Iraq vs Saudi Arabia: Oil reserves
Iraq
23.06 billion cubic meters
in 2021
Saudi Arabia
41.11 billion cubic meters
in 2021
Iraq rank
5th
Saudi Arabia rank
2nd
Oil reserves over time
- Iraq
- Saudi Arabia
How they compare
Saudi Arabia currently reports 41.11 billion cubic meters against 23.06 billion cubic meters in Iraq, a difference of 18.06 billion cubic meters.
That makes Saudi Arabia's figure about 1.8 times Iraq's.
Across all 42 years both countries report, Saudi Arabia has been ahead every year.
Iraq ranks 5th and Saudi Arabia ranks 2nd of 212 countries.
Saudi Arabia has averaged higher in every one of the 5 decades both report.
Head to head by decade
| Decade | Iraq | Saudi Arabia | Difference | Ahead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8.11 billion cubic meters | 26.89 billion cubic meters | 18.77 billion cubic meters | Saudi Arabia |
| 1990s | 16.49 billion cubic meters | 41.44 billion cubic meters | 24.95 billion cubic meters | Saudi Arabia |
| 2000s | 18.12 billion cubic meters | 41.81 billion cubic meters | 23.68 billion cubic meters | Saudi Arabia |
| 2010s | 21.95 billion cubic meters | 42.22 billion cubic meters | 20.27 billion cubic meters | Saudi Arabia |
| 2020s | 23.06 billion cubic meters | 41.78 billion cubic meters | 18.73 billion cubic meters | Saudi Arabia |
Averages of every year both report within each decade.
Frequently asked questions
- Which has higher oil reserves, Iraq or Saudi Arabia?
- Saudi Arabia, at 41.11 billion cubic meters against 23.06 billion cubic meters in Iraq as of 2021.
- What is the difference in oil reserves between Iraq and Saudi Arabia?
- 18.06 billion cubic meters, with Saudi Arabia ahead.
- How many years of comparable data are there for Iraq and Saudi Arabia?
- 42 years are reported by both, from 1980 to 2021.
- How do Iraq and Saudi Arabia rank globally for oil reserves?
- Iraq ranks 5th and Saudi Arabia ranks 2nd of 212 countries.
- Where does this data come from?
- U.S. Energy Information Administration (2022) β with major processing by Our World in Data, published as Oil reserves. Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.
Individual pages
About this data
Proved reserves, measured in cubic meters, are generally those quantities that can be recovered in the future from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions, according to geological and engineering information. Includes crude oil and lease condensate.