Countries That Produce the Most Oil: Top 10 Ranked

The United States is the world's largest oil producer, pumping more than 13 million barrels per day. It is followed by Saudi Arabia and Russia, each producing around 9 to 11 million barrels per day. Together these three countries account for roughly a third of the world's total crude oil output.

Introduction

Crude oil remains the single most important source of energy in the global economy, powering transport, industry, and the manufacture of plastics and chemicals. Oil production is usually measured in barrels per day, where one barrel equals 42 US gallons or about 159 liters. Global production runs at roughly 100 million barrels per day.

The ranking of top producers has shifted dramatically over the past two decades. The shale revolution transformed the United States from a major importer into the world's number-one producer. This guide ranks the ten leading crude oil producers and explains what drives their output.

Top 10 Oil Producing Countries

• 1. United States: ~13+ million barrels per day, the world's largest producer thanks to shale.
• 2. Saudi Arabia: ~9-11 million barrels per day and the leading exporter within OPEC.
• 3. Russia: ~9-10 million barrels per day, a top exporter to Asia and beyond.
• 4. Canada: ~5 million barrels per day, much of it from Alberta's oil sands.
• 5. Iraq: ~4.3 million barrels per day, a major OPEC producer.
• 6. China: ~4 million barrels per day, most of it consumed domestically.
• 7. United Arab Emirates: ~3.5 million barrels per day, a key OPEC member.
• 8. Iran: ~3 million barrels per day despite export sanctions.
• 9. Brazil: ~3.5 million barrels per day, largely from deep offshore fields.
• 10. Kuwait: ~2.5 million barrels per day from vast reserves.

The United States leads the world thanks to hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling in shale formations such as the Permian Basin in Texas and New Mexico. This shale boom pushed US output past both Saudi Arabia and Russia in the 2010s, a position it has held since.

Saudi Arabia and Russia remain the two largest exporters, because they consume far less of their production domestically than the United States does. Saudi Arabia also holds spare capacity that lets it raise or lower output to influence global prices, giving it outsized power within OPEC.

OPEC, Non-OPEC, and Global Prices

• OPEC members in the top 10: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, UAE, Iran, and Kuwait.
• OPEC+ partner: Russia coordinates production with OPEC through the OPEC+ arrangement.
• Major non-OPEC producers: United States, Canada, China, and Brazil.
• Global output: around 100 million barrels per day.

OPEC, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, coordinates production among many Middle Eastern and other producers to manage supply and prices. Since 2016, several non-members led by Russia have coordinated with OPEC in a wider group known as OPEC+. The United States, the largest producer, is not part of these agreements; its output is driven by thousands of private companies responding to market prices.

Reserves Versus Production

It is worth noting that the biggest producers are not always the countries with the largest reserves. Venezuela and Saudi Arabia hold the world's largest proven oil reserves, yet Venezuela's production has collapsed due to underinvestment and sanctions. The United States, meanwhile, produces the most oil despite holding far smaller reserves, because its shale industry extracts oil quickly and efficiently. Production reflects current investment and technology, while reserves reflect long-term potential.

Key Facts

• The United States is the world's top oil producer at over 13 million barrels per day.
• Saudi Arabia and Russia are the two largest oil exporters.
• Global crude oil production totals roughly 100 million barrels per day.
• One barrel of oil equals 42 US gallons, or about 159 liters.
• The US shale revolution reshaped global oil markets in the 2010s.

Good to Know

Which country produces the most oil?

The United States produces the most oil in the world, with output exceeding 13 million barrels per day. It overtook both Saudi Arabia and Russia during the 2010s thanks to the shale boom and has remained the top producer since.

Is Saudi Arabia still the biggest oil exporter?

Saudi Arabia is one of the two largest exporters, alongside Russia. Although the United States produces more oil overall, it also consumes a huge share domestically, so Saudi Arabia and Russia ship more crude onto the world market.

What is a barrel of oil?

A barrel is the standard unit for measuring oil, equal to 42 US gallons or about 159 liters. Country output is reported in barrels per day, and global production is around 100 million barrels per day.