Estimates from the mid 1980's
| Resource type | Low estimate | Best guess | High estimate |
| Oil | 11,600 | 13,400 | 12,300 |
| Gas | 6300 | 11,400 | 13,500 |
| Coal | 330,000 | ||
| Unconventional Resources | |||
| Oil shales | 2,100,000 | ||
| Gas | 7,000 | ||
| Nuclear | |||
| Nuclear (Fission) | 12,600 | ||
| Nuclear (Breeder) | unlimited | ||
| Fusion | unlimited | ||
| Renewables | |||
| Biomass | 50/yr | 200/yr | |
| Hydro | 40/yr | ||
| Solar | unlimited | ||
| Wind | large | ||
| Geothermal | small |
Distribution of Oil and Gas Reserves (estimates from the mid 1980's, total estimates today are higher)
| Country | OIL
Billion barrels |
QUADS | GAS
trillion feet3 |
QUADS |
| OPEC | 439 (65%) | 2686 | 1022 (35%) | 1022 |
| USSR | 86 (13%) | 526 | 1195 (41%) | 1195 |
| WESTERN WORLD | 64 (10%) | 392 | 466 (16%) * | 466 |
| REST | 82 (12%) | 502 | 228 (8%) | 228 |
| TOTAL | 670(100%) | 4100 | 2911(100%) | 2911 |
*MAINLY HOLLAND