Mercedes Mullins
America's fuel consumption is a topic that raises questions about the country's energy security and reliability. In 2023, the United States consumed approximately 137.05 billion gallons of finished motor gasoline, which equates to about 376 million gallons per day. This figure represents a 2% increase from 2022, when Americans used 134.55 billion gallons. The transportation sector is a key contributor to fuel consumption, with Americans travelling an estimated 3.2 trillion miles in 2021 and an average of 32 miles per day per vehicle. In 2023, petroleum was the most consumed energy source in the US, accounting for over a third of all energy usage, and motor gasoline is one of the most consumed fuels in the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total fuel consumption in 2022 | 135.73 billion gallons |
| Motor gasoline consumption in 2022 | 134.55 billion gallons |
| Aviation gasoline consumption in 2022 | 0.19 billion gallons |
| Average daily consumption in 2022 | 368.63 million gallons |
| Total fuel consumption in 2023 | 137.05 billion gallons |
| Motor gasoline consumption in 2023 | 376 million gallons per day |
| Total petroleum consumption as a percentage of energy usage in 2023 | 38% |
| Number of registered vehicles in the US | 275.9 million |
| Average gallons of gasoline used per vehicle per year | 489 gallons |
| Average miles travelled per vehicle per day | 32 miles |
| Total miles driven by Americans in 2021 | 3.2 trillion miles |
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![A List of Fuel and Petroleum Statistics / Issued by the Statistical Clearing House, Central Bureau of Planning and Statistics 1918 [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/617DLHXyzlL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
What You'll Learn
Gasoline consumption in 2022
Gasoline is one of the most consumed fuels in the United States, and it is the main product that U.S. oil refineries produce. In 2022, Americans used about 135.73 billion gallons of gasoline, including 134.55 billion gallons of finished motor gasoline (about 368.63 million gallons per day) and about 0.19 billion gallons of finished aviation gasoline.
Motor gasoline is used in cars, sport utility vehicles, light trucks, and motorcycles. In 2022, total gasoline consumption accounted for about 57% of total energy consumption in the transportation sector and 16% of total energy consumption in the U.S. Light-duty vehicles (cars, sport utility vehicles, and small trucks) account for about 91% of all gasoline consumption in the United States.
Texas and California have historically accounted for the largest shares of total U.S. motor gasoline consumption. In 2021, Americans travelled 8.834 billion miles per day, and this number was expected to increase to 9.117 billion miles per day in 2022. This increase in travel may be due to the fact that Americans are seeking the best prices at various fueling stations, with 69% of drivers reporting that the gasoline price is the top reason they select a specific retail fueling location.
In 2022, U.S. gasoline consumption was expected to increase to around 373.8 million gallons per day, up from 373.3 million gallons per day in 2021. This number is still lower than the record-high level of finished motor gasoline consumption, which was about 392 million gallons per day in 2018.
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Gasoline consumption in 2023
In 2022, Americans used about 135.73 billion gallons of gasoline, including 134.55 billion gallons of finished motor gasoline (about 368.63 million gallons per day) and about 0.19 billion gallons of finished aviation gasoline. Motor gasoline is one of the most consumed fuels in the United States.
In 2023, the US finished motor gasoline consumption averaged about 8.94 million barrels per day or about 376 million gallons per day. This is a slight increase from 2022, where the average was 368.63 million gallons per day. The record-high level of finished motor gasoline consumption was about 392 million gallons per day in 2018.
The consumption of gasoline in the United States amounted to some 8.62 million barrels per day in December 2024. In November 2024, the figure was around 8.6 million barrels of gasoline consumed every day. Consumption is highest in the summer months.
The transportation sector, which includes public and personal transportation by road vehicles, airplanes, trains and ships, is the second-largest energy-consuming sector in the United States. In 2023, gasoline consumption in this sector was around 8.5 million barrels per day. This is close to three times higher than diesel consumption, which amounted to less than three million barrels per day.
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Gasoline superusers
In 2022, Americans consumed about 135.73 billion gallons of gasoline, including 134.55 billion gallons of finished motor gasoline (approximately 368.63 million gallons per day) and 0.19 billion gallons of finished aviation gasoline. Motor gasoline is one of the most widely used fuels in the United States, with the transportation industry being the most well-known user. Cars, SUVs, light trucks, and motorcycles are the most common vehicles that use this fuel.
Texas and California have consistently been the top consumers of motor gasoline in the United States. In 2018, Texas consumed 12% of the country's total gasoline products, while California consumed 11%. Texas also leads in the production of petroleum products, natural gas, and coal.
Finished motor gasoline, often referred to as gasoline, is the most widely used fuel in the United States. It is derived from petroleum or crude oil and is used in spark-ignited internal combustion engines. Gasoline is often mixed with about 10% fuel ethanol and various additives to improve performance and reduce emissions.
High-performance sports cars and aircraft require high-octane gasoline, which is also known as aviation gasoline. This type of fuel is the fourth most commonly used petroleum product in the United States, with the aviation industry being the primary consumer. While finished motor gasoline is used extensively on the ground, finished aviation gasoline is crucial for operations in the air.
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Fossil fuels as the main energy source
Fossil fuels remain the primary energy source for the United States, with 83% of energy consumption derived from them in 2023. Petroleum has been the top source of US energy since data tracking began in 1950, and it remains the most consumed energy source in the nation, accounting for over a third (38%) of all energy usage in 2023. This is closely followed by natural gas, which makes up over a third of energy consumption (36%).
The transportation sector is a major contributor to fossil fuel usage, with motor gasoline being one of the most consumed fuels in the United States. In 2022, Americans used about 135.73 billion gallons of gasoline, including 134.55 billion gallons of finished motor gasoline (about 368.63 million gallons per day). This figure increased to 137.05 billion gallons in 2023, or about 376 million gallons per day. The record-high level of finished motor gasoline consumption was around 392 million gallons per day in 2018.
Gasoline consumption is closely tied to the rhythms of everyday life, including commutes, errands, and vacations. With 275.9 million registered vehicles in the United States, the average vehicle travels approximately 32 miles per day, contributing to the country's overall gasoline demand. In 2021, Americans drove an estimated 3.2 trillion miles on roads and highways, with gasoline demand peaking at an annual average consumption of 9.329 million barrels per day.
While fossil fuels dominate America's energy mix, there are signs of a shift towards cleaner energy sources. Gasoline superusers, who collectively consume 35% of all gasoline used by US private light-duty vehicles, are highlighted in the "Gasoline Superusers" report as a key target group for transitioning to cleaner vehicles. Additionally, the decline in coal consumption, which has dropped 64% since its peak in 2005, indicates a move towards more efficient and lower-carbon energy sources.
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Petroleum as the most-consumed energy source
Petroleum has been the most-consumed energy source in the US for the past 73 years. In 2023, fossil fuels—petroleum, natural gas, and coal—accounted for nearly 83% to 84% of total US energy consumption. Petroleum's share of total US energy consumption was about 38% (35 quads) in 2023, a decrease from its peak of 49% in 1978. In 2022, US petroleum consumption averaged about 20.28 million barrels per day, a 2% increase from 2021 and a 12% increase from 2020. This increase was largely due to the US economy returning to pre-COVID-19 pandemic activity levels.
Petroleum is used across all sectors of the modern US economy, from transportation to industrial chemicals and plastics. In 2023, petroleum provided about 89% of the transportation sector's primary energy consumption. In 2022, total gasoline consumption, based on energy content, accounted for about 57% of total energy consumption in the transportation sector and 16% of total US energy consumption. Gasoline is the most-consumed petroleum product in the US, with finished motor gasoline consumption averaging about 8.78 million barrels per day (369 million gallons per day) in 2022, which was about 43% of total US petroleum consumption. In 2023, US finished motor gasoline consumption averaged about 8.94 million barrels per day or about 376 million gallons per day.
Distillate fuel oil, which includes diesel fuel and heating oil, is the second-most-consumed petroleum product in the US. Diesel fuel is used in heavy construction equipment, trucks, buses, tractors, boats, trains, some automobiles, and electricity generators. Heating oil is used for heating homes and buildings in boilers and furnaces, for industrial heating, and for producing electricity in power plants.
In the industrial sector, the petrochemical industry uses petroleum as a raw material to make products such as plastics, polyurethane, solvents, and hundreds of other intermediate and end-user goods. Petroleum is also used to produce electricity, although it accounted for less than 1% of the electric power sector's primary energy consumption in 2023.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2023, Americans consumed about 137.05 billion gallons of gasoline, including 134.55 billion gallons of finished motor gasoline and about 0.19 billion gallons of finished aviation gasoline.
In 2022, the transportation sector's gasoline and diesel use accounted for about 57% of the total energy consumption in the sector and 16% of the country's total energy consumption.
In 2023, 83% of America's energy consumption was from fossil fuels, with petroleum being the most-consumed energy source, accounting for over a third (38%) of all energy usage.
