South Korea vs Taiwan: Electricity Compared

South Korea generated 625 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Taiwan 289 TWh, according to Ember. South Korea's largest source was coal (31.1%); Taiwan's was gas (48.8%). Each kWh generated emitted 417 gCO2/kWh in South Korea and 634 gCO2/kWh in Taiwan. 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 1.1% in Taiwan.
Taiwan's electricity was 1.5 times as carbon intensive as South Korea's in 2025, at 634 gCO2/kWh against 417 gCO2/kWh.
Low carbon sources supplied 39.9% of South Korea's electricity in 2025 and 13.5% of Taiwan's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 625 TWh in South Korea and 289 TWh in Taiwan.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	South Korea	Taiwan
Total generation	625 TWh	289 TWh
Electricity demand	625 TWh	289 TWh
Demand per person	12.09 MWh	12.50 MWh
Carbon intensity	417 gCO2/kWh	634 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	261 MtCO2	183 MtCO2
Low carbon share	39.9%	13.5%
Largest source	Coal 31.1%	Gas 48.8%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	South Korea	Taiwan
Gas	28.0%	48.8%
Coal	31.1%	36.1%
Nuclear	29.6%	1.1%
Solar	6.1%	5.5%
Wind	0.6%	4.2%
Bioenergy	3.2%	0.8%
Hydro	0.6%	1.9%
Other fossil	1.0%	1.5%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in South Korea and Taiwan each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 417 gCO2/kWh in South Korea and 634 gCO2/kWh in Taiwan.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in South Korea and Taiwan, 1985 to 2025
Year	South Korea	Taiwan
1985	524 gCO2/kWh	331 gCO2/kWh
1986	431 gCO2/kWh	411 gCO2/kWh
1987	345 gCO2/kWh	393 gCO2/kWh
1988	405 gCO2/kWh	449 gCO2/kWh
1989	383 gCO2/kWh	494 gCO2/kWh
1990	379 gCO2/kWh	456 gCO2/kWh
1991	399 gCO2/kWh	485 gCO2/kWh
1992	427 gCO2/kWh	510 gCO2/kWh
1993	451 gCO2/kWh	553 gCO2/kWh
1994	493 gCO2/kWh	561 gCO2/kWh
1995	479 gCO2/kWh	570 gCO2/kWh
1996	481 gCO2/kWh	584 gCO2/kWh
1997	492 gCO2/kWh	602 gCO2/kWh
1998	463 gCO2/kWh	606 gCO2/kWh
1999	453 gCO2/kWh	612 gCO2/kWh
2000	462 gCO2/kWh	635 gCO2/kWh
2001	475 gCO2/kWh	654 gCO2/kWh
2002	473 gCO2/kWh	654 gCO2/kWh
2003	458 gCO2/kWh	666 gCO2/kWh
2004	463 gCO2/kWh	664 gCO2/kWh
2005	450 gCO2/kWh	665 gCO2/kWh
2006	451 gCO2/kWh	670 gCO2/kWh
2007	474 gCO2/kWh	670 gCO2/kWh
2008	477 gCO2/kWh	660 gCO2/kWh
2009	495 gCO2/kWh	658 gCO2/kWh
2010	500 gCO2/kWh	653 gCO2/kWh
2011	497 gCO2/kWh	653 gCO2/kWh
2012	502 gCO2/kWh	650 gCO2/kWh
2013	512 gCO2/kWh	644 gCO2/kWh
2014	493 gCO2/kWh	646 gCO2/kWh
2015	488 gCO2/kWh	650 gCO2/kWh
2016	489 gCO2/kWh	659 gCO2/kWh
2017	511 gCO2/kWh	685 gCO2/kWh
2018	519 gCO2/kWh	673 gCO2/kWh
2019	497 gCO2/kWh	649 gCO2/kWh
2020	458 gCO2/kWh	648 gCO2/kWh
2021	460 gCO2/kWh	652 gCO2/kWh
2022	438 gCO2/kWh	639 gCO2/kWh
2023	427 gCO2/kWh	644 gCO2/kWh
2024	416 gCO2/kWh	635 gCO2/kWh
2025	417 gCO2/kWh	634 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in South Korea and Taiwan each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 12.09 MWh in South Korea and 12.50 MWh in Taiwan.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in South Korea and Taiwan, 1985 to 2025
Year	South Korea	Taiwan
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	8.28 MWh
2001	6.59 MWh	8.40 MWh
2002	7.02 MWh	8.81 MWh
2003	7.32 MWh	9.22 MWh
2004	7.72 MWh	9.60 MWh
2005	8.14 MWh	9.97 MWh
2006	8.39 MWh	10.28 MWh
2007	8.83 MWh	10.57 MWh
2008	9.15 MWh	10.32 MWh
2009	9.32 MWh	9.93 MWh
2010	10.15 MWh	10.64 MWh
2011	10.55 MWh	10.83 MWh
2012	10.71 MWh	10.72 MWh
2013	10.73 MWh	10.78 MWh
2014	10.69 MWh	11.08 MWh
2015	10.75 MWh	10.97 MWh
2016	10.94 MWh	11.20 MWh
2017	11.20 MWh	11.44 MWh
2018	11.48 MWh	11.65 MWh
2019	11.34 MWh	11.58 MWh
2020	11.13 MWh	11.83 MWh
2021	11.72 MWh	12.35 MWh
2022	12.02 MWh	12.31 MWh
2023	11.93 MWh	12.11 MWh
2024	12.09 MWh	12.43 MWh
2025	12.09 MWh	12.50 MWh

South Korea history · Taiwan history

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

South Korea vs Taiwan: 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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