Five African countries accounted for 61% of the continent's daily oil consumption in 2022

In 2022, Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, and Morocco collectively consumed an average of 2.712 million barrels of oil per day (Mb/d), 61% of the continent's daily oil consumption (4.478 Mb/d). African countries consumed 4.7% of the global usage (99.8 Mb/d).

Egypt used the most (850.5 thousand barrels per day (Kb/d)), followed by South Africa (601.2 Kb/d) and Nigeria (514.5 Kb/d).

Source:

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, International Energy Statistics

Period:

2022
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Africa’s crude oil production
  • Nigeria led with 78.9 Mtoe, accounting for over 22% of Africa’s total oil output.
  • Algeria (59.3 Mtoe) and Angola (57.4 Mtoe) followed closely; the three top producers together supplied] 56% of the continent’s oil.
  • Africa’s total oil production was 345.5 Mtoe, just 7.6% of the global total (4,542.7 Mtoe).
  • The top 5 producers accounted for over 80% of Africa’s oil.

The United States dominated the production of gas oil in 2023 with 234,886 metric tons, securing 32.4% of the global total
  • The United States of America dominated the production of gas oil with 234,886 metric tons, making up 32.4% of the global total in 2023.
  • Only four countries in Africa, Niger, Chad, Ghana and Zambia, produced gas oil.
  • Africa barely produced 0.13% of the global total of gas oil.
  • Australia imported 25.1k metric tons of gas oil, making it the country with the highest quantity of gas oil import in 2023.

Venezuela and Iran lead globally with ultra-cheap diesel under $0.01, as Libya tops Africa’s chart at $0.028
  • Venezuela and Iran offer diesel at nearly free prices, charging just $0.004 and $0.006 per litre respectively, the lowest globally.
  • Libya leads Africa with diesel priced at only $0.028 per litre, making it the third cheapest worldwide.
  • Six African countries—Libya, Algeria, Egypt, Angola, Nigeria and Sudan—feature in the global top 20 for the lowest diesel prices.
  • Nigeria ranks 17th globally, with diesel priced at $0.658 per litre, despite recent subsidy removals and price hikes.

Libya, Nigeria, and Algeria held more than 80% of Africa’s recoverable oil reserves in 2024
  • Libya leads Africa with 48.4 billion barrels of recoverable oil, the continent’s highest.
  • Nigeria ranks second with 37.3 billion barrels, accounting for about 27% of reserves among top holders.
  • Algeria holds 12.2 billion barrels, rounding out the top three and far ahead of other nations.
  • Sudan, Egypt, and Angola each contribute between 2.5 and 5 billion barrels, showing smaller but notable reserves.

Algeria, Nigeria, Egypt and Libya accounted for 78% of Africa’s 144 active oil rigs in 2024
  • Algeria leads Africa with 41 active oil rigs, making up nearly 29% of the continent's total count.
  • Nigeria follows with 31 rigs, confirming its strong position in West Africa’s upstream oil activity.
  • Egypt ranks third with 23 rigs, while Libya maintains 18 rigs despite its fluctuating political climate.
  • The top seven countries host 122 of Africa’s 144 rigs, showing drilling operations are concentrated in just a handful of nations.

The United States, Canada, and Iran account for over 50% of the world’s 1,802 active oil rigs in 2024, with Nigeria ranking 15th globally with 31 rigs
  • The United States remains the undisputed leader with 589 active rigs, accounting for nearly a third of all rigs worldwide in 2024.
  • Canada (162 rigs) and Iran (117 rigs) follow as the second and third highest contributors to global drilling activity.
  • Middle Eastern producers dominate the top 10, with Kuwait (80), UAE (73), Saudi Arabia (70), Iraq (62), and Oman (50) collectively operating 335 rigs.
  • Nigeria ranks 15th globally with 31 active rigs, making it one of only two African nations in the global top 20.
  • The top 10 countries account for over 75% of the world’s active rigs, reflecting the continued concentration of drilling infrastructure in a handful of key oil-producing regions.

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