Oil: Production Volume, by country
CountryProduction,
in million metric tons
U.S.United States of America796.6
Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia573.1
RussiaRussia535.1
CanadaCanada274.0
IraqIraq221.3
ChinaChina204.7
UAEUnited Arab Emirates181.1
IranIran176.5
BrazilBrazil163.1
KuwaitKuwait145.7
  • Region: Worldwide
  • Time period: 2022
  • Published: Jan 2024

Data Analysis and Insights

Updated: Mar 27, 2024 | Published by: Statistico | About Us | Data sources

United States leads in oil production

The United States holds the top position in oil production with a staggering 796.6 million metric tons, outpacing its closest competitor, Saudi Arabia, by 223.5 million metric tons. This significant margin underscores the United States' dominance in the global oil market.

Top three producers

United States, Saudi Arabia, and Russia collectively produced 1,904.8 million metric tons of oil, accounting for a substantial portion of the global output. Their combined production is a testament to their pivotal roles in the energy sector.

Middle Eastern countries' significant contribution

Countries from the Middle East, namely Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Iran, and Kuwait, collectively contributed 1,297.7 million metric tons to global oil production. This demonstrates the region's critical importance in satisfying the world's oil demand.

Canada and Brazil's notable positions

Canada and Brazil, with 274.0 and 163.1 million metric tons respectively, are the leading oil producers in the Americas after the United States. Their significant output highlights the Americas' role in global energy supply chains.

Asian countries in the global oil landscape

China, the largest oil producer in Asia, produced 204.7 million metric tons, followed by Iran and UAE from the Middle East, with 176.5 and 181.1 million metric tons respectively. These figures underscore Asia's critical role alongside the Middle East in the oil industry.

Concentration of production among top countries

The top three oil-producing countries account for approximately 47% of the production among the listed countries, indicating a significant concentration of oil production capabilities in a few countries. This concentration has implications for global energy politics and market dynamics.

Comparative analysis of production volumes

The production volume of the United States is more than four times that of Kuwait, the tenth-largest producer, which has a production of 145.7 million metric tons. This comparison highlights the vast disparities in production capabilities among the world's top oil producers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which country holds the leading position in oil production?

The United States leads in oil production with a total of 796.6 million metric tons.

Who are the top three global oil producers?

The top three global oil producers are the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Russia, producing a combined total of 1,904.8 million metric tons of oil.

What is the collective contribution of Middle Eastern countries to global oil production?

Middle Eastern countries Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Iran, and Kuwait collectively contribute 1,297.7 million metric tons to global oil production.

What percentage of oil production is accounted for by the top three producing countries?

The top three oil-producing countries account for approximately 47% of the production among the listed countries.

Terms and Definitions

Oil production refers to the process of extracting crude oil from the earth. This process includes locating potential oil reserves, drilling into the ground to access these reserves, and running operations to extract and process the oil into a variety of products such as gasoline, diesel, and various types of petrochemicals.

Production volume is a measure of how much of a certain product a company, industry, or in this case, a country, produces over a given period. In the context of oil, the production volume refers to the amount of oil barrels produced per day.

Crude oil is a naturally occurring, unrefined petroleum product composed of hydrocarbon deposits and other organic materials. Crude oil is processed and refined to create products such as gasoline, heating oil, and diesel, among others. It's a leading source of fuel and energy worldwide.

Oil reserves are the amount of technically and economically recoverable oil in the ground. Reserves are distinguished from resources, in that the former implies a level of technical and commercial certainty about the viability of extracting the oil.

Oil refining is a complex process by which crude oil is transformed into finished products such as gasoline, jet fuel, diesel, heating oil and asphalt. Different components of crude oil have separate applications, and the refining process helps to separate and maximize these components.

A barrel of oil is a standard unit of measure used in the oil industry, internationally agreed to be equivalent to about 159 liters or 42 gallons. Oil production and trading often uses this unit.

The upstream sector in the oil industry refers to the identification of oil reservoirs, drilling of wells, and extraction of oil. This sector is also known as the exploration and production (E&P) sector.

The downstream sector represents all oil-related activities occurring after the production phase through to the point of sale. This includes refining, processing, transporting, distributing, and marketing oil products.

OPEC, or the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, is an intergovernmental organization of 13 countries founded in 1960. The organization serves to coordinate and unify petroleum policies among member countries, in order to secure fair and stable prices for petroleum producers.