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Built 2026-11-05 (5 November 2026)

South Korea vs Vietnam: Electricity Compared

South Korea generated 628 TWh of electricity in 2025 and Vietnam 329 TWh, according to Ember. Coal was the largest source in both, at 31.1% in South Korea and 47.8% in Vietnam. Each kWh generated emitted 418 gCO2/kWh in South Korea and 459 gCO2/kWh in Vietnam. 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 1.9 times as much as Vietnam in 2025 (628 TWh against 329 TWh). South Korea has the cleaner electricity by carbon intensity, at 418 gCO2/kWh against 459 gCO2/kWh in Vietnam 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

  • Hydro supplied 31.0% of Vietnam's electricity in 2025, against 0.6% in South Korea.
  • The average person in South Korea used 12.09 MWh of electricity in 2025, 3.9 times as much as in Vietnam (3.09 MWh).
  • Low carbon sources supplied 39.9% of South Korea's electricity in 2025 and 46.1% of Vietnam's.
  • Electricity demand in 2025 was 628 TWh in South Korea and 337 TWh in Vietnam.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics
Measure South Korea Vietnam
Total generation628 TWh329 TWh
Electricity demand628 TWh337 TWh
Demand per person12.09 MWh3.09 MWh
Carbon intensity418 gCO2/kWh459 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions262 MtCO2151 MtCO2
Low carbon share39.9%46.1%
Largest sourceCoal 31.1%Coal 47.8%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation
Source South Korea Vietnam
Coal 31.1% 47.8%
Hydro 0.6% 31.0%
Nuclear 29.4% 0.0%
Gas 28.0% 6.0%
Solar 6.0% 10.3%
Wind 0.6% 4.5%
Bioenergy 3.2% 0.4%
Other fossil 1.0% 0.2%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Carbon intensity of electricity in South Korea and Vietnam, 1985 to 2025 Carbon intensity of electricity generated in South Korea and Vietnam each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 418 gCO2/kWh in South Korea and 459 gCO2/kWh in Vietnam. 0 200 400 600 800 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Carbon intensity of electricity generated in South Korea and Vietnam each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 418 gCO2/kWh in South Korea and 459 gCO2/kWh in Vietnam.
Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh
Carbon intensity of electricity in South Korea and Vietnam, 1985 to 2025
YearSouth KoreaVietnam
1985524 gCO2/kWh579 gCO2/kWh
1986431 gCO2/kWh609 gCO2/kWh
1987345 gCO2/kWh632 gCO2/kWh
1988405 gCO2/kWh610 gCO2/kWh
1989383 gCO2/kWh428 gCO2/kWh
1990379 gCO2/kWh320 gCO2/kWh
1991399 gCO2/kWh258 gCO2/kWh
1992427 gCO2/kWh206 gCO2/kWh
1993451 gCO2/kWh198 gCO2/kWh
1994493 gCO2/kWh202 gCO2/kWh
1995479 gCO2/kWh227 gCO2/kWh
1996481 gCO2/kWh235 gCO2/kWh
1997492 gCO2/kWh302 gCO2/kWh
1998463 gCO2/kWh356 gCO2/kWh
1999453 gCO2/kWh301 gCO2/kWh
2000462 gCO2/kWh322 gCO2/kWh
2001475 gCO2/kWh291 gCO2/kWh
2002473 gCO2/kWh344 gCO2/kWh
2003458 gCO2/kWh376 gCO2/kWh
2004463 gCO2/kWh407 gCO2/kWh
2005450 gCO2/kWh462 gCO2/kWh
2006451 gCO2/kWh448 gCO2/kWh
2007474 gCO2/kWh439 gCO2/kWh
2008477 gCO2/kWh422 gCO2/kWh
2009495 gCO2/kWh413 gCO2/kWh
2010500 gCO2/kWh452 gCO2/kWh
2011497 gCO2/kWh408 gCO2/kWh
2012502 gCO2/kWh372 gCO2/kWh
2013512 gCO2/kWh374 gCO2/kWh
2014493 gCO2/kWh404 gCO2/kWh
2015488 gCO2/kWh487 gCO2/kWh
2016489 gCO2/kWh492 gCO2/kWh
2017511 gCO2/kWh433 gCO2/kWh
2018519 gCO2/kWh486 gCO2/kWh
2019497 gCO2/kWh557 gCO2/kWh
2020458 gCO2/kWh531 gCO2/kWh
2021460 gCO2/kWh475 gCO2/kWh
2022438 gCO2/kWh415 gCO2/kWh
2023427 gCO2/kWh467 gCO2/kWh
2024416 gCO2/kWh477 gCO2/kWh
2025418 gCO2/kWh459 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics
Electricity demand per person in South Korea and Vietnam, 1985 to 2025 Electricity demand per person in South Korea and Vietnam each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 12.09 MWh in South Korea and 3.09 MWh in Vietnam. 0 4 8 11 15 198519901995200020052010201520202025
Electricity demand per person in South Korea and Vietnam each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 12.09 MWh in South Korea and 3.09 MWh in Vietnam.
Annual statistics through 2025, MWh
Electricity demand per person in South Korea and Vietnam, 1985 to 2025
YearSouth KoreaVietnam
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
20006.21 MWh0.34 MWh
20016.59 MWh0.39 MWh
20027.02 MWh0.45 MWh
20037.32 MWh0.51 MWh
20047.72 MWh0.58 MWh
20058.14 MWh0.65 MWh
20068.39 MWh0.72 MWh
20078.83 MWh0.80 MWh
20089.15 MWh0.87 MWh
20099.32 MWh0.98 MWh
201010.15 MWh1.10 MWh
201110.55 MWh1.19 MWh
201210.71 MWh1.30 MWh
201310.73 MWh1.40 MWh
201410.69 MWh1.56 MWh
201510.75 MWh1.76 MWh
201610.94 MWh1.92 MWh
201711.20 MWh2.05 MWh
201811.48 MWh2.27 MWh
201911.34 MWh2.45 MWh
202011.13 MWh2.50 MWh
202111.72 MWh2.57 MWh
202212.02 MWh2.68 MWh
202311.93 MWh2.79 MWh
202412.09 MWh3.04 MWh
202512.09 MWh3.09 MWh

South Korea history · Vietnam 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). South Korea vs Vietnam: Electricity Compared. https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/south-korea-vs-vietnam/

Plain text

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

BibTeX 
@misc{wpm_compare_south_korea_vs_vietnam_2025,
  title = {{South Korea vs Vietnam: Electricity Compared}},
  author = {{World Power Monitor}},
  year = {2025},
  note = {Data as of 2025. Data from Ember.},
  url = {https://worldpowermonitor.com/compare/south-korea-vs-vietnam/}
}

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