Which African country has the largest oil reserves?

Libya has Africa’s largest proven oil reserves.

Libya’s petroleum wealth is concentrated mainly in the Sirte Basin, with additional resources in the Murzuq and Ghadames basins. Its reserves are especially valuable because much of the crude is relatively low in sulfur and can be produced at comparatively low cost. Libya’s location across the Mediterranean also places its oil close to major European markets.

Oil was first discovered commercially in Libya in the late 1950s, and petroleum exports soon became the foundation of the country’s economy. The state-owned National Oil Corporation oversees the sector, working with international companies on exploration and production. Oil revenue funds much of Libya’s public spending and exports.

Large reserves do not automatically mean consistently high output. Civil conflict, blockades, damaged infrastructure, political divisions, and disputes over control of fields and export terminals have repeatedly interrupted production. A common mix-up is to choose Nigeria or Algeria: both are major African oil producers, but Libya has the continent’s largest proven reserves.