Band 9: The charts below show the proportions of the world's oil resources held in different areas, together with the proportions consumed annually in the same areas.

The charts illustrate the distribution of global oil reserves across different regions and the proportions of oil consumed annually in the same areas.

Overall, the Middle East accounts for the vast majority of oil resources, while Asia, the United States, and Western Europe are the largest consumers. It is also clear that in several regions there is a strong imbalance between resources and consumption.

In terms of oil reserves, the Middle East dominates with 56.5% of the total, far exceeding all other regions. Canada is the second largest holder with nearly 15%, followed by Central and South America with 8%. By contrast, most other areas, such as Asia, Western Europe, and the United States, have less than 3% of the world’s reserves.

When it comes to consumption, the picture is very different. Asia consumes the most oil, with around 29% of the global total, closely followed by the United States (25%) and Western Europe (19%). In contrast, the Middle East, despite its vast reserves, uses only 6% of the world’s oil. Other regions such as Africa, Canada, and South America each consume relatively small amounts, ranging from 2% to 7%.

In summary, while oil reserves are concentrated in the Middle East, the greatest demand comes from industrialized and highly populated regions such as Asia, the United States, and Western Euro.