Global crude oil production reached a record 101.8 million barrels per day in 2023. The industry employed over ten million people worldwide, from 120,000 workers in the North Sea to 1.2 million in Russia. These statistics illustrate the scale and shifting dynamics of oil field employment and output.
Key Takeaways
- The oil and gas industry employed 10.3 million people directly worldwide in 2022
- In the US, oil and gas supported 10.3 million jobs in 2022, including 1.7 million direct
- Saudi Aramco employed 73,162 workers in 2022, with 70% Saudi nationals
- CO2 emissions from oil/gas operations 14.5 Gt in 2022, 35% global total
- US fracking water use 20 billion barrels cumulative to 2023, 90% recycled in Permian
- Global methane emissions from oil 70 Mt/year 2022, IEA superemitters 120 sites
- The oil industry contributed $4.1 trillion to global GDP in 2022, 3.9% share
- US oil/gas added $1.7 trillion to GDP in 2022, 8% of total
- Saudi Arabia oil revenues $320 billion in 2022, 40% of GDP
- In 2023, global crude oil production reached 101.8 million barrels per day (bpd), marking a 4.9% increase from 2022
- The United States produced a record 12.9 million bpd of crude oil in 2023, surpassing Saudi Arabia as the world's top producer
- OPEC+ countries accounted for 51.7% of global oil supply in 2023, with production quotas adjusted to 41.15 million bpd in April 2023
- Proven global oil reserves stood at 1,732.4 billion barrels at end-2022, enough for 50.6 years at current rates
- Venezuela holds the largest proven oil reserves at 303.8 billion barrels as of 2022
- Saudi Arabia's proven reserves are 267.0 billion barrels, with 90% in Ghawar field
In 2022, the oil and gas industry directly employed 10.3 million people worldwide.
Related reading
01 · Category
Employment and Operations26 stats
01
The oil and gas industry employed 10.3 million people directly worldwide in 2022
02
In the US, oil and gas supported 10.3 million jobs in 2022, including 1.7 million direct
03
Saudi Aramco employed 73,162 workers in 2022, with 70% Saudi nationals
04
ExxonMobil's global workforce was 62,000 in 2023, focused on upstream operations
05
Permian Basin operations employ over 100,000 workers in Texas/New Mexico 2023
06
Norway's oil industry employs 180,000 people, 6.5% of workforce in 2023
07
Brazil's oil sector jobs reached 450,000 direct in 2023, Petrobras 45,000
08
Nigeria's upstream oil employs 70,000 expatriates and locals combined 2023
09
Canada's oil sands operations support 140,000 direct/indirect jobs in Alberta 2023
10
Russia's oil industry workforce 1.2 million in 2022, Rosneft 300,000
11
UK North Sea oil jobs totaled 120,000 in 2023, down from peak due to decline
12
Australia's LNG/oil workforce 25,000 direct in 2023
13
Global rig count averaged 2,250 in 2023, up 15% YoY
14
US land rig count hit 620 in 2023, Permian 300 rigs active
15
Middle East rig count 220 in 2023, Saudi/UAE dominant
16
Offshore rigs worldwide 340 active in 2023, jackups 50%
17
Mexico employs 120,000 in oil/gas, Pemex 123,000 in 2023
18
Kazakhstan Tengiz employs 8,000 locals in expansion phase 2023
19
Guyana oil projects to create 5,000 jobs by 2025, 2,000 current 2023
20
Global FPSO fleet operates 250 units in 2023, employing 50,000 seafarers
21
LNG carriers fleet 600 vessels in 2023, crew 20,000 total
22
Refinery workforce global 1.5 million in 2022, Asia 60%
23
IOCs like TotalEnergies employ 100,000 globally, 40% upstream 2023
24
NOCs dominate employment, 75% of global oil jobs in 2022
25
Women represent 22% of oil/gas workforce globally 2023, up from 15% in 2015
26
Training programs trained 500,000 workers in digital skills for oil 2022-23
Interpretation
Employment and Operations Interpretation
While the oil industry often presents itself as a monolithic titan of global energy, the true picture is a vast, intricate human mosaic—from the 8,000 locals in Kazakhstan's Tengiz expansion to the 50,000 seafarers on FPSOs—proving that for all its engineering marvels, this sector remains fundamentally a job engine built on the backs of millions, yet one that is still grappling with its own evolution in diversity and technological adaptation.
02 · Category
Environmental, Safety, and Technology26 stats
01
CO2 emissions from oil/gas operations 14.5 Gt in 2022, 35% global total
02
US fracking water use 20 billion barrels cumulative to 2023, 90% recycled in Permian
03
Global methane emissions from oil 70 Mt/year 2022, IEA superemitters 120 sites
04
Offshore oil spill volume 10,000 tonnes in 2022 globally
05
Flaring volumes 140 bcm gas in 2022, Nigeria 15 bcm top flarer
06
Recordable incident rate oil industry 0.45 per 200k hours 2022
07
Saudi Aramco zero Tier 1 process safety events in 2023
08
Digital twin tech deployed in 30% rigs 2023, reducing NPT 20%
09
CCUS projects capture 40 Mt CO2/year 2023, oil EOR 80%
10
Permian electrification cuts emissions 50% on 1,000 pads 2023
11
Global seismic surveys 500,000 km2 in 2023 using AI processing
12
Autonomous drilling rigs 50 units operational 2023, 30% faster ROP
13
Hydrogen from oil refineries 5 Mt/year blue H2 potential 2030
14
Blowout preventer tech upgrades post-Macondo, 99.999% reliability 2023
15
Drone inspections cover 80% pipelines in Gulf of Mexico 2023
16
Biofuels from oil waste 2 million tonnes/year 2023
17
AI predictive maintenance saves $5 billion downtime 2023 industry-wide
18
Subsea tiebacks 100 projects 2023, reducing emissions 30%
19
Floating wind-oil hybrid platforms piloted 5 sites 2023 Norway
20
Waterflood recovery 40% avg fields, polymer enhanced 55% 2023
21
Satellite methane monitoring detects 80% leaks real-time 2023
22
Net-zero scopes 1-3 pledged by 50% majors by 2050, interim 15% cut 2030
23
Horizontal drilling lengths avg 10,000 ft 2023 US shale
24
Geothermal from depleted fields pilots 10 sites 2023
25
AR/VR training reduces accidents 25% in 500 sites 2023
26
Long-distance subsea pipelines 5,000 km commissioned 2023
Interpretation
Environmental, Safety, and Technology Interpretation
We are a Jekyll and Hyde industry, simultaneously the world's leading emitter and its most innovative decarbonizer, wrestling with our own monstrous legacy while feverishly building the tools to contain it.
03 · Category
Financial and Economic Impact29 stats
01
The oil industry contributed $4.1 trillion to global GDP in 2022, 3.9% share
02
US oil/gas added $1.7 trillion to GDP in 2022, 8% of total
03
Saudi Arabia oil revenues $320 billion in 2022, 40% of GDP
04
Global upstream investment $500 billion in 2023, down 6% YoY
05
ExxonMobil reported $413 billion revenue, $36 billion profit in 2022
06
Brent crude averaged $82/bbl in 2023, WTI $77/bbl
07
OPEC revenues $1.1 trillion in 2022 from oil exports
08
Permian Basin generated $200 billion economic output in 2022
09
Norway's oil fund reached $1.4 trillion in 2023 from petroleum revenues
10
Russia's oil export revenues $200 billion in 2022 despite sanctions
11
Brazil Petrobras dividend $20 billion in 2023, record payout
12
Global refining margins averaged $12/bbl crack spread in 2023
13
Chevron 2022 profit $37 billion on $235 billion revenue
14
Shell energy trading profit $50 billion in 2022
15
US shale producers capex $100 billion in 2023, FCF $80 billion
16
Middle East sovereign wealth from oil $300 billion inflows 2022
17
LNG trade value $250 billion in 2023 at $12/MMBtu avg
18
Alberta oil sands royalties $20 billion CAD to govt in 2022
19
Global oil trade 60 million bpd seaborne in 2023, value $1.8 trillion
20
Iraq oil revenues $100 billion in 2023, funding 40% budget
21
UAE ADNOC dividends $5 billion to emirates in 2023
22
China's oil import bill $500 billion in 2023 at 11 million bpd
23
Guyana oil royalties 2% yield $1 billion revenue in 2023
24
Global decommissioning spend $10 billion/year projected to 2025
25
BP 2022 loss $3.3 billion despite $170 billion revenue
26
TotalEnergies profit €17.8 billion EUR in 2022
27
Eni EBITDA €22 billion in 2022 from oil price surge
28
Occidental Petroleum debt reduced $15 billion post-Anadarko 2023
29
Global oilfield services market $250 billion in 2023, Schlumberger $33 billion revenue
Interpretation
Financial and Economic Impact Interpretation
Despite its undeniable and colossal economic footprint—where a single year's production can bankroll entire nations and fund trillion-dollar sovereign wealth funds—the oil industry remains a precarious giant, whose staggering revenues and profits are perpetually at the mercy of geopolitics, sanctions, volatile prices, and the ever-looming bill for its own cleanup.
More related reading
04 · Category
Production Statistics30 stats
01
In 2023, global crude oil production reached 101.8 million barrels per day (bpd), marking a 4.9% increase from 2022
02
The United States produced a record 12.9 million bpd of crude oil in 2023, surpassing Saudi Arabia as the world's top producer
03
OPEC+ countries accounted for 51.7% of global oil supply in 2023, with production quotas adjusted to 41.15 million bpd in April 2023
04
Russia's crude oil production averaged 10.5 million bpd in 2023, down 4.5% from 2022 due to sanctions
05
Norway's oil production stood at 1.95 million bpd in 2023, with the Johan Sverdrup field contributing 755,000 bpd
06
Brazil's oil output hit 3.2 million bpd in 2023, driven by pre-salt fields producing 2.7 million bpd
07
Canada's oil sands production reached 3.3 million bpd in 2023, representing 51% of national output
08
Iraq produced 4.5 million bpd of crude oil in 2023, with exports averaging 3.6 million bpd
09
UAE oil production was 4.1 million bpd in 2023, up 8% from prior year due to quota increases
10
China's domestic crude production grew to 4.2 million bpd in 2023, a 2% rise YoY
11
Global LNG production increased to 404 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2023, equivalent to 26% of oil equivalent supply
12
Permian Basin in the US produced 5.9 million bpd of crude in 2023, 46% of US total
13
Kazakhstan's Tengiz field output reached 850,000 bpd in 2023 post-expansion
14
Guyana's oil production surged to 385,000 bpd in 2023 from Stabroek block
15
Australia's oil production averaged 400,000 bpd in 2023, with LNG at 88 million tonnes
16
Nigeria's oil production recovered to 1.6 million bpd in 2023 from theft and sabotage lows
17
Libya's output fluctuated to average 1.2 million bpd in 2023 amid political tensions
18
Indonesia produced 600,000 bpd of oil in 2023, down 5% due to mature fields decline
19
Mexico's crude production fell to 1.85 million bpd in 2023, with Cantarell field at 400,000 bpd
20
UK North Sea production was 1.15 million bpd oil equivalent in 2023, down 6%
21
Venezuela produced 800,000 bpd in 2023, up 50% from sanctions relief
22
Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale oil output reached 300,000 bpd in 2023
23
Oman produced 1.1 million bpd in 2023, with Block 60 contributing significantly
24
Kuwait's oil production was 2.7 million bpd in 2023 under OPEC quotas
25
Algeria produced 1.0 million bpd in 2023, focusing on gas at 100 bcm
26
Global refinery throughput hit 82.5 million bpd in 2023, up 2.5%
27
Saudi Aramco's production capacity stands at 12 million bpd, averaging 9 million bpd in 2023
28
ExxonMobil's global upstream production was 2.4 million boe/d in 2023
29
Shell's oil and gas production averaged 1.8 million boe/d in 2023
30
Chevron's production reached 3.1 million boe/d in 2023, driven by Permian
Interpretation
Production Statistics Interpretation
Despite OPEC+'s best efforts to play conductor of the global oil orchestra, the crescendo of the past year was indisputably composed by the relentless shale soloists in the United States, a record-setting Brazil, and even a surprising new duet from Guyana.
05 · Category
Reserves and Resources29 stats
01
Proven global oil reserves stood at 1,732.4 billion barrels at end-2022, enough for 50.6 years at current rates
02
Venezuela holds the largest proven oil reserves at 303.8 billion barrels as of 2022
03
Saudi Arabia's proven reserves are 267.0 billion barrels, with 90% in Ghawar field
04
Iran's reserves total 208.6 billion barrels, ranking third globally per OPEC 2022 data
05
Canada's oil sands resources are estimated at 167 billion barrels recoverable
06
Iraq's proven reserves are 145.0 billion barrels, concentrated in southern supergiant fields
07
UAE reserves at 111.0 billion barrels, with Abu Dhabi holding 92%
08
Russia's reserves are 107.8 billion barrels, including Arctic offshore potential
09
Kuwait's Burgan field holds 70 billion barrels, largest conventional reserve globally
10
US technically recoverable shale oil resources estimated at 345 billion barrels
11
Brazil's pre-salt reserves exceed 30 billion barrels in Tupi field alone
12
Libya's reserves are 48.4 billion barrels, mostly in Sirte Basin
13
Nigeria's reserves stand at 36.9 billion barrels, with 70% offshore
14
Kazakhstan's reserves are 30.0 billion barrels, Tengiz at 6-9 billion
15
Global undiscovered oil resources estimated at 565 billion barrels conventional
16
Norway's continental shelf holds 15 billion barrels oil equivalent remaining recoverable
17
China's reserves are 26.0 billion barrels, with Daqing field depleted
18
Angola's reserves total 9.1 billion barrels, Block 17 key asset
19
US proven reserves increased to 44.4 billion barrels in 2022, Permian dominant
20
Qatar's North Field holds 11 billion barrels oil equivalent in gas
21
Global oil shale resources in-place exceed 6 trillion barrels
22
Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale holds 16 billion barrels recoverable
23
Guyana's Stabroek block estimated 11 billion barrels recoverable
24
Oman conventional reserves 5.4 billion barrels, enhanced recovery key
25
Global heavy oil resources 3.4 trillion barrels in-place, mostly Venezuela/Orinoco
26
Permian Basin ultimate recovery potential 75 billion barrels
27
UK's Buzzard field reserves 2 billion barrels recoverable
28
Mexico's Sureste Basin untapped reserves 10 billion barrels
29
World total proved reserves of natural gas liquids 113 billion barrels end-2022
Interpretation
Reserves and Resources Interpretation
While we mathematically have enough oil to fuel our current habits for another 50 years, the geopolitical reality is that this bounty is an incredibly unevenly divided deck, with over a third of the world's proven cards held in just two politically volatile hands.
Reference
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APA
David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Oil Field Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/oil-field-industry-statistics
MLA
David Sutherland. "Oil Field Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/oil-field-industry-statistics.
Chicago
David Sutherland. 2026. "Oil Field Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/oil-field-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
55 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level