A Ranking of the 25 Leading Countries in Global Oil Consumption

• In 2024, oil consumption in the United States reached 19 million barrels per day, representing a decline of 0.1% compared with the previous year.
• China ranked second, consuming 16.4 million barrels per day, reflecting a 1.2% decrease over the same period.
• Over the past decade, India has experienced one of the fastest rates of growth in oil consumption globally, averaging an annual increase of 3.8%.

In 2024, the world’s ten largest oil-consuming countries accounted for 61% of global consumption, rising to 80% when considering the top twenty countries, as overall consumption increased at a moderate annual rate of 0.7%. Despite the deceleration of growth and the increasing adoption of renewable energy sources, oil remains the primary source of energy worldwide.

In 2024, the United States consumed 19 million barrels of oil per day, representing 18.7% of global consumption. Approximately 70% of this consumption was attributable to the transportation sector, followed by 24% for industrial purposes, including feedstock for plastic production. Residential and commercial usage each accounted for roughly 3% of total consumption.

China ranked second globally, consuming 16.1% of the world’s total oil. However, per capita oil consumption in China remains less than one-fifth of that in the United States. To partially compensate, China relies more heavily on coal within its overall energy mix.

India followed, accounting for 5.5% of global oil consumption in 2024. Unlike the United States and China, where oil demand growth has slowed in recent years, India is projected to be the leading driver of global oil demand through 2030, supported by the country’s expanding economy and ongoing phase of economic development.

Source: Visual Capitalist – VORONOI