Republic of Korea

Eastern Asia, Asia

CO2 emissions per person
11.3
t CO2/person/year · 2024
21st of 213 countries
Temperature anomaly
0.99
°C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
46th of 193 countries
Renewable energy share
4.75
% of primary energy · 2024
62nd of 79 countries
Air pollution (PM2.5)
21.0
µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
77th of 241 countries
19402025

Republic of Korea in stripes: every year since 1940, blue cooler than the 1991-2020 average, red hotter.

The future under three scenarios

Temperature vs 1991-2020, observed and projected to 2100

051950200020502100Low · SSP1-2.6Middle · SSP2-4.5High · SSP5-8.5high 2024low 1947

Solid line: observed (Copernicus ERA5). Dashed lines: CMIP6 multi-model median under three IPCC emissions scenarios, anchored to the observed 2015-2024 average, from the World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. Scenarios are futures the world can still choose between, not predictions.

Climate

CO2 emissions

583.7 Mt CO2/year · 2024
+64% since 19949th highest of 215 · 2024
0200400600192019401960198020002020high 2018

Carbon dioxide released each year from burning fossil fuels and industry. The main driver of global warming. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

CO2 emissions per person

11.3 t CO2/person/year · 2024
+43% since 199421st highest of 213 · 2024
0510192019401960198020002020high 2018

Each person's share of their country's yearly CO2 emissions. A fairer way to compare countries of very different sizes. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Temperature anomaly

0.99 °C vs 1991-2020 · 2025
+1.7 °C since 199546th highest of 193 · 2025
-20219401960198020002020Worldhigh 2024low 1947

How much warmer or cooler a country's year was compared with its 1991-2020 average. Watch the map turn red as you move the slider towards today. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Methane emissions

39.7 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+39% since 199444th highest of 199 · 2024
020401850190019502000

Methane traps around 80 times more heat than CO2 over 20 years. It comes mainly from livestock, rice, landfill and leaky fossil fuel infrastructure. Global Carbon Project / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

All greenhouse gases

630.6 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
+61% since 199415th highest of 199 · 2024
02004006001850190019502000high 2018low 1895

Every warming gas combined: CO2, methane and nitrous oxide, expressed as CO2-equivalents. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Nitrous oxide emissions

13.7 Mt CO2e/year · 2024
-3.7% since 199444th highest of 201 · 2024
010201850190019502000high 1997

N2O is nearly 300 times more warming than CO2 and comes mostly from fertilised farmland and livestock. Jones et al. / PRIMAP via Our World in Data

Consumption-based CO2

708.9 Mt CO2/year · 2023
+68% since 19938th highest of 120 · 2023
05001990200020102020high 2018

CO2 counted where goods are used rather than where they are made. Compare with production emissions to see who imports their footprint. Global Carbon Budget via Our World in Data

Aviation emissions per person

285.4 kg CO2/person/year · 2024
+34% since 201333rd highest of 119 · 2024
0100200300201420162018202020222024World

Each person's share of the CO2 from flights taking off in their country, including passengers and freight. ICCT / Graver et al. via Our World in Data

Energy

Renewable energy share

4.75 % of primary energy · 2024
+4.3 pp since 199462nd highest of 79 · 2024
024197019801990200020102020low 2001

The slice of a country's energy that comes from renewables such as wind, solar and hydro. Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data

Fossil fuel share

82.5 % of primary energy · 2024
-7.1 pp since 199437th highest of 79 · 2024
050100197019801990200020102020high 1977

The slice of a country's energy still coming from coal, oil and gas. The number the world is trying to shrink. Energy Institute Statistical Review via Our World in Data

Energy use per person

69,922 kWh/person/year · 2024
+93% since 199412th highest of 79 · 2024
020k40k60k197019801990200020102020

How much energy each person uses in a year, across electricity, transport, heating and industry. Energy Institute / Ember via Our World in Data

Solar electricity

6.05 % of electricity · 2025
+6.0 pp since 199544th highest of 90 · 2025
02461990200020102020

The share of a country's electricity generated from solar panels. The fastest-growing energy source in history. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Wind electricity

0.58 % of electricity · 2025
+0.6 pp since 199569th highest of 88 · 2025
00.20.40.61990200020102020

The share of a country's electricity generated from wind turbines, onshore and offshore. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Coal electricity

31.1 % of electricity · 2025
-4.2 pp since 199519th highest of 89 · 2025
020401990200020102020high 2009low 1991

The share of electricity still generated by burning coal, the most polluting fuel. The number that must reach zero first. Ember / Energy Institute via Our World in Data

Electric car sales

11.0 % of new cars · 2025
+11 pp since 201039th highest of 59 · 2025
010202010201520202025World

The share of newly sold cars that are electric. Norway crossed 90% in the early 2020s; most of the world is following. International Energy Agency via Our World in Data

Oil electricity

0.95 % of electricity · 2025
-14 pp since 199559th highest of 90 · 2025
01020301990200020102020

The share of a country's electricity generated by burning oil. Rare on big grids, still common on islands. Ember via Our World in Data

Gas electricity

27.9 % of electricity · 2025
+14 pp since 199534th highest of 87 · 2025
01020301990200020102020high 2021low 1986

The share of a country's electricity generated from natural gas, the least polluting fossil fuel but still a fossil fuel. Ember via Our World in Data

Land & Life

Tree cover loss

15,595 ha/year · 2024
+189% since 200175th highest of 197 · 2024
010k20k2005201020152020high 2022low 2003

Forest area lost each year to fire, logging, farming and storms. Not all loss is permanent deforestation, but the trend matters. Global Forest Watch (Hansen/UMD) via Our World in Data

Forest area

64.3 % of land · 2025
-2.4 pp since 199524th highest of 212 · 2025
02040601990200020102020World

How much of a country's land is covered by forest. FAO via Our World in Data

Deaths from natural disasters

0.00 deaths/year · 2021
-100% since 200089th highest of 194 · 2021
010020030020002005201020152020high 2002

People killed by floods, storms, droughts, heatwaves, earthquakes and other disasters each year. Single events dominate single years. IHME Global Burden of Disease via Our World in Data

Red List Index

0.68 index (1 = species safe) · 2024
-16% since 1994219th highest of 244 · 2024
00.5200020102020low 2023

Tracks extinction risk across all assessed species. 1 means no species at risk; falling values mean wildlife sliding towards extinction. IUCN / SDG 15.5.1 via Our World in Data

Protected land

17.4 % of land area · 2024
+11 pp since 2013103rd highest of 213 · 2024
051015201420162018202020222024World

The share of a country's land under legal protection for nature. The global 30x30 target aims for 30% by 2030. World Bank / UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Meat supply per person

84.0 kg/person/year · 2023
+148% since 199337th highest of 176 · 2023
050198020002020Worldlow 1962

Meat available for consumption per person. Livestock drives around 15% of global emissions and most deforestation. FAO via Our World in Data

Nitrogen fertiliser use

139.8 kg N/ha of cropland · 2023
-40% since 199313th highest of 198 · 2023
0100200198020002020high 1997low 1964

Nitrogen applied per hectare of cropland. It feeds half the world, but runoff chokes rivers and coastal seas. FAO via Our World in Data

Marine protected areas

2.20 % of territorial waters · 2024
+1.2 pp since 201383rd highest of 174 · 2024
051015201420162018202020222024World

How much of a country's coastal waters are protected for nature. The global goal is 30% by 2030. UNEP-WCMC via Our World in Data

Urban population

81.2 % living in cities · 2025
+2.8 pp since 199565th highest of 236 · 2025
0501960198020002020Worldhigh 2010

The share of people living in towns and cities. Urbanisation shapes energy use, land use and how people experience climate change. UN World Urbanization Prospects via Our World in Data

Water

Water stress

85.2 % of renewable resources withdrawn · 2022
+4.4 pp since 200021st highest of 179 · 2022
05020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2005

How much of a country's renewable freshwater is withdrawn each year. Above 25% counts as stressed; above 100% means drawing down reserves. FAO AQUASTAT (SDG 6.4.2) via Our World in Data

Renewable water per person

1,255 m³/person/year · 2022
-15% since 1992120th highest of 181 · 2022
05k10k198020002020Worldlow 2020

Each person's share of the country's renewable freshwater. Below 1,700 m³ is water stress; below 1,000 m³ is scarcity. FAO AQUASTAT via Our World in Data

Safely managed drinking water

99.3 % of population · 2024
+2.1 pp since 200230th highest of 159 · 2024
0501002005201020152020World

The share of people with safe drinking water at home, available when needed and free from contamination. WHO/UNICEF JMP via Our World in Data

Annual precipitation

1,270 mm/year · 2025
+27% since 199567th highest of 192 · 2025
05001k1.5k19401960198020002020Worldhigh 1956low 1942

Total rain and snow that fell over a country in a year, averaged across its land area. Copernicus Climate Change Service (ERA5) via Our World in Data

Rainfall anomaly

-3.40 % vs 1961-1990 · 2025
+21 pp since 199588th highest of 192 · 2025
-50019401960198020002020Worldhigh 1956low 1942

How much wetter (teal) or drier (brown) a country's year was compared with its 1961-1990 average. A simple drought and deluge signal. Derived from Copernicus ERA5 precipitation via Our World in Data

Safely managed sanitation

99.3 % of population · 2024
+12 pp since 20008th highest of 145 · 2024
05010020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2023

The share of people whose toilet waste is safely treated rather than left to contaminate water and soil. WHO/UNICEF JMP via Our World in Data

Pollution

Air pollution (PM2.5)

21.0 µg/m³ annual mean · 2024
+19% since 199877th highest of 241 · 2024
010203020002005201020152020Worldhigh 2016low 1999

Average exposure to fine particles small enough to enter the bloodstream. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³. World Bank / van Donkelaar et al. via Our World in Data

Ozone-depleting substances

1,053 ODP tonnes/year · 2021
-97% since 19892nd highest of 168 · 2021
020k40k1990200020102020high 1992

Consumption of chemicals that destroy the ozone layer. Watch the map fade towards zero: the Montreal Protocol is the world's most successful environmental treaty. UN Environment Programme via Our World in Data

What can one person do?

Fossil fuels still supply 82% of the energy used here, so switching your home to a genuinely renewable tariff matters.

  • Fly less
    One long-haul return flight can outweigh a year of other savings. Swap one flight for a train trip or a call.
  • Eat more plants
    Shifting towards a plant-rich diet is one of the largest steady cuts a person can make, and it starts with single meals.
  • Travel without a car where you can
    Walking, cycling and public transport beat an electric car; an electric car beats petrol.
  • Use your voice
    Personal footprints matter, but system change matters more. Vote, ask your employer and bank what they are doing, and talk about it.

Based on the highest-impact personal actions identified by Wynes & Nicholas (2017) and the IPCC's AR6 report on demand-side mitigation.

Compare with neighbours