South Korea
CO\u2082 per capita
World Bank WDI (2023)
GDP
World Bank (2023)
Renewable electricity
↑ +4.3pp (5yr)
Ember (2023)
Vulnerability
ND-GAIN (2022)
- CO₂ at 11.4t per capita — high by global standards
- Renewable electricity at 9.0%, up 4.3pp over 5 years
- Climate vulnerability: medium risk (ND-GAIN 0.358)
South Korea
CO₂ per capita, 2023
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Emissions Trajectory
Emissions are shifting. But is it enough?
Pre-Paris (2000-2014)
South Korea's emissions grew at +1.62%/yr. The long-term CAGR (2000-2023) was +0.61%/yr.
Post-Paris, the rate shifted to -1.25%/yr — a -2.85pp shift. Per capita emissions reached 11.4t in 2023.
South Korea — CO₂ per capita (2000-2023)
Source: World Bank WDI + OWID Consumption
Post-Paris Shift
This ranks 4th largest deceleration among tracked countries. Overall change since 2000: +15.1%.
Pre-Paris vs Post-Paris CAGR
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Source: World Bank WDI
World Bank vs Climate TRACE
CO₂ per capita comparison
Source: World Bank WDI vs Climate TRACE v7
Fossil Fuel Mix
Fossil fuels still make up 61.8% of the electricity mix. In 2023, Coal was the dominant source at 263.9 Mt CO₂.
Fossil CO₂ by Fuel Type
Source: Our World in Data
Energy Transition
The energy transition is underway.
Renewables Progress
9.0% of electricity comes from renewables. That is +4.3pp over 5 years. Fossil fuels still make up 61.8%.
Carbon intensity: 438 gCO₂/kWh. Renewable transition ranks 4th.
Electricity Generation Mix (2023)
Source: Ember Global Electricity Review (2023)
9.0%
Renewable Share
+4.3pp over 5yr
61.8%
Fossil Fuel Share
29.2%
Nuclear & Other
438
gCO₂/kWh
High-carbon
Economic Decoupling
Is GDP growth decoupled from emissions growth?
Decoupling Score
Score: +6.30. South Korea shows moderate decoupling. GDP grew faster than emissions by +2.73pp/yr since 2015 (4th among tracked countries).
GDP vs CO₂ Growth
Indexed to 2000=100
Source: World Bank WDI + OWID CO₂/GDP
20.1 Gt
Cumulative CO₂
Total since 1850
1.11%
Share of global
Cumulative share since 1850
0.011°C
Warming caused
by this country
Gas Breakdown
CO₂ dominates the warming contribution, followed by methane. N₂O contribution is relatively small. Total warming contribution: 0.011°C.
Temperature Contribution by Gas
Source: Our World in Data
632.9 Mt
Total GHG
All greenhouse gases
12.2
tCO₂e/capita
Total GHG per person
4th
Global rank
Largest deceleration
Methane & Nitrous Oxide
Source: Our World in Data
Climate Vulnerability & Resilience
How prepared is South Korea?
Readiness & Vulnerability
South Korea ranks 1st in climate readiness (score: 0.722). Vulnerability stands at 0.357 — indicating moderate climate exposure.
medium risk. 한국은 고소득 아시아 국가로, 기후 적응 준비도(0.72)는 6개 파일럿 국가 중 가장 높지만 온실가스 배출 측면에서는 여전히 상당한 과제를 안고 있습니다. 1인당 CO2 배출량 11.4 mt는 독일(7.1 mt)보다 높으며, 전력 믹스에서 화석연료 비중이 61.2%에 달합니다. 재생에너지 전력 비중은 2018년 4.7%에서 2023년 9.6%로 두 배 이상 증가했으나, 글로벌 평균에 비해 여전히 낮습니다. 미세먼지(PM2.5 25.9 µg/m³)는 OECD 최하위 수준으로 공중보건과 기후정책 이중 과제를 안고 있습니다. 긍정적으로는 GDP 대비 탄소 집약도가 꾸준히 개선(0.373 → 0.320)되고 있으며, 탈동조화 지수도 개선 추세입니다. 2030 NDC 목표 달성을 위해 재생에너지 가속 전환, 중공업 수소화, 원전 지속 활용, 탄소시장 고도화 등 복합적 정책 조합이 필요합니다. Fossil fuel dependency (61.8%) remains a key driver.
Vulnerability vs Readiness
Source: ND-GAIN Country Index 2023
Key Vulnerabilities
- ▸화석연료 전력 의존도 높음 (61.2%, 석탄·LNG 중심)
- ▸높은 1인당 에너지 소비 및 탄소 배출 (11.4 mt CO2, OECD 상위권)
- ▸미세먼지 문제 심각 (PM2.5 25.9 µg/m³, OECD 최하위 수준)
- ▸재생에너지 전환 지연 (9.6%, EU·미국 대비 현저히 낮음)
- ▸중공업·반도체 제조 산업의 탈탄소화 기술 전환 필요
Strengths
- ▸높은 기후 적응 준비도 (ND-GAIN 준비도 0.72, 6개국 중 1위)
- ▸탈동조화 진전 (decoupling 지수 4.36 → 6.30, GDP 성장 중 배출 감소)
- ▸전력 탄소 집약도 개선 (518.8 → 427.3 gCO2/kWh, 17.6% 감소)
Key Takeaways
South Korea at a glance
Emissions
CO₂/capita: 11.4t. Post-Paris trend: -1.25%/yr.
Diagnosis
Renewable: 9.0%
Fossil: 61.8%
Decoupling: +6.30.
Outlook
Vulnerability: 0.357. Readiness: 0.722. medium risk.
Data Sources
All data for South Korea sourced from World Bank WDI, Ember, ND-GAIN, Our World in Data, and Climate TRACE (2000-2023).
View detailed source list
Data Sources
Derived Indicators — Methodology
Carbon Intensity of GDP (DERIVED.CO2_PER_GDP)
CO₂_per_capita ÷ GDP_per_capita × 1,000
Unit: tCO₂ per $1,000 GDP. Lower = cleaner economy. 2023 range: DEU 0.13 → KOR 0.32.
Decoupling Index (DERIVED.DECOUPLING)
GDP_growth_rate(%) − CO₂_growth_rate(%)
Unit: percentage points. Positive = economy growing faster than emissions.
Energy Transition Momentum (DERIVED.ENERGY_TRANSITION)
RENEWABLE_PCT(t) − RENEWABLE_PCT(t−5)
Unit: pp over 5 years. 2023: DEU +19.2pp, BRA +6.6pp, USA +5.2pp, KOR +4.9pp.
Emissions (5)
| Indicator | Source | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon intensity of GDP | Derived: EN.GHG.CO2.PC.CE.AR5 / NY.GDP.PCAP.CD * 1000 | 2000–2023 |
| Emissions intensity | derived | 2000–2023 |
| CO2 per capita | World Bank WDI | 2000–2023 |
| Decoupling index | Derived: GDP growth% - CO2 growth% | 2001–2023 |
| Total GHG (absolute) | Climate TRACE | 2015–2023 |
Energy (5)
| Indicator | Source | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Fossil electricity % | Ember/OWID | 2000–2023 |
| Carbon intensity | Ember/OWID | 2000–2022 |
| Renewable electricity % | Ember/OWID | 2000–2023 |
| Energy use per capita | World Bank WDI | 2000–2023 |
| Energy transition momentum | Derived: EMBER.RENEWABLE.PCT(t) - EMBER.RENEWABLE.PCT(t-5) | 2005–2022 |
Economy (1)
| Indicator | Source | Years |
|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita | World Bank WDI | 2000–2023 |
Climate Risk (4)
| Indicator | Source | Years |
|---|---|---|
| ND-GAIN Vulnerability | ND-GAIN | 2000–2022 |
| Forest area | World Bank WDI | 2000–2022 |
| PM2.5 air pollution | World Bank WDI | 2000–2020 |
| ND-GAIN Readiness | ND-GAIN | 2000–2023 |
Derived (29)
| Indicator | Source | Years |
|---|---|---|
| OWID.OIL_CO2 | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.NITROUS_OXIDE | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.CEMENT_CO2 | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.SHARE_GLOBAL_CO2 | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.ENERGY_PER_CAPITA | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.NITROUS_OXIDE_PER_CAPITA | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.CO2 | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.ENERGY_PER_GDP | OWID CO2 | 2000–2022 |
| SP.POP.TOTL | World Bank WDI | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.CONSUMPTION_CO2 | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.GHG_PER_CAPITA | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.GAS_CO2 | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.TEMPERATURE_CHANGE_FROM_N2O | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.CO2_PER_CAPITA | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.METHANE_PER_CAPITA | OWID CO2 | 2000–2022 |
| OWID.CONSUMPTION_CO2_PER_CAPITA | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.FLARING_CO2 | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.TOTAL_GHG | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.CO2_PER_GDP | OWID CO2 | 2000–2022 |
| OWID.METHANE | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.TEMPERATURE_CHANGE_FROM_CO2 | OWID CO2 | 2000–2022 |
| OWID.TEMPERATURE_CHANGE_FROM_CH4 | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.CO2_INCLUDING_LUC | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.CUMULATIVE_CO2 | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.TEMPERATURE_CHANGE_FROM_GHG | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.TOTAL_GHG_EXCLUDING_LUCF | OWID CO2 | 2000–2022 |
| OWID.SHARE_GLOBAL_CUMULATIVE_CO2 | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| OWID.COAL_CO2 | OWID CO2 | 2000–2023 |
| DERIVED.CLIMATE_CLASS | VisualClimate derived | 2023–2023 |