Oil reserves in Australia
Australia: Oil reserves was 388.88 million cubic meters in 2021. ▲ Rising
Oil reserves in Australia, 1980–2021
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters.
Analysis
In 2021, oil reserves in Australia stood at 388.88 million cubic meters.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 26.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, oil reserves in Australia peaked at 556.46 million cubic meters in 2002 and was at its lowest, 189.67 million cubic meters, in 2015.
That places Australia 35th out of 215 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 276.08 million cubic meters | 227.50 million cubic meters | 375.21 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 283.30 million cubic meters | 242.25 million cubic meters | 460.27 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 378.55 million cubic meters | 228.47 million cubic meters | 556.46 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 318.41 million cubic meters | 189.67 million cubic meters | 527.52 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 388.88 million cubic meters | 388.88 million cubic meters | 388.88 million cubic meters | 2 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More energy & mining data for Australia
- Fuel imports 11.7% (2025)
- Ores and metals imports 1.9% (2025)
- Ores and metals exports 34.6% (2025)
- Gas production 1,486 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 55,080 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 1,486 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 55,080 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel exports 26.9% (2025)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 4.7% (2024)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 45.8% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is oil reserves in Australia?
- Oil reserves in Australia was 388.88 million cubic meters in 2021, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest oil reserves recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 556.46 million cubic meters in 2002.
- What is the lowest oil reserves recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 189.67 million cubic meters in 2015.
- How does Australia rank for oil reserves?
- Australia ranks 35th out of 215 countries with data for 2021.
- Is oil reserves rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 26.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from U.S. Energy Information Administration (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Oil reserves. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 42 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
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.