Oil reserves in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Oil reserves was 397.47 million cubic meters in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Oil reserves in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom stood at 397.47 million cubic meters. That is the lowest value across all 42 years on record.
That represents a change of down 7.4% on the previous year and down 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, oil reserves in United Kingdom peaked at 2.45 billion cubic meters in 1980 and was at its lowest, 397.47 million cubic meters, in 2018.
United Kingdom ranks 31st of 216 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Oil reserves in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 2.45 billion cubic meters | — |
| 1981 | 2.35 billion cubic meters | -3.9% |
| 1982 | 2.35 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 2.21 billion cubic meters | -6.1% |
| 1984 | 2.09 billion cubic meters | -5.4% |
| 1985 | 2.16 billion cubic meters | +3.3% |
| 1986 | 2.07 billion cubic meters | -4.3% |
| 1987 | 1.43 billion cubic meters | -30.8% |
| 1988 | 826.73 million cubic meters | -42.2% |
| 1989 | 822.76 million cubic meters | -0.5% |
| 1990 | 676.59 million cubic meters | -17.8% |
| 1991 | 608.13 million cubic meters | -10.1% |
| 1992 | 635.04 million cubic meters | +4.4% |
| 1993 | 658.78 million cubic meters | +3.7% |
| 1994 | 724.07 million cubic meters | +9.9% |
| 1995 | 718.13 million cubic meters | -0.8% |
| 1996 | 682.52 million cubic meters | -5.0% |
| 1997 | 718.13 million cubic meters | +5.2% |
| 1998 | 795.38 million cubic meters | +10.8% |
| 1999 | 825.28 million cubic meters | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 819.30 million cubic meters | -0.7% |
| 2001 | 795.38 million cubic meters | -2.9% |
| 2002 | 783.81 million cubic meters | -1.5% |
| 2003 | 749.62 million cubic meters | -4.4% |
| 2004 | 741.68 million cubic meters | -1.1% |
| 2005 | 713.38 million cubic meters | -3.8% |
| 2006 | 640.64 million cubic meters | -10.2% |
| 2007 | 616.08 million cubic meters | -3.8% |
| 2008 | 572.35 million cubic meters | -7.1% |
| 2009 | 542.15 million cubic meters | -5.3% |
| 2010 | 490.39 million cubic meters | -9.5% |
| 2011 | 454.33 million cubic meters | -7.4% |
| 2012 | 449.53 million cubic meters | -1.1% |
| 2013 | 496.40 million cubic meters | +10.4% |
| 2014 | 473.64 million cubic meters | -4.6% |
| 2015 | 474.12 million cubic meters | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 437.96 million cubic meters | -7.6% |
| 2017 | 407.65 million cubic meters | -6.9% |
| 2018 | 397.47 million cubic meters | -2.5% |
| 2019 | 397.47 million cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 429.27 million cubic meters | +8.0% |
| 2021 | 397.47 million cubic meters | -7.4% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 397.47 million cubic meters is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 2.38 million cubic meters, 166.7× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Oil reserves in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | -42.2% | 1.43 billion cubic meters | 826.73 million cubic meters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 1.88 billion cubic meters | 822.76 million cubic meters | 2.45 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 704.21 million cubic meters | 608.13 million cubic meters | 825.28 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 697.44 million cubic meters | 542.15 million cubic meters | 819.30 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 447.90 million cubic meters | 397.47 million cubic meters | 496.40 million cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 413.37 million cubic meters | 397.47 million cubic meters | 429.27 million cubic meters | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More energy & mining data for United Kingdom
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate -1.3 % 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)
- Fuel imports 8.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is oil reserves in United Kingdom?
- Oil reserves in United Kingdom was 397.47 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 2.45 billion cubic meters in 1980.
- What is the lowest oil reserves recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 397.47 million cubic meters in 2018.
- How does United Kingdom rank for oil reserves?
- United Kingdom ranks 31st out of 216 countries with data for 2021.
- Is oil reserves rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.