Average Gas Prices Around the World From 1980 to 2025
Gasoline prices are often discussed as if higher numbers automatically mean fuel has become less affordable. That assumption ignores inflation. A dollar spent at the pump in 1980 is not comparable to a dollar spent today. To understand long-term fuel affordability, you need to look at both nominal prices and inflation-adjusted prices.
This article compares average retail gasoline prices across 25 countries.
Units: USD per gallon Inflation-adjusted prices: Converted to 2025 dollars using long-run CPI averages Purpose: Macro-level comparison
How to Read the Tables
Nominal price shows what drivers paid at the time
Inflation-adjusted price shows real purchasing power in 2025 dollars
Prices are era averages, not peak or crisis spikes
Differences across countries are driven mostly by tax policy, not oil supply
United States
Period
Nominal
Inflation-Adjusted (2025 USD)
1980s
1.05
3.57
1990s
1.15
2.76
2000s
2.10
3.36
2010s
2.75
3.30
2020–2025
3.00
3.00
In real terms, gasoline in the US was most expensive during the early 1980s. Despite recent volatility, today’s prices are comparable or lower when adjusted for inflation.
Canada
Period
Nominal
Inflation-Adjusted
1980s
1.15
3.91
1990s
1.30
3.12
2000s
2.40
3.84
2010s
3.70
4.44
2020–2025
4.60
4.60
Mexico
Period
Nominal
Inflation-Adjusted
1980s
0.85
2.89
1990s
0.95
2.28
2000s
2.00
3.20
2010s
3.40
4.08
2020–2025
4.30
4.30
Brazil
Period
Nominal
Inflation-Adjusted
1980s
1.00
3.40
1990s
1.15
2.76
2000s
2.60
4.16
2010s
4.20
5.04
2020–2025
4.90
4.90
Argentina
Period
Nominal
Inflation-Adjusted
1980s
0.95
3.23
1990s
1.05
2.52
2000s
2.30
3.68
2010s
3.90
4.68
2020–2025
4.50
4.50
United Kingdom
Period
Nominal
Inflation-Adjusted
1980s
1.60
5.44
1990s
2.20
5.28
2000s
4.20
6.72
2010s
5.90
7.08
2020–2025
6.80
6.80
Fuel prices in the UK rose steadily as taxes increased. While nominal prices are higher today, real prices peaked in the 2000s and early 2010s.
Germany
Period
Nominal
Inflation-Adjusted
1980s
1.70
5.78
1990s
2.30
5.52
2000s
4.00
6.40
2010s
5.70
6.84
2020–2025
6.60
6.60
France
Period
Nominal
Inflation-Adjusted
1980s
1.60
5.44
1990s
2.20
5.28
2000s
3.90
6.24
2010s
5.60
6.72
2020–2025
6.50
6.50
Italy
Period
Nominal
Inflation-Adjusted
1980s
1.80
6.12
1990s
2.50
6.00
2000s
4.30
6.88
2010s
6.00
7.20
2020–2025
6.80
6.80
Spain
Period
Nominal
Inflation-Adjusted
1980s
1.40
4.76
1990s
2.00
4.80
2000s
3.70
5.92
2010s
5.30
6.36
2020–2025
6.10
6.10
Norway
Period
Nominal
Inflation-Adjusted
1980s
1.40
4.76
1990s
2.10
5.04
2000s
4.10
6.56
2010s
5.80
6.96
2020–2025
7.20
7.20
Norway’s high prices are primarily tax-driven. In real terms, fuel affordability has been relatively stable since the 2000s.
