U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Program

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
Graph showing net petroleum imports as a percent of U.S. petroleum consumption from 1973 to 2004.

Supporting Information

Net Petroleum Imports as a Percent of Petroleum Products Supplied
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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