Global oil reserves breakdown by country 1960-2023

Venezuela accounts for the greatest share of global oil reserves. As of 2023, 19.31 percent of all known oil reserves were found in the South American country. Saudi Arabia followed, at some 17 percent. The majority of Venezuela's oil reserves are held in the form of oil sands and other very heavy oil types that have only become accessible through technological advances made in the late 2000's and early 2010's. OPEC reservesMost of the leading oil reserves holding countries are members of OPEC, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, founded in 1960. Now comprised of 13 member states, OPEC's share of global crude oil reserves is around 80 percent. Most OPEC countries are in the Middle East, the region with the largest oil reserves, holding around half of the global share. Oil sands contribute to growing reservesAs one of the five founding members of OPEC, Venezuela has long been an oil-producing country with heavy economic reliance on oil exports. However, in 2011, Venezuela’s energy and oil ministry announced an unprecedented increase in proved oil reserves as oil sands in the Orinoco Belt territory were certified. As a result, South and Central America’s proven oil reserves more than doubled between 2008 and 2011.

委内瑞拉占据全球石油储备的最大份额。截至2023年，已知石油储备中19.31%位于该南美国家。沙特阿拉伯紧随其后，约占17%。委内瑞拉的大部分石油储备以油砂和其他非常重的油型存在，这些油型仅在2000年代后期和2010年代初期通过技术进步才变得可开采。OPEC（石油输出国组织）储备：大多数主要石油储备持有国均为OPEC成员国，该组织成立于1960年，目前拥有13个成员国。OPEC在全球原油储备中所占比例约为80%。大多数OPEC国家位于中东地区，该地区拥有最大的石油储备，持有全球约一半的份额。油砂助力储备增长：作为OPEC的五个创始成员国之一，委内瑞拉长期以来一直是一个以石油出口为主要经济依赖的石油生产国。然而，2011年，委内瑞拉能源和石油部宣布，随着奥里诺科河地带油砂的认证，已探明石油储备出现了前所未有的增长。因此，南美洲和中美洲的已探明石油储备在2008年至2011年期间翻了一番以上。