Among top 10 economies, fuel least affordable for average Indian

Petrol and diesel are least affordable to the average citizen in India among the 10 largest economies of the world. An average Indian — someone whose income matches the country’s per capita — can buy only about 8 litres of petrol or diesel with their daily income, while the average American can buy 199 litres of petrol or 171 litres of diesel.


These numbers have been arrived at by comparing the petrol and diesel prices in each country on May 25, which are collated by GlobalPetrolPrices.com.

Among the world’s 10 largest economies, Brazil is the second last in the affordability list, as an average Brazilian can only afford around 20 litres of petrol or diesel with their daily income. In Italy, France, Germany, the UK and Japan, a day’s income can buy more than 50 litres of petrol or diesel. Interestingly, Russia, which is a major producer of petroleum, is lower than these economies in this list.


So, in which countries is fuel most affordable to the average citizen? In Libya, a day’s income can buy you nearly 789 litres of petrol or diesel —the highest in the list of 158 countries for which this data is available. Diesel is most affordable in Venezuela, as a day’s income can fetch the average Venezuelan 2,573 litres of the fuel. In Iran, the figure is 1,866 litres. Fuel is, not surprisingly, cheapest in oil-producing countries as people in Kuwait, Venezuela, Qatar, Iran and Libya can buy more than 200 litres of petrol or diesel with a day’s income.


Fuel is the most unaffordable in the poorest African countries. In Malawi and the Central African Republic, a day’s income is not sufficient for buying even one litre of petrol or diesel. Similarly, in Burundi, Mozambique, Madagascar and four other African countries, a day’s income can buy less than 2 litres of petrol or diesel.


In the list of 158 countries, India is ranked 121st in affordability of petrol and 118th in affordability of diesel.