Oil reserves in France
France: Oil reserves was 9.81 million cubic meters in 2021. ▼ Falling
Oil reserves in France, 1980–2021
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters.
Analysis
The most recent figure for oil reserves in France is 9.81 million cubic meters, measured in 2021.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 10.5% on the previous year and down 32.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, oil reserves in France peaked at 37.35 million cubic meters in 1987 and was at its lowest, 6.36 million cubic meters, in 1981.
That places France 76th out of 216 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 42 years of available data.
Oil reserves in France, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 7.95 million cubic meters | — |
| 1981 | 6.36 million cubic meters | -20.0% |
| 1982 | 16.38 million cubic meters | +157.5% |
| 1983 | 19.76 million cubic meters | +20.7% |
| 1984 | 22.22 million cubic meters | +12.5% |
| 1985 | 23.53 million cubic meters | +5.9% |
| 1986 | 36.57 million cubic meters | +55.4% |
| 1987 | 37.35 million cubic meters | +2.1% |
| 1988 | 33.80 million cubic meters | -9.5% |
| 1989 | 32.76 million cubic meters | -3.1% |
| 1990 | 30.19 million cubic meters | -7.8% |
| 1991 | 29.38 million cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 1992 | 27.16 million cubic meters | -7.5% |
| 1993 | 28.21 million cubic meters | +3.9% |
| 1994 | 28.21 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 1995 | 24.10 million cubic meters | -14.6% |
| 1996 | 21.99 million cubic meters | -8.8% |
| 1997 | 18.65 million cubic meters | -15.2% |
| 1998 | 20.25 million cubic meters | +8.6% |
| 1999 | 17.02 million cubic meters | -16.0% |
| 2000 | 17.02 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 23.08 million cubic meters | +35.6% |
| 2002 | 22.26 million cubic meters | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 23.61 million cubic meters | +6.0% |
| 2004 | 23.60 million cubic meters | -0.0% |
| 2005 | 23.29 million cubic meters | -1.3% |
| 2006 | 25.18 million cubic meters | +8.1% |
| 2007 | 19.32 million cubic meters | -23.3% |
| 2008 | 19.05 million cubic meters | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 16.42 million cubic meters | -13.8% |
| 2010 | 16.08 million cubic meters | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 14.57 million cubic meters | -9.4% |
| 2012 | 14.31 million cubic meters | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 13.54 million cubic meters | -5.4% |
| 2014 | 14.24 million cubic meters | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 13.37 million cubic meters | -6.1% |
| 2016 | 12.47 million cubic meters | -6.7% |
| 2017 | 11.50 million cubic meters | -7.8% |
| 2018 | 10.63 million cubic meters | -7.6% |
| 2019 | 9.81 million cubic meters | -7.7% |
| 2020 | 8.88 million cubic meters | -9.5% |
| 2021 | 9.81 million cubic meters | +10.5% |
France compared with similar countries
- France's 9.81 million cubic meters is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.38 million cubic meters, 4.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Oil reserves in France 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | +157.5% | 6.36 million cubic meters | 16.38 million cubic meters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 23.67 million cubic meters | 6.36 million cubic meters | 37.35 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 24.52 million cubic meters | 17.02 million cubic meters | 30.19 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 21.28 million cubic meters | 16.42 million cubic meters | 25.18 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 13.05 million cubic meters | 9.81 million cubic meters | 16.08 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.35 million cubic meters | 8.88 million cubic meters | 9.81 million cubic meters | 2 |
Countries ranked near France
More energy & mining data for France
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 0.2519 % 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 12.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is oil reserves in France?
- Oil reserves in France was 9.81 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 France?
- The highest recorded value was 37.35 million cubic meters in 1987.
- What is the lowest oil reserves recorded in France?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.36 million cubic meters in 1981.
- How does France rank for oil reserves?
- France ranks 76th out of 216 countries with data for 2021.
- Is oil reserves rising or falling in France?
- Over the last ten years it is down 32.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this France 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.