Oil reserves in New Zealand
New Zealand: Oil reserves was 6.52 million cubic meters in 2021. ▼ Falling
Oil reserves in New Zealand, 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 New Zealand is 6.52 million cubic meters, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 42 years on record.
The figure is down 5.3% on the previous year and down 63.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, oil reserves in New Zealand peaked at 33.23 million cubic meters in 1991 and was at its lowest, 6.52 million cubic meters, in 2021.
New Zealand ranks 78th of 216 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 42 years of available data.
Oil reserves in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 17.49 million cubic meters | — |
| 1981 | 27.50 million cubic meters | +57.3% |
| 1982 | 27.16 million cubic meters | -1.3% |
| 1983 | 26.87 million cubic meters | -1.1% |
| 1984 | 27.03 million cubic meters | +0.6% |
| 1985 | 24.64 million cubic meters | -8.8% |
| 1986 | 27.98 million cubic meters | +13.5% |
| 1987 | 26.55 million cubic meters | -5.1% |
| 1988 | 25.44 million cubic meters | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 29.04 million cubic meters | +14.2% |
| 1990 | 23.21 million cubic meters | -20.1% |
| 1991 | 33.23 million cubic meters | +43.2% |
| 1992 | 27.06 million cubic meters | -18.6% |
| 1993 | 26.96 million cubic meters | -0.4% |
| 1994 | 24.80 million cubic meters | -8.0% |
| 1995 | 21.72 million cubic meters | -12.4% |
| 1996 | 16.53 million cubic meters | -23.9% |
| 1997 | 21.47 million cubic meters | +29.9% |
| 1998 | 23.10 million cubic meters | +7.6% |
| 1999 | 20.19 million cubic meters | -12.6% |
| 2000 | 20.19 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 20.19 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 14.23 million cubic meters | -29.5% |
| 2003 | 30.16 million cubic meters | +111.9% |
| 2004 | 8.66 million cubic meters | -71.3% |
| 2005 | 8.18 million cubic meters | -5.5% |
| 2006 | 8.43 million cubic meters | +3.0% |
| 2007 | 8.43 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 8.74 million cubic meters | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 9.54 million cubic meters | +9.1% |
| 2010 | 9.54 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 17.89 million cubic meters | +87.5% |
| 2012 | 15.28 million cubic meters | -14.6% |
| 2013 | 12.94 million cubic meters | -15.3% |
| 2014 | 12.46 million cubic meters | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 10.68 million cubic meters | -14.3% |
| 2016 | 10.19 million cubic meters | -4.6% |
| 2017 | 9.05 million cubic meters | -11.2% |
| 2018 | 9.33 million cubic meters | +3.2% |
| 2019 | 7.72 million cubic meters | -17.3% |
| 2020 | 6.88 million cubic meters | -10.8% |
| 2021 | 6.52 million cubic meters | -5.3% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Oil reserves in New Zealand 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 | +111.9% | 14.23 million cubic meters | 30.16 million cubic meters |
| 2011 | +87.5% | 9.54 million cubic meters | 17.89 million cubic meters |
| 2004 | -71.3% | 30.16 million cubic meters | 8.66 million cubic meters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 25.97 million cubic meters | 17.49 million cubic meters | 29.04 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.83 million cubic meters | 16.53 million cubic meters | 33.23 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 13.68 million cubic meters | 8.18 million cubic meters | 30.16 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.51 million cubic meters | 7.72 million cubic meters | 17.89 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.70 million cubic meters | 6.52 million cubic meters | 6.88 million cubic meters | 2 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
More energy & mining data for New Zealand
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 1.2 % 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 12.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is oil reserves in New Zealand?
- Oil reserves in New Zealand was 6.52 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 New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 33.23 million cubic meters in 1991.
- What is the lowest oil reserves recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.52 million cubic meters in 2021.
- How does New Zealand rank for oil reserves?
- New Zealand ranks 78th out of 216 countries with data for 2021.
- Is oil reserves rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 63.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this New Zealand 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.