TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Despite decades of efforts to diversify energy supplies, many countries that depend on Middle East oil remain deeply tied to the region’s exports.
Limited access to alternative energy sources and import partners has kept their reliance high, with some nations becoming even more dependent over time.
According to the 2024 IEA World Energy Statistics, smaller economies dominate the list of countries with the greatest dependence on Middle East oil.
Eritrea and Madagascar lead the ranking, while several other nations across Africa and Asia also continue to rely heavily on the region to meet their energy needs.
Which countries depend on Middle East oil the most?
- Eritrea - 91%
- Madagascar - 89%
- Pakistan - 78%
- Japan - 77%
- Kenya - 77%
- Taiwan - 63%
- Korea - 57%
- South Africa- 54%
- Tanzania- 53%
- Namibia - 50%
- Sri Lanka - 50%
- Thailand - 50%
- India - 45%
- Lithuania - 40%
Based on the data, the countries with the greatest influence on global energy markets are concentrated in Asia. Japan ranks fourth overall, with Middle Eastern imports accounting for 77% of its domestic oil consumption.
Other major Asian economies also maintain strong ties to the region’s oil supplies. Taiwan sources 63% of its oil from the Middle East, followed by South Korea at 57%, India at 45%, and China at 38%.
The prominence of East Asia among countries that depend on Middle East oil underscores a fundamental energy challenge: many of the region’s largest economies consume far more oil than they can produce domestically.
To fuel transportation networks, manufacturing industries, and petrochemical sectors, East Asian countries continue to rely heavily on imports from the Middle East, the world's leading crude oil export region.
Beyond energy consumption, the rankings also highlight how exposed some nations are to geopolitical risks. Much of the oil exported from the Middle East travels through key maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz.
According to Visual Capitalist, any disruption along these corridors can quickly ripple through global energy markets, particularly for countries that rely heavily on Middle Eastern supplies.
Although global oil trade networks can adapt over time, not all countries are equally positioned to weather supply shocks. Nations with diverse import sources or substantial domestic production typically enjoy greater energy security, giving them more flexibility when markets become volatile.
For a closer look at how global crude shipments move through one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints, and which economies could face the greatest disruptions in the event of supply shocks, read our coverage of the Straits of Hormuz oil trade by country here.
Read: Top Global Oil Companies Ranked by Market Value in 2026
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