Guyana has officially become the world’s largest oil producer per capita, a status long predicted since 2021 and now confirmed following the rise in national output to 900,000 barrels per day on November 12, 2025.
The milestone was confirmed, following the full ramp-up of production across the Stabroek Block developments. The country, with a population of roughly 750,000, now produces more oil per person than any other nation.
Arthur Deakin, who served as Co-Director of Energy at Americas Market Intelligence, first made the forecast in 2021. He said, “Yellowtail would propel Guyana to be the 23rd largest oil producer in the world and 4th in Latin America,” adding that the project would also make Guyana the world’s largest oil producer per capita.
In 2025, that prediction has materialised.
Being the world’s largest oil producer per capita means the volume of oil produced, when divided by the number of citizens, exceeds that of every other oil-producing country. Guyana’s output now equates to more than one barrel per person per day, an extraordinary ratio that highlights the scale of offshore production relative to its population.
A week ago, when the achievement was first announced, ExxonMobil Guyana President Alistair Routledge said, “We continue to safely deliver industry-leading performance, providing the oil and gas the world still demands.” He added, “Guyana’s story is one of continuous achievements because of the close collaboration with the Government of Guyana, our co-venturers, suppliers, contractors, and employees.”
Guyana has advanced rapidly from producing 120,000 barrels per day just five years ago. More than US$60 billion has been invested to date across seven approved projects in the Stabroek Block. The Uaru and Whiptail developments are expected to begin production in 2026 and 2027, each adding 250,000 barrels per day. Hammerhead will follow in 2029 with 150,000 barrels per day, while the proposed Longtail project remains under review.
Total output could reach 1.7 million barrels per day by 2030, reinforcing Guyana’s per capita dominance in the global oil industry.
