Africa’s hydrocarbon landscape continues to shape global energy markets, but the story beneath the surface is more complex than daily crude oil production figures alone.
- Africa’s energy sector is significantly influenced by its hydrocarbon reserves and output capabilities.
- Libya holds the largest proven oil reserves in Africa, being a strategic player on the continent’s energy map.
- Nigeria combines substantial proven reserves with the continent’s leading daily oil production.
- Countries such as Algeria, Angola, and Egypt show differing balances between reserves and current extraction rates.
Recent data on proven oil reserves in 2025 shows stark contrasts between countries that pump a lot of oil today and those sitting on vast barrels waiting to be developed.
Libya and Nigeria dominate the reserve rankings, while others produce heavily relative to what they still hold underground.
At the top of Africa’s reserve chart is Libya, estimated to hold around 48.36 billion barrels of proven oil, the largest in Africa. Despite political headwinds that have at times disrupted output, Libya’s underground wealth makes it a strategic player in the continent’s long‑term energy map.
Nigeria, Africa’s top crude producer, holds about 36.89 billion barrels, putting it firmly in second place on the reserves list and giving it both output scale and resource depth.
Algeria follows with 12.20 billion barrels of proven oil, while Angola and Egypt hold about 7.78 billion and 3.30 billion barrels respectively. These figures illustrate the uneven distribution of oil wealth in Africa, where a handful of states control the majority of known reserves.
Production still matters, but not all producers are equal
When it comes to daily oil output, Nigeria has managed to hold onto its position as the continent’s largest producer through much of 2025, regularly delivering well over 1.5 million barrels per day, with mid-year averages reaching 1.78 million barrels per day.
The surge reflected a pick-up in activity as security measures in the oil-rich Niger Delta helped reduce theft and downtime.
Libya and Algeria also produce hundreds of thousands of barrels per day, though output varies monthly. While production shows current performance, it does not always reflect the long-term potential locked in reserves, particularly in Libya, whose massive reserves dwarf those of other producers.
For Angola and Egypt, production and reserves tell different stories.
Angola remains a key producer but, relative to its reserves, is extracting at a faster pace that could shorten its productive lifespan without fresh discoveries or enhanced recovery efforts. Egypt, with a smaller reserve base and a more diversified energy sector, is focused on maximising efficiency across hydrocarbons and renewables.
What emerges from these numbers is a clear divide between countries that are maximising daily output today and those that hold vast untapped oil wealth.
As global energy transitions unfold, Africa’s long-term oil power will increasingly depend not just on barrels pumped today but on the depth of what remains in the ground.
