South Korea

In brief

Access to electricity: 100% (2024). World rank 1 of 214 (1 = best); in Asia, 1 of 49. Research spending, share of GDP: 4.9% (2023). World rank 3 of 115 (1 = best); in Asia, 2 of 36. Researchers per million people: 9,472 (2023). World rank 2 of 106 (1 = best); in Asia, 1 of 33. From 2015 to 2025: electricity use 10,508 → 12,071 (kWh per person) and electricity from fossil fuels 66% → 58.7%. Better than all its neighbours (North Korea): access to electricity. Worse than all its neighbours (North Korea): renewable share of energy use, electricity from renewables, and electricity from fossil fuels.