Oil reserves in India
India: Oil reserves was 732.12 million cubic meters in 2021. ▲ Rising
Oil reserves in India, 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 India stood at 732.12 million cubic meters.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 4.1% on the previous year and down 19.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, oil reserves in India peaked at 1.27 billion cubic meters in 1991 and was at its lowest, 410.19 million cubic meters, in 1981.
India ranks 25th of 216 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Oil reserves in India, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 413.37 million cubic meters | — |
| 1981 | 410.19 million cubic meters | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 424.81 million cubic meters | +3.6% |
| 1983 | 543.16 million cubic meters | +27.9% |
| 1984 | 554.07 million cubic meters | +2.0% |
| 1985 | 556.46 million cubic meters | +0.4% |
| 1986 | 593.98 million cubic meters | +6.7% |
| 1987 | 668.19 million cubic meters | +12.5% |
| 1988 | 675.70 million cubic meters | +1.1% |
| 1989 | 1.01 billion cubic meters | +49.5% |
| 1990 | 1.20 billion cubic meters | +18.3% |
| 1991 | 1.27 billion cubic meters | +6.4% |
| 1992 | 974.07 million cubic meters | -23.4% |
| 1993 | 961.73 million cubic meters | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 941.34 million cubic meters | -2.1% |
| 1995 | 918.31 million cubic meters | -2.4% |
| 1996 | 924.35 million cubic meters | +0.7% |
| 1997 | 688.90 million cubic meters | -25.5% |
| 1998 | 689.95 million cubic meters | +0.2% |
| 1999 | 631.50 million cubic meters | -8.5% |
| 2000 | 769.15 million cubic meters | +21.8% |
| 2001 | 751.67 million cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 2002 | 769.52 million cubic meters | +2.4% |
| 2003 | 853.31 million cubic meters | +10.9% |
| 2004 | 853.95 million cubic meters | +0.1% |
| 2005 | 861.21 million cubic meters | +0.9% |
| 2006 | 929.73 million cubic meters | +8.0% |
| 2007 | 894.25 million cubic meters | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 894.25 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 894.25 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 894.25 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 903.37 million cubic meters | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 891.34 million cubic meters | -1.3% |
| 2013 | 870.64 million cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 2014 | 897.13 million cubic meters | +3.0% |
| 2015 | 902.22 million cubic meters | +0.6% |
| 2016 | 751.82 million cubic meters | -16.7% |
| 2017 | 734.89 million cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 714.57 million cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 2019 | 703.20 million cubic meters | -1.6% |
| 2020 | 703.20 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 732.12 million cubic meters | +4.1% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Oil reserves in India 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +49.5% | 675.70 million cubic meters | 1.01 billion cubic meters |
| 1983 | +27.9% | 424.81 million cubic meters | 543.16 million cubic meters |
| 1997 | -25.5% | 924.35 million cubic meters | 688.90 million cubic meters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 585.02 million cubic meters | 410.19 million cubic meters | 1.01 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 919.66 million cubic meters | 631.50 million cubic meters | 1.27 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 847.13 million cubic meters | 751.67 million cubic meters | 929.73 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 826.34 million cubic meters | 703.20 million cubic meters | 903.37 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 717.66 million cubic meters | 703.20 million cubic meters | 732.12 million cubic meters | 2 |
Countries ranked near India
More energy & mining data for India
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 0.7224 % 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 31.5% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is oil reserves in India?
- Oil reserves in India was 732.12 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 India?
- The highest recorded value was 1.27 billion cubic meters in 1991.
- What is the lowest oil reserves recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 410.19 million cubic meters in 1981.
- How does India rank for oil reserves?
- India ranks 25th out of 216 countries with data for 2021.
- Is oil reserves rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this India 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.