Global crude oil demand 2005-2025
The global demand for crude oil (including biofuels) in 2024 amounted to 103.75 million barrels per day. The source expects economic activity and related oil demand to pick up by the end of the year, with forecast suggesting it could increase to more than 105 million barrels per day.
Motor fuels make up majority of oil demand
Oil is an important and versatile substance, used in different ways and in different forms for many applications. The road sector is the largest oil consuming sector worldwide. It accounts for nearly one half of the global demand for oil, largely due to reliance on motor spirits made from petroleum. The OPEC projects global oil product demand to reach 120 million barrels per day by 2050, with transportation fuels such as gasoline and diesel expected to remain the most consumed products. Diesel and gasoil demand is forecast to amount to 32.5 million barrels per day in 2050, up from 29 million barrels in 2023. Gasoline demand is forecast at 27 million barrels by 2050.
Differences in forecast oil demand widen between major energy institutions
Despite oil producing bodies such as the OPEC seeing continued importance for crude oil in the future, other forecast centers have been more moderate in their demand outlooks. For example, between the EIA, IEA, and OPEC, the latter was the only one to expect significant growth for oil demand until 2030.
