- Oil Consumption refers to the total amount of petroleum products used within a country during a given year for energy and non-energy purposes.
China Oil Consumption was 16,577 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023, up 10.7% on 2022. The Oil Consumption dataset of China from 2015 to 2023 provides a comprehensive overview of the country's oil consumption, highlighting demand trends, consumption levels, supply patterns, and overall industry performance throughout the review period.
China Oil Consumption moved from 11,890 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2015 to 16,577 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 (+39.4%), an average of +4.2% a year. The series high was 16,577 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 and the low 11,890 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2015.
The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2015) is 4,687 Thousand Barrels Daily. The sharpest single-year move was +10.7% in 2023.
Among the 46 countries in this dataset, China ranks 2 for 2023, behind U.S. (18,984 Thousand Barrels Daily) and India (5,446 Thousand Barrels Daily). It accounts for 16.5% of the global total in 2023.
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 | 16,577 | +10.7% |
| 2022 | 14,970 | +0.6% |
| 2021 | 14,888 | +3.4% |
| 2020 | 14,404 | +0.6% |
| 2019 | 14,316 | +4.9% |
| 2018 | 13,641 | +4.9% |
| 2017 | 13,003 | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 12,297 | +3.4% |
| 2015 Trough | 11,890 | — |
Regional context
Oil Consumption by country, 2023, Thousand Barrels Daily. China is highlighted.
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 million barrels daily, the dataset serves as an important indicator of energy demand, transportation fuel consumption, industrial activity, and the performance of China's oil market. It enables assessment of long-term consumption patterns, market dynamics, and changes in petroleum demand across major consuming sectors, supporting analysis of the country's evolving energy landscape and sustained economic development.
China's oil consumption increased consistently from 11.89 million barrels daily in 2015 to 12.30 million in 2016, 13.00 million in 2017, 13.64 million in 2018, and 14.32 million in 2019. Consumption remained relatively stable at 14.40 million barrels daily in 2020 despite global economic disruptions, before rising further to 14.89 million in 2021 and 14.97 million in 2022. Demand accelerated significantly in 2023, reaching 16.58 million barrels daily, the highest level during the review period. The sustained upward trajectory reflects expanding industrial production, growing transportation activity, urbanization, and increasing energy requirements across the country's rapidly developing economy.
Overall, the dataset demonstrates strong and sustained growth in China's oil consumption throughout the review period, reinforcing its position as one of the world's largest oil-consuming nations. Continued expansion in industrial activity, freight transportation, manufacturing, and consumer demand supported rising petroleum consumption despite temporary global economic challenges. The dataset serves as a valuable resource for monitoring oil consumption trends, evaluating energy demand, supporting market analysis, forecasting future petroleum consumption, and enabling policymakers, researchers, investors, and industry stakeholders to develop informed energy policies, infrastructure 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.
China Oil Consumption was 16,577 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023, up 10.7% on 2022.
China Oil Consumption moved from 11,890 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2015 to 16,577 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 (+39.4%), an average of +4.2% a year. The series high was 16,577 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 and the low 11,890 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2015.
The highest value was 16,577 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2023 and the lowest was 11,890 Thousand Barrels Daily in 2015.
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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