Which country is the largest producer of crude oil?

The United States is the world’s largest producer of crude oil. Its production leadership is driven chiefly by the rapid expansion of tight oil from shale formations, especially in the Permian Basin of Texas and New Mexico.

Modern horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing transformed US petroleum output during the 2000s and 2010s. The country regained the top position in crude-oil production in the late 2010s, overtaking long-standing leaders such as Saudi Arabia and Russia. Production levels can fluctuate with prices, investment, technology and global events, but the United States has remained the leading producer in recent years.

“Crude oil” is narrower than “total petroleum liquids.” Rankings may differ when condensates, natural-gas liquids or refined products are included, which explains some apparently conflicting lists. This question specifically asks about crude oil, not proven reserves or exports.

The United States is not the largest exporter of crude oil, nor does it possess the world’s largest proven reserves. Those are separate measures from how much oil a country extracts during a given period.