Global GridNorth Korea's energy mix and electricity
🇰🇵 In 2024, North Korea generated 27.1 TWh of electricity. The largest source was hydro at 63%, followed by coal (34%) and oil and other fossil fuels (2.6%). In total, 63% came from low-carbon sources (nuclear and renewables) and 37% from fossil fuels.
On average, each kilowatt hour produced about 341 grams of carbon dioxide (CO₂), below the world average of 458 grams in 2025. That makes North Korea the 70th cleanest of 158 countries that generate at least 1 TWh a year.
Electricity demand was 27.1 TWh. Its electricity imports and exports were roughly in balance.
Since 2000, electricity generation has grown by 40%, from 19.3 TWh. The low-carbon share went from 52% to 64%. The biggest rise was in hydro, from 52% to 63% of generation. The biggest fall was in coal, from 44% to 34%. Carbon intensity fell from 435 to 341 grams per kWh.
Live, hour-by-hour figures for North Korea are not connected yet. The dashboard shows its yearly figures, energy mix since 2000 and interconnector trade.
Energy mix in 2024
- Hydro 63%
- Coal 34%
- Oil and other fossil fuels 2.6%
- Solar 0.6%
| Source | Share | Generated |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 63% | 17.0 TWh |
| Coal | 34% | 9.24 TWh |
| Oil and other fossil fuels | 2.6% | 0.70 TWh |
| Solar | 0.6% | 0.16 TWh |
Energy security score
Strong. North Korea ranks 22nd of 158 countries and 2nd of 46 in Asia. The score shows how well a country could keep electricity affordable and on if fuel supplies were disrupted. It is based on 4 of the 5 measures.
| Measure | Score |
|---|---|
| Produces its own energy No reliable figure exists for North Korea, so this measure is left out and the other four count for more. | n/a |
| Variety of power sources How evenly generation is spread across nine sources. The largest, hydro, made 63%. | 55 |
| Little reliance on imported power North Korea exported more electricity than it imported, so it scores full marks. | 100 |
| Low-carbon power Nuclear and renewables made 63% of generation. | 63 |
| Low gas and oil use Gas and oil made 2.6% of generation; the score is 100 minus that share. | 97 |
The five measures are weighted 30%, 20%, 20%, 15% and 15%. How the score works.
Oil and gas pipelines
Global Energy Monitor lists 12 km of oil and gas pipelines operating in North Korea, 0 km being built and 0 km proposed (lengths measured along the mapped routes; a pipeline crossing borders counts in full for each country).
See them on the interactive map · Pipelines around the world
How it has changed
| Year | Generated | Low-carbon | Fossil | CO₂ g/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 19.3 TWh | 52% | 48% | 435 |
| 2005 | 22.8 TWh | 57% | 43% | 394 |
| 2010 | 23.6 TWh | 56% | 43% | 404 |
| 2015 | 18.9 TWh | 52% | 47% | 433 |
| 2020 | 24.1 TWh | 53% | 47% | 424 |
| 2023 | 26.7 TWh | 63% | 38% | 346 |
| 2024 | 27.1 TWh | 64% | 37% | 341 |
Questions about North Korea's energy
What is North Korea's energy mix?
In 2024, North Korea's electricity came from hydro 63%, coal 34%, oil and other fossil fuels 2.6% and solar 0.6%.
How much of North Korea's electricity is renewable?
63% of its electricity came from renewables in 2024 (hydro 63% and solar 0.6%).
What is North Korea's main source of electricity?
Hydro, which made 63% of its electricity in 2024.
How clean is North Korea's electricity?
About 341 grams of CO₂ for each kilowatt hour in 2024, below the world average of 458 grams. It ranks 70th cleanest of 158 countries that generate at least 1 TWh a year.
Does North Korea import electricity?
Its imports and exports were roughly in balance in 2024.
How secure is North Korea's energy supply?
Global Grid's energy security score for North Korea is 79 out of 100 (strong), 22nd of 158 countries. It looks at how much of its own energy it produces, how varied its power sources are, its reliance on imported power and its use of low-carbon power, gas and oil.
Other countries in Asia
Sources: Ember yearly electricity data (CC BY 4.0), figures up to 2024; pipelines and LNG terminals from Global Energy Monitor's Global Oil Infrastructure Tracker (June 2026 release) and Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker (November 2025 release) (CC BY 4.0). Ember's latest-year figures are first estimates and may be revised. TWh: terawatt hours (one billion kWh).