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Built 2026-11-05 (5 November 2026)

Germany vs South Korea: Electricity Compared

Germany generated 497 TWh of electricity in 2025 and South Korea 628 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 418 gCO2/kWh in South Korea. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Who is bigger and who is cleaner? South Korea is the bigger electricity producer, generating 1.3 times as much as Germany in 2025 (628 TWh against 497 TWh). Germany has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 334 gCO2/kWh against 418 gCO2/kWh in South Korea in 2025.

Why this comparison: both among the 20 largest electricity users.

Open this comparison in the interactive tool to add more countries or change the metric.

Key Facts

  • Nuclear supplied 29.4% of South Korea's electricity in 2025, against none in Germany.
  • Electricity demand rose 9% 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 628 TWh in South Korea.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure Germany South Korea
Total generation497 TWh628 TWh
Electricity demand517 TWh628 TWh
Demand per person6.19 MWh12.09 MWh
Carbon intensity334 gCO2/kWh418 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions166 MtCO2262 MtCO2
Low carbon share58.5%39.9%
Largest sourceWind 26.6%Coal 31.1%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source Germany South Korea
Coal 21.0% 31.1%
Nuclear 0.0% 29.4%
Gas 16.8% 28.0%
Wind 26.6% 0.6%
Solar 18.1% 6.0%
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 in Germany and South Korea, 1985 to 2025 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 418 gCO2/kWh in South Korea. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
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 418 gCO2/kWh in South Korea.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in Germany and South Korea, 1985 to 2025
YearGermanySouth Korea
1985431 gCO2/kWh524 gCO2/kWh
1986431 gCO2/kWh431 gCO2/kWh
1987431 gCO2/kWh345 gCO2/kWh
1988431 gCO2/kWh405 gCO2/kWh
1989431 gCO2/kWh383 gCO2/kWh
1990622 gCO2/kWh379 gCO2/kWh
1991628 gCO2/kWh399 gCO2/kWh
1992605 gCO2/kWh427 gCO2/kWh
1993608 gCO2/kWh451 gCO2/kWh
1994604 gCO2/kWh493 gCO2/kWh
1995596 gCO2/kWh479 gCO2/kWh
1996591 gCO2/kWh481 gCO2/kWh
1997575 gCO2/kWh492 gCO2/kWh
1998587 gCO2/kWh463 gCO2/kWh
1999566 gCO2/kWh453 gCO2/kWh
2000573 gCO2/kWh462 gCO2/kWh
2001565 gCO2/kWh475 gCO2/kWh
2002570 gCO2/kWh473 gCO2/kWh
2003570 gCO2/kWh458 gCO2/kWh
2004555 gCO2/kWh463 gCO2/kWh
2005546 gCO2/kWh450 gCO2/kWh
2006536 gCO2/kWh451 gCO2/kWh
2007552 gCO2/kWh474 gCO2/kWh
2008525 gCO2/kWh477 gCO2/kWh
2009522 gCO2/kWh495 gCO2/kWh
2010517 gCO2/kWh500 gCO2/kWh
2011530 gCO2/kWh497 gCO2/kWh
2012534 gCO2/kWh502 gCO2/kWh
2013538 gCO2/kWh512 gCO2/kWh
2014522 gCO2/kWh493 gCO2/kWh
2015504 gCO2/kWh488 gCO2/kWh
2016498 gCO2/kWh489 gCO2/kWh
2017470 gCO2/kWh511 gCO2/kWh
2018455 gCO2/kWh519 gCO2/kWh
2019392 gCO2/kWh497 gCO2/kWh
2020356 gCO2/kWh458 gCO2/kWh
2021395 gCO2/kWh460 gCO2/kWh
2022420 gCO2/kWh438 gCO2/kWh
2023364 gCO2/kWh427 gCO2/kWh
2024340 gCO2/kWh416 gCO2/kWh
2025334 gCO2/kWh418 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in Germany and South Korea, 1985 to 2025 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. 0 4 8 11 15 198519901995200020052010201520202025
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
YearGermanySouth Korea
1985n/an/a
1986n/an/a
1987n/an/a
1988n/an/a
1989n/an/a
1990n/an/a
1991n/an/a
1992n/an/a
1993n/an/a
1994n/an/a
1995n/an/a
1996n/an/a
1997n/an/a
1998n/an/a
1999n/an/a
20006.99 MWh6.21 MWh
20017.11 MWh6.59 MWh
20027.24 MWh7.02 MWh
20037.29 MWh7.32 MWh
20047.39 MWh7.72 MWh
20057.42 MWh8.14 MWh
20067.51 MWh8.39 MWh
20077.56 MWh8.83 MWh
20087.55 MWh9.15 MWh
20097.11 MWh9.32 MWh
20107.54 MWh10.15 MWh
20117.44 MWh10.55 MWh
20127.41 MWh10.71 MWh
20137.37 MWh10.73 MWh
20147.19 MWh10.69 MWh
20157.20 MWh10.75 MWh
20167.14 MWh10.94 MWh
20177.12 MWh11.20 MWh
20187.00 MWh11.48 MWh
20196.79 MWh11.34 MWh
20206.55 MWh11.13 MWh
20216.69 MWh11.72 MWh
20226.42 MWh12.02 MWh
20236.10 MWh11.93 MWh
20246.18 MWh12.09 MWh
20256.19 MWh12.09 MWh

Germany history · South Korea history

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

Cite this page
APA 7

World Power Monitor. (2025). Germany vs South Korea: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/germany-vs-south-korea/

Plain text

World Power Monitor. Germany vs South Korea: Electricity Compared. Data as of 2025. Data from Ember. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/germany-vs-south-korea/

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_compare_germany_vs_south_korea_2025,
  title = {{Germany vs South Korea: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/germany-vs-south-korea/}
}

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