Top 10 African countries with smallest oil reserves

2026-01-30 - 13:29

African countries’ oil reserves are unevenly spread across the continent. While a handful of countries dominate production and reserves, others sit on relatively small volumes of crude that play only a minor role in their economies. Below are the 10 African countries with the smallest proven oil reserves in 2025, with brief notes on each. 1. Morocco – 684,000 barrels (94th globally) Oil has little economic significance in Morocco. The country relies heavily on imported crude and has instead positioned itself as a regional leader in renewable energy. 2. Ethiopia – 428,000 barrels (95th globally) Ethiopia’s proven oil reserves are extremely limited, leaving the fast-growing economy dependent on petroleum imports to meet domestic demand. 3. South Africa – 15 million barrels (83rd globally) Despite its industrial strength, South Africa has minimal crude oil reserves and depends largely on imports to supply its refineries and fuel market. 4. Benin – 8 million barrels (90th globally) Benin’s small offshore oil deposits contribute little to government revenue, with the economy driven more by trade and services. 5. Mauritania – 20 million barrels (80th globally) Although exploration has continued in recent years, Mauritania’s oil reserves remain modest and have yet to significantly reshape the economy. 6. Niger – 150 million barrels (58th globally) Niger is a small but growing producer, yet its reserves are limited when compared with Africa’s major oil-exporting nations. 7. Democratic Republic of Congo – 180 million barrels (55th globally) Oil plays a minor role in the DRC’s export profile, overshadowed by the country’s vast mineral resources such as copper and cobalt. 8. Cameroon – 200 million barrels (52nd globally) Once a more prominent oil producer, Cameroon now relies on aging fields, reducing oil’s contribution to national revenue. 9. Tunisia – 425 million barrels (47th globally) Tunisia’s oil sector is constrained by limited reserves and declining production, making energy imports increasingly important. 10. Ghana – 660 million barrels (40th globally) While Ghana is one of West Africa’s newer oil producers, its reserves are relatively small, reinforcing the need for economic diversification beyond petroleum. Vanguard News