Crude oil is essential to modern economies.
Because it is needed to produce gasoline and diesel, crude oil indirectly fuels the majority of the world's vehicles. Similarly, the refined products of crude oil produce many of the world's essential and widely used chemicals.
The EIA explains: "Once crude oil is extracted from the ground, it is sent to a refinery where different parts of the crude oil are separated into usable oil products. These petroleum products include gasoline, distillates such as diesel and fuel oil, jet fuel, petrochemical feedstocks, waxes, lubricating oils and asphalt."
20. United Kingdom
Crude oil production for 2021: 809,000 barrels per day
Although it produced up to 3 million barrels per day of oil and other liquids in 1999, production in the UK has fallen dramatically in recent decades. By 2021, the UK was producing 809,000 barrels per day, placing it 20th in our list of the top 20 oil producing countries in 2022. In an attempt to reverse the trend and meet demand, the UK government is expected to offer new products in the North Sea. licences to allow oil and gas companies to potentially increase production.
19. Oman
Crude oil production for 2021: 971,000 barrels per day
Oman is the largest non-OPEC oil and gas producer in the Middle East. With an estimated 5.4 billion barrels of proven reserves and crude oil production of 971,000 barrels per day, hydrocarbons are a substantial part of Oman's economy and crude oil is also the country's largest export.
18. Angola
Crude oil production for 2021: 1 127 000 barrels per day
Angola is the second largest producer of crude oil in Africa after Nigeria. With an output of over 1.1 million barrels per day, the crude oil sector accounts for about one third of Angola's GDP. It is also the country's largest export. Given its production and reserves, Angola is a member of OPEC.
17. Algeria
Crude oil production for 2021: 1 134 000 barrels per day
Algeria is the largest OPEC member by area and a major oil producing country with a crude oil production of 1.134 million barrels per day. With proven crude oil reserves estimated at 12.2 billion barrels, the country has significant hydrocarbon resources and ranks 17th on our list of the top 20 oil producing countries in 2022.
16. Libya
Crude oil production for 2021: 1 238 000 barrels per day
Libya is the seventh largest OPEC crude producer with an oil output of 1.238 million barrels per day. In terms of reserves, the country has the largest proven reserves in Africa with 48 billion barrels. Crude oil production has fluctuated considerably over the past few decades, but is now close to its previous levels.
15. Qatar
Crude oil production for 2021: 1,304,000 barrels per day
Qatar is one of the most developed countries in the Middle East and a major oil producer with an oil output of over 1.3 million barrels per day. In addition to oil, Qatar is the world's largest exporter of LNG. Given its oil and gas production, the oil sector represents a large part of Qatar's economy.
14. Nigeria
Crude oil production for 2021: 1 541 000 barrels per day
Nigeria is the largest oil producer in Africa with an oil production of 1.541 million barrels per day. In addition to having the second largest oil reserves in Africa with 37 billion barrels of proven crude reserves, Nigeria also has the largest natural gas reserves in Africa. Based on its production, Nigeria ranks 14th on our list of the top 20 oil producing countries in 2022.
13. Mexico
Crude oil production for 2021: 1 734 000 barrels per day
Although its oil production has declined since 2004, Mexico is an important oil producer with a crude oil output of 1.734 million barrels per day. In recent years, the Mexican government has attempted to open up the development of new oil fields to reverse the decline in oil production. Mexico is also the second largest exporter of oil to the US.
12.Kazakhstan
Crude oil production for 2021: 1 764 000 barrels per day
Kazakhstan has considerable oil reserves with 30 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves, ranking 12th in the world. Kazakhstan is also the 12th largest oil producer in the world with an output of 1.764 million barrels per day. Given its reserves and production, Kazakhstan is a major oil exporter.
11. Norway
Crude oil production for 2021: 1 776 000 barrels per day
Norway is one of the richest countries in the world with a GDP per capita of $89,202.8. A small population of about 5.4 million, large oil reserves and a crude oil production of 1.776 million barrels per day have helped the country achieve a higher income than its Nordic counterparts, Sweden and Finland.
10. Kuwait
Crude oil production for 2021: 2 527 000 barrels per day
Although a small country, Kuwait is an important player in the oil markets with a crude oil production of about 2.53 million barrels per day. Kuwait has about 102 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, also about 6% of the world total. In recent years, Kuwait has increased its investment in natural gas to diversify its energy production mix.
9. Brazil
Crude oil production for 2021: 2 905 000 barrels per day
Le Brésil est un important pays producteur de pétrole avec une production de pétrole brut de plus de 2,9 millions de barils par jour en 2021. Au cours des 10 dernières années, la production de pétrole dans le pays a augmenté alors que la production de pétrole pré-sel a augmenté de 1,6 million de bpj de 2012 à 2019. Selon l’EIA, “la croissance accrue de la production de gisements de pétrole pré-salifères stimulera la production de pétrole brut du Brésil au cours de la prochaine décennie, et les exportations de pétrole brut augmenteront probablement également”.
8. United Arab Emirates
Crude oil production for 2021: 3 091 000 barrels per day
The United Arab Emirates is an OPEC member with an oil production of almost 3.1 million barrels per day. In addition to being a major oil producer, the UAE plans to increase its natural gas production to meet domestic demand. The UAE has the seventh largest proven natural gas reserves with 215 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and the seventh largest proven oil reserves with 98 billion barrels.
7.Iran
Crude oil production for 2021: 3,110,000 barrels per day
L’Iran est l’un des plus grands producteurs mondiaux de pétrole avec une production de plus de 3,1 millions de barils par jour. Compte tenu des sanctions américaines, cependant, l’Iran ne produit pas autant qu’il le pourrait. Selon l’EIA, l’agence “évalue que la production iranienne pourrait revenir à pleine capacité, à 3,8 millions de barils par jour (b/j), si les États-Unis lèvent les sanctions contre le secteur pétrolier”.
6. China
Crude oil production for 2021: 3 988 000 barrels per day
Given China's 1.4 billion people and growing economy, China consumed 15.3 million barrels per day of oil and other liquids in 2021, while the country produced less than 4 million barrels per day of crude oil in the same year. As a result of this imbalance, China has invested substantial capital to develop oil projects abroad and the country is also a major oil importer.
5. Iraq
Crude oil production for 2021: 4 085 000 barrels per day
Iraq's oil production has increased significantly over the past decade. While the country produced only 1.7 million barrels per day in 2013, Iraq produced nearly 4.1 million barrels per day in 2021. With the fifth largest proven oil reserves in the world at 145 billion barrels, the country has substantial oil production capacity that could help the country develop.
4. Canada
Crude oil production for 2021: 4 439 000 barrels per day
Although not known as a major oil producing country, Canada is in fact the fourth largest oil producer in the world with a crude oil production of 4.439 million barrels per day by 2021. One of the reasons for Canada's large oil production is that the country has the fourth largest proven oil reserves in the world at 168 billion barrels, although the majority of the reserves are more expensive to extract from the oil sands
3. Saudi Arabia
Crude oil production for 2021: 9 313 000 barrels per day
Saudi Arabia has long been known for its large oil reserves and production. Not only is the country the third largest oil producer in the world, but Saudi Arabia is also home to the world's most valuable oil company, Saudi Aramco, which is worth around $2 trillion. Since it does not consume as much oil as it produces, Saudi Arabia is one of the world's leading exporters with crude exports of 7.6 million barrels per day in August 2022.
2. Russia
Crude oil production for 2021: 10 112 000 barrels per day
As a country with significant resources and land, Russia is the second largest oil producer in the world with an oil production of 10,112,000 barrels per day in 2021. Although Western sanctions due to the Russia-Ukraine war have negatively affected the Russian energy industry in 2022, the country is likely to be among the world's top producers in 2022.
1. United States
Crude oil production for 2021: 11 254 000 barrels per day
With the world's largest economy and also large oil reserves, the US is both the world's largest consumer of crude oil and ranks first on our list of the top 15 oil producing countries in 2022. According to the EIA for the year In 2021, the US consumed approximately 19.89 million barrels of oil per day and the country produced 11.254 million barrels per day.
While the US still needs to import millions of barrels a day to fuel its economy, its oil production has more than doubled from 5 million barrels in 2008 and could increase further.
