Published: 22nd of November, 2025 by Patrick Carpen
Last updated: November 22, 2025 at 17:45 pm
Cover photo: Oilnow.gy
In 2024, I published an article explaining that Guyana, at that time, boasted the world’s largest oil reserves “per capita.” It’s important to differentiate between “largest oil reserves” and “largest oil reserves per capita.” The “per capita” factor means “per citizen.” The per capita factor is a strong indicator of the impact the oil revenues should have on the citizens. In other words, we can give more oil to each citizen than any other oil producing nation. This is due in part to the fact that Guyana has a relatively small population. Let’s break this down a little bit.
Below are the countries with the highest “oil reserves” per capita.
No. 5: Qatar
Qatar boasts about 25.2 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. It has a total population of approximately 2.9 million people. 25.2 billion divided by 2.9 million gives us 8,689.5. Theoretically, with its current proven oil reserves, Qatar can give each of its citizens 8689.5 barrels of oil.
No. 4: The United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates boasts about 107 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. It has a total population of approximately 9.4 million people. 107 billion divided by 9.4 million gives us 11,382.9 Theoretically, with its current proven oil reserves, the UAE can give each of its citizens 11,382.9 barrels of oil.
No. 3: Venezuela
Venezuela boasts about 303 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. It has a total population of approximately 26 million people. 303 billion divided by 26 million gives us 11,653.8. Theoretically, with its current proven oil reserves, Venezuela can give each of its citizens 11,653.8 barrels of oil.
No. 2: Kuwait
Kuwait boasts about 101 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. It has a total population of approximately 4.349 million people. 101 billion divided by 4.349 million gives us 23,223.7. Theoretically, with its current proven oil reserves, Kuwait can give each of its citizens 23,223.7 barrels of oil.
No. 1: Guyana
Guyana boasts 18.7 billion barrels of proven oil reserves. It has a total population of approximately 800,000 people. 18.7 billion divided by 800,000 gives us 23,375. Theoretically, with its current proven oil reserves, Guyana can give each of its citizens 23,375 barrels of oil.
Editor’s Note: The figures stated above are rough estimates. The exact population of a country and the exact total proven oil reserves can be difficult to ascertain. Different sources give slightly different figures. To compile this data, we cross-referenced evidence from a variety of reputable sources. Some sources put Kuwait as still the highest in proven oil reserves per capita. However, even if Kuwait is neck to neck with Guyana, or higher, it is doubtless that Guyana will surpass Kuwait in proven oil reserves per capita in the coming years as new oil discoveries are regularly being made in Guyana.
On the 22nd of November, 2025, Oilnow.gy announced that Guyana now produces 900,000 barrels of oil per day, and with a population of less than 1 million, this makes it the highest oil producer “per capita” in the world.
Total oil output in Guyana is projected to reach 1.7 million barrels per day by 2030, nearly twice the current production.
