- Oil Consumption refers to the total amount of petroleum products used within a country during a given year for energy and non-energy purposes.
Africa Oil Consumption was 4,233 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023, up 0% on 2022. The Oil Consumption dataset of Africa from 2015 to 2023 provides a comprehensive overview of the region's oil consumption, highlighting demand trends, consumption levels, supply patterns, industry performance, and annual market developments throughout the review period.
Africa Oil Consumption moved from 3,896 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2015 to 4,233 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 (+8.6%), an average of +1% a year. The series high was 4,233 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 and the low 3,694 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2020.
The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2020) is 539 Thousand Barrels Daily. The sharpest single-year move was −10.2% in 2020.
Within Africa, Egypt has the highest value in 2023 at 742 Thousand Barrels Daily, 17.5% of the regional total.
Country ranking
Thousand Barrels Daily. Sort by any column, or search for a country.
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| Rank↕ | Country↕ | Share of top | Thousand Barrels Daily↕ | vs 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt | 742 | −1.9% | |
| 2 | South Africa | 522 | +2% | |
| 3 | Algeria | 440 | +5.3% |
By region
Thousand Barrels Daily, 2023. Each bar is that region's total.
Full series
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Thousand Barrels Daily.
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| Year | Thousand Barrels Daily | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023Peak | 4,233 | 0% |
| 2022 | 4,231 | +4.9% |
| 2021 | 4,032 | +9.1% |
| 2020 Trough | 3,694 | −10.2% |
| 2019 | 4,113 | 0% |
| 2018 | 4,111 | +2% |
| 2017 | 4,030 | +2.6% |
| 2016 | 3,928 | +0.8% |
| 2015 | 3,896 | — |
Data definition
Oil Consumption — - Oil Consumption refers to the total amount of petroleum products used within a country during a given year for energy and non-energy purposes. It is typically measured in thousand barrels per day (kb/d) and represents the demand for oil-based fuels and products across the economy. The indicator includes the use of refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, fuel oil, and other oil-derived products consumed by transportation, industry, power generation, residential, commercial, and other sectors. Oil Consumption is a key measure of a country’s energy demand, economic activity, transportation intensity, and dependence on petroleum resources.
The data includes the domestic consumption of major petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and other refined oil products used across transportation, industrial, residential, commercial, agricultural, and power generation sectors. It covers both energy-related use and certain non-energy uses of petroleum products, such as feedstocks for petrochemical manufacturing where included in national energy balances. The indicator reflects total petroleum demand within a country regardless of whether the oil is produced domestically or imported. Data is compiled from national energy statistics, refinery reports, trade data, and standardized international energy databases, enabling consistent comparison of oil consumption trends across countries and over time.
The data excludes crude oil production, crude oil reserves, refinery throughput, and petroleum exports. It does not include consumption of natural gas, coal, nuclear energy, electricity, or renewable energy sources unless they are derived from petroleum products. The indicator excludes upstream oil extraction activities and does not directly measure fuel efficiency, carbon emissions, energy affordability, or the quality of energy services. Inventory changes, strategic petroleum reserves, and stock movements may be treated separately depending on the reporting methodology. Minor variations may occur due to differences in national accounting practices, product classifications, and estimation methods used across countries.
Oil Consumption — - Oil Consumption refers to the total amount of petroleum products used within a country during a given year for energy and non-energy purposes. It is typically measured in thousand barrels per day (kb/d) and represents the demand for oil-based fuels and products across the economy. The indicator includes the use of refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, fuel oil, and other oil-derived products consumed by transportation, industry, power generation, residential, commercial, and other sectors. Oil Consumption is a key measure of a country’s energy demand, economic activity, transportation intensity, and dependence on petroleum resources.
Measured in thousand barrels daily, the dataset reflects total regional petroleum consumption and serves as an important indicator of transportation fuel demand, industrial activity, and energy market performance. Incorporating consumption data from Algeria, Egypt, South Africa, and the remaining African countries, the dataset enables analysis of regional demand patterns, consumption trends, and long-term developments across Africa's oil market.
Africa's total oil consumption increased from 3,896 thousand barrels daily in 2015 to 3,928 thousand in 2016, 4,030 thousand in 2017, 4,111 thousand in 2018, and 4,113 thousand in 2019. Regional demand declined to 3,694 thousand barrels daily in 2020 before recovering to 4,032 thousand in 2021, 4,231 thousand in 2022, and 4,233 thousand barrels daily in 2023. Algeria remained one of the region's leading oil consumers, with demand increasing from 425 thousand barrels daily in 2015 to 440 thousand in 2023. Egypt experienced an overall decline from 817 thousand to 742 thousand barrels daily, while South Africa fell from 603 thousand to 522 thousand barrels daily. The remaining African countries recorded steady growth, becoming the primary driver of regional consumption gains over the review period.
Overall, the dataset demonstrates resilient long-term growth in Africa's oil consumption despite the temporary decline experienced in 2020. Expanding energy demand across emerging African economies offset weaker consumption in several mature markets, supporting the region's recovery to its highest consumption level by 2023. The dataset serves as a valuable resource for monitoring regional oil consumption trends, evaluating energy demand, supporting market analysis, forecasting future petroleum consumption, and enabling policymakers, researchers, investors, and industry stakeholders to develop effective energy strategies and long-term investment decisions.
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Definition- Oil Consumption refers to the total amount of petroleum products used within a country during a given year for energy and non-energy purposes. It is typically measured in thousand barrels per day (kb/d) and represents the demand for oil-based fuels and products across the economy. The indicator includes the use of refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, fuel oil, and other oil-derived products consumed by transportation, industry, power generation, residential, commercial, and other sectors. Oil Consumption is a key measure of a country’s energy demand, economic activity, transportation intensity, and dependence on petroleum resources.
Africa Oil Consumption was 4,233 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023, up 0% on 2022.
Africa Oil Consumption moved from 3,896 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2015 to 4,233 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 (+8.6%), an average of +1% a year. The series high was 4,233 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 and the low 3,694 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2020.
The highest value was 4,233 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 and the lowest was 3,694 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2020.
Included: The data includes the domestic consumption of major petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, kerosene, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and other refined oil products used across transportation, industrial, residential, commercial, agricultural, and power generation sectors. It covers both energy-related use and certain non-energy uses of petroleum products, such as feedstocks for petrochemical manufacturing where included in national energy balances. The indicator reflects total petroleum demand within a country regardless of whether the oil is produced domestically or imported. Data is compiled from national energy statistics, refinery reports, trade data, and standardized international energy databases, enabling consistent comparison of oil consumption trends across countries and over time. Excluded: The data excludes crude oil production, crude oil reserves, refinery throughput, and petroleum exports. It does not include consumption of natural gas, coal, nuclear energy, electricity, or renewable energy sources unless they are derived from petroleum products. The indicator excludes upstream oil extraction activities and does not directly measure fuel efficiency, carbon emissions, energy affordability, or the quality of energy services. Inventory changes, strategic petroleum reserves, and stock movements may be treated separately depending on the reporting methodology. Minor variations may occur due to differences in national accounting practices, product classifications, and estimation methods used across countries.
The series is sourced from energyinst.org (https://www.energyinst.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1542714/684_EI_Stat_Review_V16_DIGITAL.pdf). It covers 2015–2023 and is reported in Thousand Barrels Daily.
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