Fact #397: November 7, 2005
Petroleum Import Share
Imported petroleum has accounted for over 50% of petroleum consumed by the U.S. each year since 1998 and in 2004 was nearly 60%. Increasing petroleum demand, along with declining U.S. production of oil are main causes for this reliance on imported oil. The point at which the country was the least dependent on foreign oil was 1985 when imports accounted for only 27% of petroleum consumed.
Net Petroleum Imports as a Percent of U.S. Petroleum Consumption, 1973-2004
Supporting Information
| Year | Share |
|---|---|
| 1973 | 34.8% |
| 1974 | 35.4% |
| 1975 | 35.8% |
| 1976 | 40.6% |
| 1977 | 46.5% |
| 1978 | 42.5% |
| 1979 | 43.1% |
| 1980 | 37.3% |
| 1981 | 33.6% |
| 1982 | 28.1% |
| 1983 | 28.3% |
| 1984 | 30.0% |
| 1985 | 27.3% |
| 1986 | 33.4% |
| 1987 | 35.5% |
| 1988 | 38.1% |
| 1989 | 41.6% |
| 1990 | 42.2% |
| 1991 | 39.6% |
| 1992 | 40.7% |
| 1993 | 44.2% |
| 1994 | 45.5% |
| 1995 | 44.5% |
| 1996 | 46.4% |
| 1997 | 49.2% |
| 1998 | 51.6% |
| 1999 | 50.8% |
| 2000 | 52.9% |
| 2001 | 55.5% |
| 2002 | 53.4% |
| 2003 | 56.1% |
| 2004 | 58.4% |
|
Source: Energy Information Administration, Monthly Energy Review, September 2005, Table 1.7. | |
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