- Natural Gas Production refers to the total volume of marketable natural gas extracted from underground reservoirs within a country during a given year.
Africa Natural Gas Production was 253.6 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, down 0.9% on 2022. The Natural Gas Production dataset of Africa from 2015 to 2023 provides a comprehensive overview of the region's natural gas output, highlighting production trends, upstream developments, and long-term changes across the natural gas sector. Measured in billion cubic metres (bcm), the dataset represents the total volume of marketable natural gas produced annually.
Africa Natural Gas Production moved from 206.2 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 253.6 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (+23%), an average of +2.6% a year. The series high was 266.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2021 and the low 206.2 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015.
The gap between the series high (2021) and low (2015) is 60.50 Billion Cubic Metres. The sharpest single-year move was +15% in 2021.
Within Africa, Algeria has the highest value in 2023 at 101.5 Billion Cubic Metres, 40% of the regional total.
Country ranking
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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 | 253.6 | −0.9% |
| 2022 | 255.8 | −4.1% |
| 2021Peak | 266.7 | +15% |
| 2020 | 231.9 | −5.6% |
| 2019 | 245.6 | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 242.6 | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 230.1 | +9.7% |
| 2016 | 209.8 | +1.7% |
| 2015 Trough | 206.2 | — |
Data definition
Natural Gas Production — - Natural Gas Production refers to the total volume of marketable natural gas extracted from underground reservoirs within a country during a given year. It is typically measured in billion cubic meters (bcm) and represents the production of natural gas that is available for sale, distribution, or consumption after the removal of impurities and non-hydrocarbon components where applicable. The indicator includes gas produced from both associated gas fields (produced alongside crude oil) and non-associated gas fields. Natural Gas Production is a key measure of a country's upstream gas industry, resource availability, energy security, and contribution to domestic and global natural gas supply.
The data includes the production of marketable natural gas from conventional and unconventional sources, including associated gas, non-associated gas, shale gas, tight gas, coalbed methane, and offshore gas fields where commercially recoverable. It covers gas produced for domestic consumption, exports, storage injection, and industrial use after field processing to remove water, impurities, and certain non-hydrocarbon gases, as defined by national reporting methodologies. Production from both onshore and offshore operations is included. The indicator is compiled using standardized international energy reporting methodologies based on national production statistics and industry data, enabling consistent comparison of natural gas production across countries and over time.
The data excludes natural gas that is vented, flared, reinjected into reservoirs for pressure maintenance, or otherwise not marketed unless specifically included under national reporting practices. It also excludes natural gas liquids (NGLs), lease condensate, crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing volumes, and refined petroleum products. The indicator does not measure natural gas consumption, reserves, imports, exports, pipeline transmission, storage inventories, or distribution losses. Differences in national reporting standards, definitions of marketable gas, processing practices, and estimation methodologies may result in minor variations in reported values across countries.
Natural Gas Production — - Natural Gas Production refers to the total volume of marketable natural gas extracted from underground reservoirs within a country during a given year. It is typically measured in billion cubic meters (bcm) and represents the production of natural gas that is available for sale, distribution, or consumption after the removal of impurities and non-hydrocarbon components where applicable. The indicator includes gas produced from both associated gas fields (produced alongside crude oil) and non-associated gas fields. Natural Gas Production is a key measure of a country's upstream gas industry, resource availability, energy security, and contribution to domestic and global natural gas supply.
It serves as an important indicator of upstream production capability, regional energy supply, LNG availability, industrial development, export potential, and energy security while supporting long-term market analysis and policy evaluation across African economies.
Africa produced 206.2 bcm of natural gas in 2015, increasing to 209.8 bcm in 2016, 230.1 bcm in 2017, and 242.6 bcm in 2018. Regional production reached 245.6 bcm in 2019 before declining to 231.9 bcm in 2020. Output recovered to 266.7 bcm in 2021 before easing to 255.8 bcm in 2022 and 253.6 bcm in 2023. Algeria remained Africa's largest producer, increasing production from 81.4 bcm in 2015 to 101.5 bcm in 2023. Egypt ranked second with 57.1 bcm, followed by Nigeria at 43.7 bcm, while the remaining African countries collectively produced 51.3 bcm in 2023.
Overall, the dataset demonstrates moderate growth in Africa's natural gas production throughout the review period, despite periodic fluctuations. Expanding upstream developments, new gas field production, LNG investments, and higher output in major producing countries supported regional growth, although operational challenges, maintenance activities, and changing market conditions contributed to production volatility during certain years.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating Africa's natural gas production trends, assessing upstream sector performance, and analyzing long-term supply dynamics. It supports energy market analysis, investment planning, infrastructure development, and policy evaluation while providing valuable insights for researchers, industry stakeholders, analysts, and policymakers monitoring production capacity, LNG export potential, regional energy security, upstream investment, and the future development of Africa's natural gas industry.
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Definition- Natural Gas Production refers to the total volume of marketable natural gas extracted from underground reservoirs within a country during a given year. It is typically measured in billion cubic meters (bcm) and represents the production of natural gas that is available for sale, distribution, or consumption after the removal of impurities and non-hydrocarbon components where applicable. The indicator includes gas produced from both associated gas fields (produced alongside crude oil) and non-associated gas fields. Natural Gas Production is a key measure of a country's upstream gas industry, resource availability, energy security, and contribution to domestic and global natural gas supply.
Africa Natural Gas Production was 253.6 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, down 0.9% on 2022.
Africa Natural Gas Production moved from 206.2 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 253.6 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (+23%), an average of +2.6% a year. The series high was 266.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2021 and the low 206.2 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015.
The highest value was 266.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2021 and the lowest was 206.2 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015.
Included: The data includes the production of marketable natural gas from conventional and unconventional sources, including associated gas, non-associated gas, shale gas, tight gas, coalbed methane, and offshore gas fields where commercially recoverable. It covers gas produced for domestic consumption, exports, storage injection, and industrial use after field processing to remove water, impurities, and certain non-hydrocarbon gases, as defined by national reporting methodologies. Production from both onshore and offshore operations is included. The indicator is compiled using standardized international energy reporting methodologies based on national production statistics and industry data, enabling consistent comparison of natural gas production across countries and over time. Excluded: The data excludes natural gas that is vented, flared, reinjected into reservoirs for pressure maintenance, or otherwise not marketed unless specifically included under national reporting practices. It also excludes natural gas liquids (NGLs), lease condensate, crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing volumes, and refined petroleum products. The indicator does not measure natural gas consumption, reserves, imports, exports, pipeline transmission, storage inventories, or distribution losses. Differences in national reporting standards, definitions of marketable gas, processing practices, and estimation methodologies may result in minor variations in reported 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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