Oil reserves in Brazil
Brazil: Oil reserves was 2.02 billion cubic meters in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Oil reserves in Brazil, 1980–2021
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters.
Analysis
Brazil recorded 2.02 billion cubic meters for oil reserves in 2021.
The figure is down 5.4% on the previous year and down 1.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, oil reserves in Brazil peaked at 2.57 billion cubic meters in 2016 and was at its lowest, 193.97 million cubic meters, in 1980.
Brazil ranks 16th of 216 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Oil reserves in Brazil, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 193.97 million cubic meters | — |
| 1981 | 206.68 million cubic meters | +6.6% |
| 1982 | 210.67 million cubic meters | +1.9% |
| 1983 | 278.23 million cubic meters | +32.1% |
| 1984 | 286.18 million cubic meters | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 314.16 million cubic meters | +9.8% |
| 1986 | 329.10 million cubic meters | +4.8% |
| 1987 | 357.72 million cubic meters | +8.7% |
| 1988 | 372.03 million cubic meters | +4.0% |
| 1989 | 405.42 million cubic meters | +9.0% |
| 1990 | 447.71 million cubic meters | +10.4% |
| 1991 | 451.52 million cubic meters | +0.9% |
| 1992 | 445.22 million cubic meters | -1.4% |
| 1993 | 481.73 million cubic meters | +8.2% |
| 1994 | 572.35 million cubic meters | +18.8% |
| 1995 | 603.67 million cubic meters | +5.5% |
| 1996 | 667.75 million cubic meters | +10.6% |
| 1997 | 763.14 million cubic meters | +14.3% |
| 1998 | 763.14 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 1.13 billion cubic meters | +48.0% |
| 2000 | 1.17 billion cubic meters | +3.5% |
| 2001 | 1.29 billion cubic meters | +10.1% |
| 2002 | 1.35 billion cubic meters | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 1.32 billion cubic meters | -1.7% |
| 2004 | 1.35 billion cubic meters | +2.1% |
| 2005 | 1.69 billion cubic meters | +24.7% |
| 2006 | 1.79 billion cubic meters | +6.1% |
| 2007 | 1.87 billion cubic meters | +4.7% |
| 2008 | 1.94 billion cubic meters | +3.5% |
| 2009 | 2.01 billion cubic meters | +3.6% |
| 2010 | 2.04 billion cubic meters | +1.4% |
| 2011 | 2.04 billion cubic meters | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 2.22 billion cubic meters | +8.8% |
| 2013 | 2.09 billion cubic meters | -6.0% |
| 2014 | 2.39 billion cubic meters | +14.4% |
| 2015 | 2.47 billion cubic meters | +3.3% |
| 2016 | 2.57 billion cubic meters | +4.1% |
| 2017 | 2.07 billion cubic meters | -19.7% |
| 2018 | 2.01 billion cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 2.04 billion cubic meters | +1.6% |
| 2020 | 2.14 billion cubic meters | +4.7% |
| 2021 | 2.02 billion cubic meters | -5.4% |
Brazil compared with similar countries
- Brazil's 2.02 billion cubic meters is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13.69 million cubic meters, 147.7× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Oil reserves in Brazil changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | +48.0% | 763.14 million cubic meters | 1.13 billion cubic meters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 295.42 million cubic meters | 193.97 million cubic meters | 405.42 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 632.60 million cubic meters | 445.22 million cubic meters | 1.13 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.58 billion cubic meters | 1.17 billion cubic meters | 2.01 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.19 billion cubic meters | 2.01 billion cubic meters | 2.57 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 2.08 billion cubic meters | 2.02 billion cubic meters | 2.14 billion cubic meters | 2 |
Countries ranked near Brazil
More energy & mining data for Brazil
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 1.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 11.1% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is oil reserves in Brazil?
- Oil reserves in Brazil was 2.02 billion 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 Brazil?
- The highest recorded value was 2.57 billion cubic meters in 2016.
- What is the lowest oil reserves recorded in Brazil?
- The lowest recorded value was 193.97 million cubic meters in 1980.
- How does Brazil rank for oil reserves?
- Brazil ranks 16th out of 216 countries with data for 2021.
- Is oil reserves rising or falling in Brazil?
- Over the last ten years it is down 1.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Brazil 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.
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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.