How dependent is the United States on imported oil?
The United States is more dependent now on foreign oil than ever before. In 2006, the United States imported 12.2 million b/d in 2006, or about 60 percent of its 20.6 million b/d total consumption. That represents a substantial increase in share — up from 35 percent of total demand in 1973. The share of imported oil is projected to continue to rise to close to 70 percent by 2020, with the United States becoming increasingly dependent on oil from the Persian Gulf. U.S. oil imports from the Persian Gulf are expected to rise from 2.2 million b/d (17.4 percent of total U.S. oil imports) in 2006 to 4.2 million b/d by 2020, or 62 percent of total U.S. oil imports, according to forecasts by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
