Oil reserves in Ecuador
Ecuador: Oil reserves was 1.32 billion cubic meters in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Oil reserves in Ecuador, 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 Ecuador stood at 1.32 billion cubic meters.
The figure is up 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, oil reserves in Ecuador peaked at 1.40 billion cubic meters in 2015 and was at its lowest, 135.14 million cubic meters, in 1982.
Ecuador ranks 18th 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 Ecuador, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 174.89 million cubic meters | — |
| 1981 | 174.89 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 1982 | 135.14 million cubic meters | -22.7% |
| 1983 | 222.58 million cubic meters | +64.7% |
| 1984 | 266.30 million cubic meters | +19.6% |
| 1985 | 222.58 million cubic meters | -16.4% |
| 1986 | 262.33 million cubic meters | +17.9% |
| 1987 | 265.87 million cubic meters | +1.4% |
| 1988 | 256.76 million cubic meters | -3.4% |
| 1989 | 214.63 million cubic meters | -16.4% |
| 1990 | 240.71 million cubic meters | +12.1% |
| 1991 | 225.76 million cubic meters | -6.2% |
| 1992 | 246.43 million cubic meters | +9.2% |
| 1993 | 254.35 million cubic meters | +3.2% |
| 1994 | 320.20 million cubic meters | +25.9% |
| 1995 | 320.20 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 1996 | 336.26 million cubic meters | +5.0% |
| 1997 | 336.26 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 1998 | 336.26 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 1999 | 336.26 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 336.26 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 336.26 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 336.26 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 736.05 million cubic meters | +118.9% |
| 2004 | 736.05 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 736.05 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 736.05 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 718.15 million cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 2008 | 718.15 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 740.88 million cubic meters | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 1.03 billion cubic meters | +39.5% |
| 2011 | 1.04 billion cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 2012 | 1.15 billion cubic meters | +10.8% |
| 2013 | 1.31 billion cubic meters | +14.3% |
| 2014 | 1.31 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 1.40 billion cubic meters | +7.2% |
| 2016 | 1.32 billion cubic meters | -6.3% |
| 2017 | 1.32 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2018 | 1.32 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2019 | 1.32 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 1.32 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 1.32 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
Ecuador compared with similar countries
- Ecuador's 1.32 billion cubic meters is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 13.69 million cubic meters, 96.1× the median. (55 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Oil reserves in Ecuador 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +118.9% | 336.26 million cubic meters | 736.05 million cubic meters |
| 1983 | +64.7% | 135.14 million cubic meters | 222.58 million cubic meters |
| 2010 | +39.5% | 740.88 million cubic meters | 1.03 billion cubic meters |
| 1994 | +25.9% | 254.35 million cubic meters | 320.20 million cubic meters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 219.60 million cubic meters | 135.14 million cubic meters | 266.30 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 295.27 million cubic meters | 225.76 million cubic meters | 336.26 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 613.01 million cubic meters | 336.26 million cubic meters | 740.88 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.25 billion cubic meters | 1.03 billion cubic meters | 1.40 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.32 billion cubic meters | 1.32 billion cubic meters | 1.32 billion cubic meters | 2 |
Countries ranked near Ecuador
More energy & mining data for Ecuador
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 1.76 % 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 (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 25.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is oil reserves in Ecuador?
- Oil reserves in Ecuador was 1.32 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 Ecuador?
- The highest recorded value was 1.40 billion cubic meters in 2015.
- What is the lowest oil reserves recorded in Ecuador?
- The lowest recorded value was 135.14 million cubic meters in 1982.
- How does Ecuador rank for oil reserves?
- Ecuador ranks 18th out of 216 countries with data for 2021.
- Is oil reserves rising or falling in Ecuador?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ecuador 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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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.