Top 20 oil producing countries in 2022

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, refined crude oil products produce many of the world's essential and widely-used chemicals.

The EIA explains: "Once crude oil has been extracted from the ground, it is sent to a refinery where different parts of the crude oil are separated into usable petroleum 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 considerably in recent decades. In 2021, the UK produced 809,000 barrels per day, placing it 20th on 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. licenses 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 around 5.4 billion barrels of estimated proven reserves and crude oil production of 971,000 barrels per day, hydrocarbons represent a substantial part of Oman's economy, and crude oil is also the country's biggest export.

18. Angola

Crude oil production for 2021: 1,127,000 barrels per day

Angola is the second largest crude oil producer in Africa after Nigeria. With an output of over 1.1 million barrels per day, the crude oil sector accounts for around a third of Angola's GDP. It is also the country's leading 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 OPEC's largest member by surface area, and a major oil-producing country with 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 OPEC's seventh largest crude producer, with oil output of 1.238 million barrels per day. In terms of reserves, the country has the largest proven reserves in Africa at 48 billion barrels. Crude oil production has fluctuated considerably over the last few decades, but is now close to 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 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 Africa's largest oil producer, with an oil output 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. Given 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 a major oil producer, with 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 United States.

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 it 12th in the world. Kazakhstan is also the 12th largest oil producer in the world, with production 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 around 5.4 million, large oil reserves and 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 a major player in the oil markets, with crude oil production of almost 2.53 million barrels per day. Kuwait has around 102 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, also around 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

Brazil is a major oil-producing country with crude oil production of over 2.9 million barrels per day in 2021. Over the past 10 years, oil production in the country has increased as pre-salt oil production rose by 1.6 million bpd from 2012 to 2019. According to the EIA, "increased growth in pre-salt oil field production will boost Brazil's crude oil production over the next decade, and crude oil exports will likely increase as well."

8. United Arab Emirates

Crude oil production for 2021: 3,091,000 barrels per day

The United Arab Emirates is a member of OPEC, with oil production of nearly 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 reserves of natural gas, with 215 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and the seventh largest proven reserves of oil, with 98 billion barrels.

7.Iran

Crude oil production for 2021: 3,110,000 barrels per day

Iran is one of the world's largest oil producers, producing over 3.1 million barrels a day. Given US sanctions, however, Iran is not producing as much as it could. According to the EIA, the agency "estimates that Iranian production could return to full capacity, at 3.8 million barrels per day (b/d), if the United States lifts sanctions against the oil sector".

6. China

Crude oil production for 2021: 3,988,000 barrels per day

Given China's 1.4 billion inhabitants 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 per day 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 dramatically over the past decade. While the country produced just 1.7 million barrels a day in 2013, Iraq produced almost 4.1 million barrels a day in 2021. With the world's fifth largest proven oil reserves 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 world's fourth-largest oil producer, with crude oil production of 4.439 million barrels per day by 2021. One of the reasons for Canada's high oil production is that the country has the fourth largest proven oil reserves in the world at 168 billion barrels, although the majority of 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 world's third largest oil producer, Saudi Arabia is also home to the world's most valuable oil company, Saudi Aramco, which is worth around $2,000 billion. Since it doesn't 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 a day in August 2022.

2. Russia

Crude oil production for 2021: 10,112,000 barrels per day

As a country endowed with significant resources and land, Russia is the world's second largest oil producer, with an oil output 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 significant oil reserves, the USA 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 United States consumed around 19.89 million barrels of oil per day and the country produced 11.254 million barrels per day.

While the USA 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 rise further.