364 gCO2/kWh	427 gCO2/kWh
2024	340 gCO2/kWh	416 gCO2/kWh
2025	334 gCO2/kWh	417 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Germany and South Korea each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 6.19 MWh in Germany and 12.09 MWh in South Korea.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Germany and South Korea, 1985 to 2025
Year	Germany	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	6.99 MWh	6.21 MWh
2001	7.11 MWh	6.59 MWh
2002	7.24 MWh	7.02 MWh
2003	7.29 MWh	7.32 MWh
2004	7.39 MWh	7.72 MWh
2005	7.42 MWh	8.14 MWh
2006	7.51 MWh	8.39 MWh
2007	7.56 MWh	8.83 MWh
2008	7.55 MWh	9.15 MWh
2009	7.11 MWh	9.32 MWh
2010	7.54 MWh	10.15 MWh
2011	7.44 MWh	10.55 MWh
2012	7.41 MWh	10.71 MWh
2013	7.37 MWh	10.73 MWh
2014	7.19 MWh	10.69 MWh
2015	7.20 MWh	10.75 MWh
2016	7.14 MWh	10.94 MWh
2017	7.12 MWh	11.20 MWh
2018	7.00 MWh	11.48 MWh
2019	6.79 MWh	11.34 MWh
2020	6.55 MWh	11.13 MWh
2021	6.69 MWh	11.72 MWh
2022	6.42 MWh	12.02 MWh
2023	6.10 MWh	11.93 MWh
2024	6.18 MWh	12.09 MWh
2025	6.19 MWh	12.09 MWh

Germany history · South Korea history

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

Germany 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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