Ranked: Which Countries Use the Most Oil Per Person?

Where Are the World’s Largest Oil Reserves?

Oil remains vital to global transportation, industry, and trade, making the location of its reserves strategically important.

At the end of 2025, the world held an estimated 1.8 trillion barrels of oil reserves. However, the regions with the largest reserves aren’t necessarily the ones producing the most oil.

This graphic ranks global oil reserves by region, highlighting where these valuable energy resources are located.

The data for this visualization comes from Eni’s World Energy Review 2026, using oil reserves as of December 31, 2025. Regional classifications follow Eni’s definitions.

The Middle East Dominates Global Oil Reserves

The Middle East leads by a wide margin, with 870.9 billion barrels of oil reserves, representing 48.3% of the global total.

Saudi Arabia holds about 267.2 billion barrels, followed by Iran at 208.6 billion and Iraq at 145.0 billion.

The United Arab Emirates adds another 113.0 billion barrels, highlighting how much oil is concentrated in a handful of countries.

Despite holding nearly half of global reserves, the Middle East is the world’s second-largest oil-producing region, generating approximately 31 million barrels per day in 2025.

Saudi Arabia is the region’s largest producer, at 9.6 million barrels per day. However, its active oil rig count fell to a 20-year low in 2025 as energy investment increasingly shifted toward natural gas production.

Venezuela Accounts for 86% of Its Region’s Oil Reserves

Central and South America ranks second with 354.8 billion barrels, or 19.7% of the world’s oil reserves. Most of this total, however, comes from a single country: Venezuela.

With 303.4 billion barrels, Venezuela holds approximately 86% of the region’s reserves and has the world’s largest national oil reserves.

Despite this enormous resource base, Venezuela’s oil production has been constrained by the challenges of extracting its extra-heavy crude, alongside economic and infrastructure difficulties.

North America Ranks Third

North America holds 246.0 billion barrels of oil reserves, accounting for 13.6% of the global total.

Canada contributes roughly 201.3 billion barrels, or 82% of the region’s reserves, with most of its proven oil reserves located in oil sands deposits.

Under Eni’s regional classifications, North America includes Canada and the United States, while Mexico is grouped with Central and South America.

North America was also the world’s largest oil-producing region in 2025, generating over 31 million barrels per day, equal to nearly 30% of global supply.

Russia and Africa Hold Significant Oil Reserves

Russia and Central Asia hold 145.8 billion barrels of oil reserves, accounting for 8.1% of the global total. Russia holds the largest share of the region’s reserves, followed by Kazakhstan.

Africa ranks fifth with 119.8 billion barrels, with major reserves concentrated in countries such as Libya and Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific accounts for just 2.9% of global reserves, despite being home to major oil consumers such as China and India.

Europe holds the smallest share at 0.7%, with much of its oil production coming from mature fields in the North Sea.

Together, the Middle East and Central and South America account for 68% of the world’s oil reserves. This concentration helps explain why developments in a relatively small number of oil-rich countries can have an outsized influence on global energy markets.

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To explore the data at the country level, check out this graphic showing the world’s oil reserves by country.

Where Gas Is Most Expensive in America

Where you fill up can make a significant difference in what you pay at the pump.

This map shows average regular gasoline prices across the U.S. using September 2026 data from AAA Fuel Tracker. Prices are per gallon and rounded to the nearest cent.

Where Gas Prices Run Highest and Lowest

The broader divide is regional. The highest fuel prices are concentrated in the West, while much of the South sits below the $4.48 national average.

The table below ranks prices from highest to lowest in the 50 states and Washington, D.C.

Part of the difference reflects the journey fuel takes to reach a station. Longer distances from refineries, ports, and distribution terminals can mean higher transportation costs, which can push up retail prices.

States such as Louisiana and Texas also benefit from extensive oil and refining infrastructure, helping keep distribution costs relatively low.

Why California Costs So Much More

California’s premium goes beyond taxes. The Golden State requires a special gasoline blend designed to reduce air pollution, which costs more to produce. State environmental programs also add compliance costs for fuel suppliers, alongside state and local taxes.

The state’s specialized fuel comes from a relatively limited pool of suppliers. California is geographically separated from major U.S. refining centers along the Gulf Coast, and only some refineries elsewhere can produce gasoline that meets its requirements. Bringing in additional supply is therefore more complicated than simply sourcing cheaper fuel from another state.

This becomes especially important when a refinery shuts down for maintenance or experiences an unexpected outage. Replacement supplies can take time to arrive, leaving the market more vulnerable to price spikes. The same factors that keep California expensive under normal conditions can make disruptions more painful for drivers.

No Relief This Fall

Gas prices usually ease after the summer driving season. Demand falls as travel slows, while cooler weather allows refiners to use less expensive gasoline components that would evaporate too easily in summer heat. The seasonal change in fuel requirements can help reduce costs even without a decline in global oil prices.

This September, however, that usual pattern has been disrupted. Expensive crude oil and continued volatility in the Strait of Hormuz have pushed up prices at the pump. The national average of $4.48 per gallon is the highest on record for late September.

Local advantages offer only partial protection from those pressures. Gasoline prices generally track crude oil costs, so even states with lower distribution costs and taxes remain exposed to oil-market disruptions.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To compare these prices with major global events, check out Oil Prices and Geopolitical Events on Voronoi.