Energy Facts

Germany is the most populated country in Europe and Korea is the third most populated one in East Asia.

Both countries (2021)

Source: World Bank Database (2021)

Korea and Germany are both high-income countries in international comparison.

Source:World Bank Database (2022)

Taking into account the different population sizes, a different image of total final energy consumption results: In Germany total final energy consumption per capita is slightly below the IEA member average of 2.9 toe, while Korea notably exceeds it. Korea overtook Germany in per capita energy consumption in 2002.

Both countries: 2021

Source: Enerdata

Among the 37 OECD countries, Korea has the fifth highest energy intensity. Between 1990 and 2015, OECD countries on average managed to decrease energy intensity by 30%. While Germany reduced its energy intensity by 40%, Korea only decreased it by 13% within the same period. Korea’s 3^rd Energy Master Plan from 2019 has set the target to decrease energy intensity by 38% by 2030 as compared to 2017.

Both countries: World Bank Database

Germany and Korea are both highly industrialized countries with an export-oriented economy. The industrial sector (incl. construction) accounts for a major contribution to both countries’ GDP.

Both countries (2021): World Bank

Industry accounts for the highest share in final energy consumption in both countries. 

Both countries (2021): IEA - Germany, IEA - Korea

Innovative vehicle technologies and alternative fuels are crucial to shift from fossil fuel based to more sustainable forms of transportation. Germany and Korea assign electric and hydrogen mobility great potential.

Both countries (2020): IEA - Germany, IEA - Korea

Although energy intensity in the residential sector in Germany and Korea does not differ, the German residential sector’s share in final energy consumption is more than twice as high as that of Korea.

Both countries (2020): IEA - Germany, IEA - Korea

Both countries account for similar amounts of total primary energy supply. Germany supplied 2.3% and Korea 2.2% of world energy in 2018, making them the sixth-largest and the eighth-largest energy consumer. Both countries’ energy supply mix is still composed to a large share by fossil fuels: In 2018, Coal, gas and oil accounted for 78% of primary energy supply in Germany and for 85% in Korea.

Both countries (2020): IEA - Korea, IEA - Germany

Germany and Korea account for comparable values of carbon intensity that indicates the amount of CO2 emissions associated with a unit of energy supply.

Both countries (2022): Climate Transparency - Korea, Climate Transparency - Germany

Korea and Germany both depend on energy imports to satisfy their energy demand. Increasing the share of renewables in the energy mix and raising energy efficiency can contribute to achieving higher levels of energy self-sufficiency and increased energy security.

Both countries (2021): Eurostat (Germany), MOFA (Korea)