Energy Shift
Visualizing the Rise of the U.S. as Top Crude Oil Producer
Visualizing the Rise of the U.S. as Top Crude Oil Producer
Over the last decade, the United States has established itself as the world’s top producer of crude oil, surpassing Saudi Arabia and Russia.
This infographic illustrates the rise of the U.S. as the biggest oil producer, based on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
U.S. Takes Lead in 2018
Over the last three decades, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Russia have alternated as the top crude producers, but always by small margins.
During the 1990s, Saudi Arabia dominated crude production, taking advantage of its extensive oil reserves. The petroleum sector accounts for roughly 42% of the country’s GDP, 87% of its budget revenues, and 90% of export earnings.
However, during the 2000s, Russia surpassed Saudi Arabia in production during some years, following strategic investments in expanding its oil infrastructure. The majority of Russia’s oil goes to OECD Europe (60%), with around 20% going to China.
| Crude Oil Production | United States | Saudi Arabia | Russia |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 11.93% | 13.97% | 12.74% |
| 1993 | 11.50% | 13.68% | 11.35% |
| 1994 | 10.96% | 13.32% | 10.50% |
| 1995 | 10.60% | 13.17% | 9.96% |
| 1996 | 10.21% | 12.87% | 9.49% |
| 1997 | 9.84% | 12.73% | 9.29% |
| 1998 | 9.39% | 12.58% | 9.05% |
| 1999 | 9.06% | 11.99% | 9.33% |
| 2000 | 8.67% | 12.33% | 9.64% |
| 2001 | 8.65% | 11.89% | 10.45% |
| 2002 | 8.63% | 11.49% | 11.53% |
| 2003 | 8.05% | 12.92% | 12.10% |
| 2004 | 7.46% | 12.74% | 12.67% |
| 2005 | 7.00% | 13.21% | 12.82% |
| 2006 | 6.85% | 13.00% | 12.90% |
| 2007 | 6.84% | 12.38% | 13.29% |
| 2008 | 6.71% | 12.44% | 12.56% |
| 2009 | 7.32% | 11.28% | 12.98% |
| 2010 | 7.37% | 11.31% | 13.03% |
| 2011 | 7.55% | 12.81% | 13.02% |
| 2012 | 8.50% | 13.04% | 12.94% |
| 2013 | 9.76% | 12.86% | 13.10% |
| 2014 | 11.18% | 12.60% | 12.86% |
| 2015 | 11.67% | 12.77% | 12.66% |
| 2016 | 10.92% | 13.12% | 13.02% |
| 2017 | 11.53% | 12.68% | 13.05% |
| 2018 | 13.21% | 12.77% | 12.96% |
| 2019 | 14.90% | 12.15% | 13.20% |
| 2020 | 14.87% | 12.37% | 12.97% |
| 2021 | 14.59% | 12.06% | 13.10% |
| 2022 | 14.73% | 13.17% | 12.76% |
Over the 2010s, the U.S. witnessed an increase in domestic production, much of it attributable to hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” in the shale formations ranging from Texas to North Dakota. It became the world’s largest oil producer in 2018, outproducing Russia and Saudi Arabia.
The U.S. accounted for 14.7% of crude oil production worldwide in 2022, compared to 13.1% for Saudi Arabia and 12.7% for Russia.
Despite leading petroleum production, the U.S. still trails seven countries in remaining proven reserves underground, with 55,251 million barrels.
Venezuela has the biggest reserves with 303,221 million barrels. Saudi Arabia, with 267,192 million barrels, occupies the second spot, while Russia is seventh with 80,000 million barrels.
Energy Shift
Visualized: Global Coal Consumption by Region
For this graphic, Visual Capitalist has partnered with Range ETFs to explore world coal consumption in 2023 and find out who consumed the most coal.
World Coal Consumption by Region in 2023
Despite many nations transitioning away from fossil fuels, in 2023, world coal consumption reached a staggering 164 exajoules (EJ) of energy, a record high for any year.
For this graphic, Visual Capitalist has partnered with Range ETFs to explore the role coal plays in the global energy mix and determine which regions still consume large quantities of coal.
The Role of Coal in Global Energy
Coal is a significant player in the global energy mix, contributing 26% of the world’s energy in 2023, more than all non-fossil fuel sources combined. The only energy source that contributed more to the global energy mix was oil.
Here’s how that consumption breaks down by region:
| Region | Consumption (EJ) | Share % |
|---|---|---|
| China | 91.9 | 56.1% |
| Asia Pacific (excluding China) | 43.8 | 26.7% |
| Americas | 10.0 | 6.1% |
| Europe | 8.4 | 5.1% |
| CIS* | 5.5 | 3.4% |
| Africa | 4.1 | 2.5% |
| Middle East | 0.4 | 0.2% |
| Total | 164.0 | 100% |
Coal consumption has decreased in many regions. For example, both North America and Europe reduced their energy consumption from coal by 16% in 2023. However, a heavy reliance on coal in the Asia Pacific region has led to global coal consumption remaining essentially the same over the past 10 years.
In 2023, China increased its coal consumption from 88 EJ to nearly 92 EJ—totalling 56% of global coal consumption. This contributed significantly to Asia Pacific leading the world with a staggering 83% of global coal consumption.
The Importance of Coal
Easy access to existing infrastructure and reasonable prices have not only sustained global coal consumption over the last 10 years, but also paved the way for potential growth. Many developing nations are now expanding their coal consumption, presenting potential opportunities in the coal market.
For example, as per the Statistical Review of World Energy 2024, between 2022 and 2023, Bangladesh and Colombia saw double-digit percentage increases in year-over-year coal consumption: 41% and 53%, respectively.
Coal continues to play a critical role in the global energy mix, especially in the developing world, where its affordability makes it the current energy source of choice.
Learn more about the Range Global Coal Index ETF (COAL)
Energy Shift
Top Countries by Fossil Fuel Consumption in 2023
China and the U.S. account for nearly half of fossil fuel use.
Top Countries by Fossil Fuel Consumption in 2023
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
Fossil fuel consumption reached new record highs in 2023, driven by increased coal and oil use in China, despite the global boom in renewable energy.
Together, gas, oil, and coal accounted for 81.5% of the global energy mix last year, slightly down from 82% in 2022.
This graphic shows the top 12 countries by fossil fuel consumption in 2023. Data is from the Energy Institute, 2024 Statistical Review of World Energy, released in June 2024.
China and U.S. Account for Nearly Half of Global Fossil Fuel Use
China and the U.S. are responsible for almost half (47%) of global fossil fuel consumption.
| Country | Oil (Exajoules) | Natural Gas | Coal | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China | 33 | 15 | 92 | 140 |
| 🇺🇸 U.S. | 36 | 32 | 8 | 76 |
| 🇮🇳 India | 11 | 2 | 22 | 35 |
| 🇷🇺 Russia | 7 | 16 | 4 | 27 |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 7 | 3 | 5 | 15 |
| 🇮🇷 Iran | 4 | 9 | 0 | 12 |
| 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia | 7 | 4 | 0 | 12 |
| 🇰🇷 South Korea | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | 4 | 4 | 0 | 9 |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 3 | 2 | 4 | 9 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | 4 | 3 | 2 | 9 |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 🌍 Rest of the World | 72 | 50 | 24 | 146 |
In 2023, China consumed 140 exajoules of fossil fuels, equivalent to approximately 5.8 billion tonnes of hard coal. The U.S. followed with 76 exajoules, while India was third with 35 exajoules.
Crude oil consumption surpassed 100 million barrels per day for the first time, and coal demand exceeded the previous year’s record.
China remains the largest coal consumer, accounting for 56% of global consumption, a new record for the country. Additionally, in 2023, India’s coal consumption surpassed the combined total of Europe and North America for the first time.
If you like this graphic, be sure to check out ‘Visualizing Global Energy Production in 2023.’ This graphic illustrates the sources of energy used worldwide last year.
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