Oil remains the undisputed lifeline of the modern global economy. It fuels our transportation networks and industrial factories, and provides raw material for thousands of everyday products. Despite the rapid growth of renewable technologies like wind and solar, petroleum continues to satisfy the majority of the world's energy hunger.
For the nations that possess it, this black gold offers immense wealth and significant influence, trade deals, geopolitical power, and even the cause of conflict. The resource is not distributed equally, with a handful of regions controlling global supply.
This gallery ranks the top 30 countries by the size of their proven oil reserves as of 2024. Curious to see who leads the list? Click to explore the rankings.