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

Vehicle Technologies Office

Fact #505: February 11, 2008
Developing Economies are Rapidly Increasing Their Petroleum Consumption

Although the United States still consumes the most petroleum by volume, developing economies like those of China and India have experienced a dramatic increase in petroleum consumption in recent years. In contrast, most of the more established economies like those of Western Europe have shown little increase in petroleum consumption during the same period.

Percent Change in Petroleum Consumption, 1990-2006
Graph showing the percent change in petroleum consumption from 1990-2006 for the United States, China, India, Brazil, France, and the United Kingdom. China and India have increased their consumption of petroleum substancially. For more detailed information, see the table below.

Supporting Information

Petroleum Consumption for Selected Countries in million barrels per day
  United States China India Brazil France United Kingdom
1990 16.99 2.30 1.17 1.47 1.83 1.78
2006 20.69 7.27 2.50 2.23 1.96 1.83
% Change 21.76 216.22 113.50 51.77 7.16 2.81

U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration. World Petroleum Consumption, Most Recent Annual Estimates,1980-2006.

 

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