Oil reserves in Iran
Iran: Oil reserves was 33.16 billion cubic meters in 2021. ▲ Rising
Oil reserves in Iran, 1980–2021
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters.
Analysis
Iran recorded 33.16 billion cubic meters for oil reserves in 2021. That is the highest value across all 42 years on record.
The figure is up 34.1% on the previous year and up 52.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, oil reserves in Iran peaked at 33.16 billion cubic meters in 2021 and was at its lowest, 7.61 billion cubic meters, in 1986.
That places Iran 3rd out of 215 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 42 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 9.69 billion cubic meters | 7.61 billion cubic meters | 14.76 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 14.59 billion cubic meters | 14.02 billion cubic meters | 14.79 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 18.34 billion cubic meters | 14.26 billion cubic meters | 22.00 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.23 billion cubic meters | 21.78 billion cubic meters | 25.18 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 28.95 billion cubic meters | 24.74 billion cubic meters | 33.16 billion cubic meters | 2 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More energy & mining data for Iran
- Fuel imports 2.0% (2022)
- Ores and metals imports 2.0% (2022)
- Ores and metals exports 6.1% (2022)
- Gas production 2,648 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Fossil fuel production per person, by fuel 28,655 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel production by fuel 2,648 terawatt-hours (2025)
- Gas production per person 28,655 kilowatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel exports 56.4% (2022)
- Electric power transmission and distribution losses 10.0% (2023)
- Share of dietary energy supply from carbohydrates vs. GDP per capita 62.9% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is oil reserves in Iran?
- Oil reserves in Iran was 33.16 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 Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 33.16 billion cubic meters in 2021.
- What is the lowest oil reserves recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.61 billion cubic meters in 1986.
- How does Iran rank for oil reserves?
- Iran ranks 3rd out of 215 countries with data for 2021.
- Is oil reserves rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 52.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Iran 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.