The world’s most expensive petrol

The EV age may now be upon us, but the fact remains that 97% or so of the world’s cars get powered the old-fashioned way – and ask any driver and they will tell you they’re paying too much for fuel.

Yet many countries have petrol prices that are much higher than the global average of £1.05 per litre – and even way above the £1.40 per litre that we pay in the UK.

ALISDAIR SUTTIE

Hong Kong £2.53 per litre

With space at such a premium in Hong Kong, car ownership is far lower than in most other parts of the developed world. As a result of this, and it having no oil-refining capacity of its own, fuel is at its most expensive per litre in the ‘special region’ of China. Private car ownership is discouraged through high taxation of both fuel and buying a car in the first place, and residents generally use Hong Kong’s excellent public transport system. As a result, fuelling a car is a luxury few can afford, with a third of the price of every litre going in taxes. Filling up a car’s fuel tank will cost double the global average, which also reflects the cost of setting up a filling station, with its inherently large footprint, on this incredibly crowded piece of land.