Gas prices around the world 2022

At 3.82 U.S. dollars per gallon in October 2022, regular all formulation retail gasoline prices in the United States were considerably lower than in Hong Kong or the Central African Republic, which reported the highest gasoline prices in the world at the end of October 2022. Norway also ranked high this year. Its high gasoline prices might be one of the reasons why the country is leading the charge towards electric mobility.

Gas prices in selected countries worldwide

Fuel prices in different countries range from a few cents to almost two U.S. dollars per liter. Gasoline is often regarded as a key driver of a country’s economy, as it is the main fuel used in passenger vehicles and the automotive fleets of small and large businesses. The United States is one of the biggest consumers of gasoline on a per capita basis, with approximately 356 gallons of gasoline per person in 2020.

Fuel prices respond to crude oil price changes

One of the liquid’s main ingredients is crude oil. The spot prices of publicly traded crudes, such as U.S.-sourced WTI (West Texas Intermediate), UK Brent, and the OPEC basket grades, are highly volatile and have proven prone to inflation as of late, most recently due to the novel coronavirus outbreak in China, blockages in the Suez Canal, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Where access to oil is limited, this volatility may spur a shift towards alternative propulsion systems and fuels among a growing number of vehicle drivers.

Affordability of fuel

Gas prices in Europe are counted among the highest worldwide. At 7.6 U.S. dollars per gallon or more, gasoline is particularly expensive in Iceland, Norway, Denmark, Greece, Finland, and the Netherlands. Car drivers in Mozambique and Madagascar feel the most pain at the pump. Some 145.7 percent of a month's wages are needed to fill up a tank in Mozambique. The low affordability of fuel is due to weak currencies, limited wage growth, and a level of prosperity that is yet to meet other markets' standards. The high price in countries such as the Netherlands and Norway is largely attributable to taxes. Other factors driving gas prices include local demand, processing and distribution costs, and the aforementioned level of crude oil prices.