North Korea energy mix & electricity
In 2024, North Korea generated 27.1 TWh of electricity. Hydropower dominates the mix with 62.7%, followed by coal at 34.1%.
Electricity generation by source in 2024
Share of electricity generation by source, with the change in percentage points over the last ten years.
| Source | TWh | Share | 10-yr Δ pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydro | 17 | 62.7% | +2.8 |
| Coal | 9.23 | 34.1% | −3.2 |
| Oil | 0.7 | 2.6% | −0.2 |
| Solar | 0.17 | 0.6% | +0.6 |
| Total | 27.1 | 100% |
North Korea: electricity in context
In 2024, North Korea generated 27.1 TWh of electricity. That puts it in the same league as Azerbaijan. Hydropower dominates the mix with 62.7%, followed by coal at 34.1%.
The renewable share stood at 63.4%, placing North Korea 47th of 158 ranked countries. That is 30 points above the world average of 33.8%. It is also above the average for Asia (27.3%). Generating one kWh emits about 341 g CO₂e here (world average: 458 g). That makes the grid somewhat cleaner than the world average. In the cleanest-grid ranking, North Korea is 70th of 158.
The decade’s big winner is hydropower, up 4.1 TWh between 2014 and 2024 (plus 2.8 percentage points of the mix). The net effect: renewables gained 3.4 percentage points of share since 2014. Total generation grew by 5.6 TWh over the same period. Carbon intensity dropped from 371 to 341 g/kWh, a 8% cut.
Coal supplies 34.1% of electricity. That is 3.2 percentage points less than in 2014. The peak was 49.7% in 2019. In absolute terms, coal generation peaked in 2019 at 11.9 TWh and has since fallen 22%.
Wind and solar have barely started in North Korea: combined, they produce less than 1% of the power.
Generation per person is 1,023 kWh a year, 26% of the world average of 3,860 kWh. North Korea does not trade electricity with other countries: the grid is not interconnected with any neighbour.
How the power mix has changed
Electricity generation by source since 2000. Switch to shares to see the structural shift independent of demand growth.
Renewables and carbon intensity
North Korea against the world and Asia averages.
Total energy: beyond electricity
Primary energy covers transport, heating and industry too. Per person, that is 6,984 kWh a year (world: 21,654).
Domestic extraction of coal, gas and oil, in energy terms.
Power plants in North Korea
The 31 power plants recorded in North Korea add up to 9.2 GW of capacity, 59% of it Coal. The largest is Pukchang power station at 1,600 MW. The database was last updated in 2021, so newer wind and solar farms and rooftop PV are under-represented.
Largest power plants
| # | Plant | Fuel | Capacity MW | Commissioned | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pukchang power station | Coal | 1,600 | 1976 | Pukchang Thermal Plant Complex |
| 2 | Supung | Hydro | 700 | 1956 | — |
| 3 | East Pyongyang power station | Coal | 500 | 2006 | Ministry of Electric Power |
| 4 | Hamhung | Coal | 500 | — | — |
| 5 | The March 17th Power Plant | Hydro | 482 | — | — |
| 6 | Chongjin City power station | Coal | 450 | 1987 | Ministry of Electric Power |
| 7 | Pochon | Hydro | 400 | — | — |
| 8 | Pyongyang power station | Coal | 400 | 1965 | Pyongyang Power Plant |
| 9 | Rajin | Coal | 400 | — | — |
| 10 | Sunchon power station | Coal | 400 | 1984 | Sunchon Power Plant |
| 11 | Unbong | Hydro | 400 | 1960 | — |
| 12 | Yunfeng | Hydro | 400 | — | — |
| 13 | River Changjin | Hydro | 347 | — | — |
| 14 | Huichon | Hydro | 300 | — | — |
| 15 | Kangge Youth | Hydro | 225 | — | — |
Source: WRI Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0). Explore all 31 plants on the interactive power plant map.
Solar & wind farms: North Korea
1 utility-scale facilities tracked by Global Energy Monitor (2026): 0 MW of solar and 0 MW of wind operating, plus 0 MW under construction or planned.
See them on the mapLargest solar & wind farms: North Korea →
How does North Korea compare?
North Korea next to 6 neighbouring countries, plus regional and world averages. Click a column to sort; use “Compare” for full side-by-side charts.
| Country | Renewable % | Low-carbon % | Fossil % | gCO₂/kWh | kWh / person | Generation TWh | Mix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Korea | 63.4% | 63.4% | 36.6% | 341 | 1,023 | 27.1 | — | |
| China | 37% | 41.7% | 58.3% | 525 | 7,474 | 10,583 | Compare | |
| Russia | 17.4% | 35.7% | 64.3% | 450 | 8,283 | 1,193 | Compare | |
| South Korea | 10.4% | 40% | 60% | 417 | 12,090 | 625 | Compare | |
| Japan | 23.6% | 32.7% | 67.3% | 477 | 8,366 | 1,030 | Compare | |
| Mongolia | 8.4% | 8.4% | 91.6% | 816 | 2,755 | 9.7 | Compare | |
| Taiwan | 12.2% | 13.4% | 86.6% | 633 | 12,478 | 288 | Compare | |
| Asia average | 27.3% | 32.1% | 67.9% | 573 | 3,749 | 18,015 | Compare | |
| World average | 33.8% | 42.6% | 57.4% | 458 | 3,860 | 31,772 | Compare |
Calculators for North Korea
North Korea energy: frequently asked questions
What percentage of electricity in North Korea is renewable?
What is the main source of electricity in North Korea?
How clean is the electricity in North Korea?
Does North Korea have nuclear power?
How much electricity does North Korea use per person?
How much solar power does North Korea produce?
More countries in Asia
Sources & references
- Our World in Data: Energy dataset (CC BY 4.0) — compiled from the sources below
- Ember: Yearly Electricity Data — generation, shares, carbon intensity
- Energy Institute: Statistical Review of World Energy — primary energy, fossil production
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: International Energy Data — gap-filling for smaller countries
- World Resources Institute: Global Power Plant Database v1.3 (CC BY 4.0) — power plant locations and capacity
Electricity data: Ember and Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data (CC BY 4.0); latest year 2024. Power plants: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). Rankings exclude systems under 1 TWh and values older than 2020. Figures may be revised by the original publishers.