🛢 The world's biggest oil producer is… the United States

📰 News Explorer July 9, 2026 · U.S. Energy Information Administration announcement See the announcement (external)

Ask where the world's oil comes from and most people name somewhere far away. For eight years running, the answer has been right here.

✅ What we know (fact)

In 2025 the United States produced 13.6 million barrels of crude oil a day — a record, and more than any other country. Russia was next at 9.9 million, then Saudi Arabia at 9.6 million.

Basis: U.S. Energy Information Administration, “The United States produced more crude oil than any other country in 2025” (July 9, 2026)

✅ What we know (fact)

It's not close. U.S. production was about 40% higher on average in 2025 than that of the next two largest producers.

Basis: Same EIA article

✅ What we know (fact)

The United States has been #1 eight years in a row, since passing Russia in 2018.

Basis: Same EIA article

✅ What we know (fact)

Almost half of it comes from one place: the Permian Basin, spread across Texas and New Mexico, at 6.6 million barrels a day — about 48% of the U.S. total.

Basis: Same EIA article (Permian Basin production and share)

Two states hold nearly half of it. Does knowing that change how you picture a map of American energy?

📊 Sources for the rankings mentioned in this note (links to the original data and retrieval dates) are on each quiz page below.

🎯 Check it in the connected quizzes

Which state makes the most electricity by burning oil? 🛢️ Which state makes the most natural-gas power? 🔥 Which state makes the most coal power? 🪨