- Natural Gas Consumption refers to the total amount of natural gas used within a country during a given year for energy and non-energy purposes.
Africa Natural Gas Consumption was 171.2 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, down 2% on 2022. The Natural Gas Consumption dataset of Africa from 2015 to 2023 provides a comprehensive overview of regional natural gas demand patterns, highlighting consumption trends, market developments, and changes across the natural gas sector. Measured in billion cubic metres (bcm), the dataset represents the total annual volume of natural gas consumed across major African economies.
Africa Natural Gas Consumption moved from 130.8 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 171.2 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (+30.9%), an average of +3.4% a year. The series high was 176.6 Billion Cubic Metres in 2021 and the low 130.8 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015.
The gap between the series high (2021) and low (2015) is 45.80 Billion Cubic Metres. The sharpest single-year move was +14.5% in 2021.
Within Africa, Egypt has the highest value in 2023 at 60.00 Billion Cubic Metres, 35% of the regional total.
Country ranking
Billion Cubic Metres. Sort by any column, or search for a country.
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| Rank↕ | Country↕ | Share of top | Billion Cubic Metres↕ | vs 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Egypt | 60.00 | −1% | |
| 2 | Algeria | 46.30 | −8% | |
| 3 | South Africa | 4.70 | +9.3% |
By region
Billion Cubic Metres, 2023. Each bar is that region's total.
Full series
Complete annual series with year-on-year change. Values are reported in Billion Cubic Metres.
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| Year | Billion Cubic Metres | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 171.2 | −2% |
| 2022 | 174.7 | −1.1% |
| 2021Peak | 176.6 | +14.5% |
| 2020 | 154.2 | −2.2% |
| 2019 | 157.7 | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 155.3 | +6.7% |
| 2017 | 145.6 | +7.9% |
| 2016 | 135 | +3.2% |
| 2015 Trough | 130.8 | — |
Data definition
Natural Gas Consumption — - Natural Gas Consumption refers to the total amount of natural gas used within a country during a given year for energy and non-energy purposes. It is typically measured in billion cubic meters (bcm) and represents the demand for natural gas across electricity generation, industrial operations, residential and commercial heating, transportation, and other applications. This indicator reflects a country's dependence on natural gas as an energy source, the development of gas infrastructure, and overall energy demand patterns. Natural Gas Consumption is widely used to evaluate energy security, fuel diversification, economic activity, and trends in natural gas utilization across countries.
The data includes domestic consumption of natural gas supplied through pipeline networks, liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, and domestically produced gas used across various sectors. It covers natural gas consumption for electricity and heat generation, industrial processes, manufacturing, residential heating, commercial applications, transportation, and other energy uses. It may also include non-energy uses such as natural gas used as a feedstock in petrochemical and fertilizer production where accounted for within national energy balances. The indicator represents total natural gas demand within a country regardless of whether the gas is produced domestically or imported. Data is compiled from national energy statistics, gas utilities, government reports, and standardized international energy databases to enable consistent comparison of consumption trends.
The data excludes natural gas production, reserves, pipeline transmission volumes, storage inventories, and gas losses during extraction, processing, transmission, and distribution unless specifically included in national accounting methodologies. It does not include consumption of natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil, coal, refined petroleum products, renewable gases, or synthetic gases unless classified as natural gas within reporting frameworks. The indicator does not measure energy efficiency, affordability, access to gas services, or the environmental impact associated with natural gas use. Differences in national reporting practices, gas quality standards, conversion factors, and estimation methods may result in minor variations in reported consumption values across countries.
Natural Gas Consumption — - Natural Gas Consumption refers to the total amount of natural gas used within a country during a given year for energy and non-energy purposes. It is typically measured in billion cubic meters (bcm) and represents the demand for natural gas across electricity generation, industrial operations, residential and commercial heating, transportation, and other applications. This indicator reflects a country's dependence on natural gas as an energy source, the development of gas infrastructure, and overall energy demand patterns. Natural Gas Consumption is widely used to evaluate energy security, fuel diversification, economic activity, and trends in natural gas utilization across countries.
It serves as an important indicator of electricity generation demand, industrial activity, residential energy use, and the role of natural gas within Africa’s evolving energy system.
Africa consumed 130.8 bcm of natural gas in 2015, increasing to 135.0 bcm in 2016 and 145.6 bcm in 2017. Consumption continued rising to 155.3 bcm in 2018 and 157.7 bcm in 2019. Regional demand declined slightly to 154.2 bcm in 2020 before reaching a review-period high of 176.6 bcm in 2021. Natural gas consumption decreased marginally to 174.7 bcm in 2022 and further declined to 171.2 bcm in 2023. Egypt and Algeria remained the region’s largest consumers throughout the review period, while South Africa and other African countries also contributed to regional demand.
Overall, the dataset indicates a strong upward trend in Africa’s natural gas consumption despite moderate fluctuations in recent years. Rising demand was supported by expanding gas-fired electricity generation, industrial development, urbanization, and increasing domestic energy requirements. Investments in gas infrastructure, growing utilization of natural gas as a cleaner energy source, and expanding access to domestic gas resources also contributed to higher regional consumption, although changing market conditions influenced demand after 2021.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating Africa’s natural gas demand outlook, analyzing regional consumption dynamics, and assessing future energy requirements. It supports market research, infrastructure planning, investment evaluation, and policy development while providing insights for researchers, industry stakeholders, analysts, and policymakers monitoring energy security, gas market trends, consumption patterns, and the evolving role of natural gas across Africa.
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Definition- Natural Gas Consumption refers to the total amount of natural gas used within a country during a given year for energy and non-energy purposes. It is typically measured in billion cubic meters (bcm) and represents the demand for natural gas across electricity generation, industrial operations, residential and commercial heating, transportation, and other applications. This indicator reflects a country's dependence on natural gas as an energy source, the development of gas infrastructure, and overall energy demand patterns. Natural Gas Consumption is widely used to evaluate energy security, fuel diversification, economic activity, and trends in natural gas utilization across countries.
Africa Natural Gas Consumption was 171.2 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, down 2% on 2022.
Africa Natural Gas Consumption moved from 130.8 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 171.2 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (+30.9%), an average of +3.4% a year. The series high was 176.6 Billion Cubic Metres in 2021 and the low 130.8 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015.
The highest value was 176.6 Billion Cubic Metres in 2021 and the lowest was 130.8 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015.
Included: The data includes domestic consumption of natural gas supplied through pipeline networks, liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, and domestically produced gas used across various sectors. It covers natural gas consumption for electricity and heat generation, industrial processes, manufacturing, residential heating, commercial applications, transportation, and other energy uses. It may also include non-energy uses such as natural gas used as a feedstock in petrochemical and fertilizer production where accounted for within national energy balances. The indicator represents total natural gas demand within a country regardless of whether the gas is produced domestically or imported. Data is compiled from national energy statistics, gas utilities, government reports, and standardized international energy databases to enable consistent comparison of consumption trends. Excluded: The data excludes natural gas production, reserves, pipeline transmission volumes, storage inventories, and gas losses during extraction, processing, transmission, and distribution unless specifically included in national accounting methodologies. It does not include consumption of natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil, coal, refined petroleum products, renewable gases, or synthetic gases unless classified as natural gas within reporting frameworks. The indicator does not measure energy efficiency, affordability, access to gas services, or the environmental impact associated with natural gas use. Differences in national reporting practices, gas quality standards, conversion factors, and estimation methods may result in minor variations in reported consumption values across countries.
The series is sourced from energyinst.org (https://www.energyinst.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1542714/684_EI_Stat_Review_V16_DIGITAL.pdf). It covers 2015–2023 and is reported in Billion Cubic Metres.
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