Mapped: The Countries Most Dependent on Imported Fossil Fuels

Mapped: The Countries Most Dependent on Imported Fossil Fuels

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Three-quarters of the world’s population live in countries that are net importers of fossil fuels.

Using the latest data from Ember (as of April 2025), this map ranks countries by the percentage of their total energy supplied by imported fossil fuels.

From Curaçao to China

Imports account for over two-thirds of energy use in countries representing 20% of global GDP, including industrial powerhouses like Germany, Japan, and Italy. However, the most dependent countries are usually small island nations.

At the top of the list is Gibraltar, a tiny British territory at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula. With no domestic fossil fuel resources, Gibraltar relies entirely—100%—on imported fuels to meet its energy needs.

In second place is Curaçao, a Caribbean island that, despite its oil-refining history, lacks fossil fuel reserves. Once home to one of the world’s busiest refineries, Curaçao imports 99% of its energy, primarily refined petroleum products.

The list also includes major European economies recently pushing to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, specifically from Russia. Despite being major fossil fuel producers, China and India also appear on our list, as their massive industrial sectors and growing energy demand require substantial imports to bridge the gap.

Fossil Fuel Export Giants

Since 1960, fossil fuel imports have increased twelvefold, becoming a central pillar of the modern energy economy. As of 2022, imports accounted for 37% of the global primary energy supply.

While many countries depend on imports, major net exporters of fossil fuels include the United States, Canada, Brazil, Russia, and Australia.

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If you enjoyed this topic, check out this graphic that shows how the largest importers of Russian fossil fuels have changed.