- 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.
China Natural Gas Consumption was 404.8 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, up 7.2% on 2022. The Natural Gas Consumption dataset of China from 2015 to 2023 provides a comprehensive overview of the country’s 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.
China Natural Gas Consumption moved from 194.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 404.8 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (+107.9%), an average of +9.6% a year. The series high was 404.8 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 and the low 194.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015.
The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2015) is 210.1 Billion Cubic Metres. The sharpest single-year move was +17.7% in 2018.
Among the 43 countries in this dataset, China ranks 3 for 2023, behind U.S. (886.5 Billion Cubic Metres) and Russia (453.4 Billion Cubic Metres). It accounts for 10.1% of the global total in 2023.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023Peak | 404.8 | +7.2% |
| 2022 | 377.6 | −0.7% |
| 2021 | 380.3 | +13% |
| 2020 | 336.6 | +9.1% |
| 2019 | 308.4 | +8.6% |
| 2018 | 283.9 | +17.7% |
| 2017 | 241.3 | +15.2% |
| 2016 | 209.4 | +7.6% |
| 2015 Trough | 194.7 | — |
Regional context
Natural Gas Consumption by country, 2023, Billion Cubic Metres. China is highlighted.
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, urban heating requirements, transportation fuel usage, and the growing role of natural gas within China’s energy transition.
China consumed 194.7 bcm of natural gas in 2015, increasing to 209.4 bcm in 2016 and further rising to 241.3 bcm in 2017. Consumption continued its upward trajectory, reaching 283.9 bcm in 2018 and 308.4 bcm in 2019. Demand increased to 336.6 bcm in 2020 and reached a review-period high of 380.3 bcm in 2021. Natural gas consumption remained strong at 377.6 bcm in 2022 before increasing further to 404.8 bcm in 2023, reflecting continued expansion in energy demand.
Overall, the dataset indicates a strong and consistent growth trend in China’s natural gas consumption during the review period. The increase was supported by rapid industrialization, urbanization, expansion of gas-fired power generation, rising residential heating demand, and government initiatives to reduce coal dependency through cleaner energy adoption. The continued growth highlights natural gas’s strategic importance in China’s energy diversification strategy.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating China’s natural gas demand outlook, analyzing consumption growth patterns, and assessing future energy infrastructure requirements. It supports market research, investment planning, supply-demand analysis, and policy development while providing insights for researchers, energy companies, analysts, and policymakers monitoring China’s energy security, transition initiatives, and the evolving role of natural gas within the country’s energy system.
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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.
China Natural Gas Consumption was 404.8 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, up 7.2% on 2022.
China Natural Gas Consumption moved from 194.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 404.8 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (+107.9%), an average of +9.6% a year. The series high was 404.8 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 and the low 194.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015.
The highest value was 404.8 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 and the lowest was 194.7 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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