Most expensive and cheapest countries to buy petrol in 2019
The latest gasoline prices around the world
Political unrest in Venezuela, a weakening Chinese economy and an unexpected increase in US output have resulted in falling crude oil prices, and this drop has translated to lower petrol prices at the pumps in many countries. Still, the cost of petrol, which now averages $1.09 (85p) per litre worldwide according to GlobalPetrolPrices.com, differs wildly depending on where you are. We reveal the nations where petrol is outrageously expensive, and the countries where it costs next to nothing, as of early February 2019.
Wildly differing prices
Though there are several notable exceptions, petrol tends to be more expensive in affluent developed countries where goods and services are charged at a premium and fuel is slapped with high taxes, and cheaper in oil-rich developing nations that have lower prices overall and governments subsidising the commodity to the hilt. Let's start with the 20 most expensive places to fill up your tank.
20th most expensive: Finland
Finland may boast the happiest people in the world, but even the most cheerful Finnish motorist must get at least a little down over the country's high petrol prices, which average $1.57 ($1.22) per litre. Nevertheless, prices in the nation have actually fallen by 11.3% since October 2018.
19th most expensive: Yemen
The ongoing civil war in Yemen has disrupted supplies of gasoline, as well as other basic commodities, and prices have surged as a result. Right now, petrol in the country is priced at $1.58 (£1.23) per litre, which is significantly higher than the cost this time last year.
18th most expensive: Portugal
As in the case in many other countries, the cost of petrol in Portugal has fallen in tandem with the drop in crude oil prices. Back in October, motorists in the country were shelling out $1.76 (£1.37) per litre. As of February 2019, they are paying a more bearable $1.59 (£1.24).
Joint 16th most expensive: France
The issue of excessively high fuel prices acted as a catalyst for France's gilets jaunes ('yellow vests') protests, which are ongoing. But while the cost of petrol in the country remains very high at $1.62 (£1.26) a litre, the typical price at the pumps has fallen by 6.9% since October.
Joint 16th most expensive: Sweden
The cost of gasoline in Sweden hit a record high in September due to high demand and a weak kronor, but retail prices have since fallen somewhat. Currently, motorists in the country are paying an average of $1.62 (£1.26) per litre, which is on a par with their counterparts in France.
15th most expensive: Israel
Unlike other countries in the Middle East, Israel is an expensive place to fill up, with the typical gasoline price a budget-busting $1.64 (£1.27) per litre. The cost of petrol has tumbled, however, by almost 10% since October 2018.
14th most expensive: Mayotte
Mayotte, a small French-administered island located between Madagascar and the coast of Mozambique, has even steeper gasoline prices than metropolitan France, averaging $1.65 (£1.28) a litre. As with mainland France, high fuel costs have prompted social unrest there too.
13th most expensive: Denmark
Like other countries in Scandinavia, Denmark is one expensive place to fill up a vehicle with gasoline, but prices have been falling. Right now, a litre averages $1.67 (£1.30), which is 6.2% cheaper than it was at the end of October 2018.
12th most expensive: Italy
Likewise, the price of gasoline in Italy has fallen since October, but it has started to creep up again. The typical cost at the pumps is $1.69 (£1.31) per litre, down from $1.87 (£1.45) in October.
Joint 10th most expensive: Uruguay
The most expensive South American country to buy gasoline, Uruguay doesn't subsidise the commodity and taxes are high, plus the recent drop in global crude oil prices hasn't resulted in cheaper petrol costs in the nation. Consequently, the price per litre is $1.70 (£1.32).
Joint 10th most expensive: Greece
Vehicle-owners in Greece have to stump up $1.70 (£1.32) on average for a litre of petrol. The government has imposed punishing taxes on the commodity to boost revenue in the austerity-hit country but, thankfully, motorists are paying marginally less now compared to October 2018.
9th most expensive: Zambia
Zambia's Energy Regulation Board has had to up the price of petrol at the pumps due to a depreciation in the country's currency, and the average cost per litre for gasoline is now $1.71 (£1.33) in the African nation.
8th most expensive: Iceland
Iceland was the most pricey place in the world to buy petrol in 2018, but prices have fallen markedly for three months in a row. Be that as it may, filling up there will set you back a hefty $1.75 (£1.36) a litre as the government slaps on a special petrol tax, general petrol tax and carbon tax, not to mention VAT on top.
7th most expensive: Netherlands
The cost of gasoline in the Netherlands dropped towards the end of 2018, but is on the rise again, which is bad news for Dutch motorists who are already paying through the nose. Currently, petrol is priced at $1.77 (£1.38) per litre, a 4.7% increase from December 2018 when the cost was $1.69 (£1.31).
6th most expensive: Barbados
The Caribbean island paradise is absolute hell for anyone with a gas-guzzling vehicle – no wonder so many motorists there are opting for electric vehicles. While prices have fallen since November 2018, Bajans continue to pay a premium for petrol, which currently costs a painful $1.80 (£1.40) a litre.
5th most expensive: Norway
Europe's number one oil producer chooses to tax rather than subsidise petrol and, as a result, prices for the motorist are mega-high. Still, the typical price per litre, which stands at $1.83 (£1.42) has dropped by 5.7% since October 2018.
4th most expensive: Wallis and Futuna
Wallis and Futuna, a tiny French overseas collectivity in the South Pacific, beats mainland France and even exorbitant Mayotte when it comes to petrol prices. Typically, gas stations there charge $1.89 (£1.47) per litre.
3rd most expensive: Monaco
Just about everything is ludicrously expensive in the ultra-wealthy principality of Monaco, including gasoline at the pumps, which costs $1.98 (£1.54) a litre on average. Fortunately, France and its relatively more affordable petrol is only a short drive away.
2nd most expensive: Hong Kong
The Hong Kong authorities pile heavy taxes on petrol to discourage car ownership and encourage the use of public transport. Though the average price has fallen since October 2018, Hong Kongers need deep pockets if they wish to drive, with the price there a stiff $2.06 (£1.60) per litre.
Most expensive: Zimbabwe
The government of Zimbabwe hiked up the price of gasoline last month to deal with shortages and tackle illegal trading – the cost of the commodity almost tripled overnight, sparking widespread protests. Now the most expensive in the world, petrol prices in Zimbabwe currently average $3.32 (£2.58) per litre.
Which countries have the cheapest gasoline?
And now read on to discover the 20 cheapest countries to fill up in.
Joint 18th cheapest: Oman
Oman has plenty of oil, and the government can afford to bankroll lavish subsidies that keep the price of petrol low, including a scheme that entitles low income earners to 200 litres of free fuel a month. At the moment, it costs $0.54 (42p) a litre to fill up there.
Joint 18th cheapest: Bolivia
Generous government subsidies keep the price of gasoline extremely affordable for motorists in socialist Bolivia, and the official set price of $0.54 (42p) per litre hasn't changed for quite some time.
Joint 18th cheapest: Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia once had the world's cheapest gasoline, but the government raised domestic prices by a whopping 80% in January 2018 and plans to eliminate all subsidies over time. Be that as it may, gasoline is still very cheap at just $0.54 (42p) a litre, echoing the price in Oman and Bolivia.
17th cheapest: Bahrain
Like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain also raised petrol prices in January 2018, with premium Octane 95 increasing by 25%, though prices remain low. At the moment, a litre of regular gasoline costs only $0.53 (41p).
16th cheapest: Angola
The Angolan oil industry is rebounding under President João Lourenço's administration, and the increase in production is translating to lower prices at the petrol pumps. Currently, the price per litre is a wallet-friendly $0.52 (40p) per litre.
15th cheapest: UAE
The UAE's Ministry of Energy and Industry has reduced fuel prices in the oil-rich Middle Eastern nation as global crude oil prices have fallen. As of early February, motorists there are paying just $0.50 (39p) a litre.
Joint 13th cheapest: Burma
The strengthening of the kyat, Burma's currency, coupled with the fall in global crude oil prices have made for cheaper prices at the pumps in the southeast Asian country. Right now, the price of gasoline per litre is averaging $0.49 (38p).
Joint 13th cheapest: Ecuador
The Ecuadorian government subsidises fuel in the country to the tune of $3.2 billion (£2.5bn) a year. This bumper funding keeps the retail price perennially low. Right now, a litre of gasoline costs only $0.49 (38p), though the price has risen by 10 cents since May 2018.
12th cheapest: Kazakhstan
Petrol prices have decreased in Kazakhstan as global crude oil prices have fallen, and motorists in the country pay a pittance to fill up. Currently, the price per litre is just $0.48 (37p), down from $0.53 (41p) in May 2018.
11th cheapest: Azerbaijan
Prices for Regular-80 and Regular-92 gasoline in Azerbaijan are regulated by the government, which keeps them nice and low. Beating Kazakhstan by a cent, the current per litre cost of petrol in the country is a very modest $0.47 (37p).
10th cheapest: Malaysia
At the beginning of this year, the Malaysian government delighted motorists in the country by reducing the cost of retail petrol in line with the fall in global crude oil prices. On 1 January, the price dropped by 12%, and is currently pegged at $0.46 (36p) a litre.
Joint 7th cheapest: Qatar
The price of the black stuff at the pumps in oil-rich Qatar is a minuscule $0.43 (33p) per litre. Mirroring the situation in the majority of countries worldwide, the cost has decreased fairly dramatically over the past several months.
Discover more about the tiny but super-rich Middle Eastern country buying up the world
Joint 7th cheapest: Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan has the cheapest gasoline prices among the 'Stans, but prices were even more affordable in 2017. The cost of petrol per litre in the Central Asian country is now set at $0.43 (33p), up from just $0.29 (23p) in 2017.
Joint 7th cheapest: Egypt
Cash-strapped Egypt is in the process of slashing fuel subsidies and, accordingly, prices for petrol at the pumps are rising in the country, yet they do remain extraordinarily low. At the moment, the price is $0.43 (33p) per litre, up from $0.37 (29p) in May 2018.
6th cheapest: Nigeria
Nigeria is Africa's premier oil-producing nation, and has abundant reserves of the commodity. Luckily for motorists there, the country's government caps the price of gasoline in the country, which at the moment stands at $0.40 (31p) per litre.
5th cheapest: Algeria
The Algerian government is having a hard time funding its generous fuel subsidies, but has backtracked on unpopular plans to cut them this year. As of early February, the price of petrol is still very low at $0.35 (27p) per litre.
4th cheapest: Kuwait
Kuwaitis should make the most of the cheap price of gasoline, which is set at just $0.34 (26p) a litre right now, as the government of the major oil-producing country is set to end all petrol subsidies by next year.
3rd cheapest: Iran
Enormous fuel subsidies could become a thing of the past in sanctioned Iran too, but right now the price of petrol is capped at just $0.29 (23p) a litre, which is the third cheapest nationwide price on the planet.
2nd cheapest: Sudan
With the country in the midst of an economic crisis, the Sudanese government is set to axe all fuel subsidies, which has provoked a number of protests. Nonetheless, the price of gasoline is still ridiculously low at present, costing only $0.13 (10p) per litre.
Cheapest: Venezuela
Venezuela's economy is in severe crisis and the Maduro regime may be on the way out, but his government's strict price restrictions remain in place. While supplies are intermittent and limited, gasoline costs next to nothing in the oil-producing country and is cheaper than bottled water, priced at just $0.01 per litre.
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