World Oil Consumption, 1965-2006
The world oil consumption has almost tripled since 1965. In 2006, the global oil demand was at 81.6 million barrels per day. The above graph indicates the regional distribution of this demand. North American and European consumption has remained relatively constant over the last 25 years. A significant share of the new oil demand is assumed by Pacific Asian nations going through rapid industrialization and motorization, particularly China, which has become the world's second largest importer after the United States.