- 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.
Europe Natural Gas Consumption was 463.4 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, down 6.9% on 2022. The Natural Gas Consumption dataset of Europe 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 million cubic metres (mcm), the dataset represents the total annual volume of natural gas consumed across major European countries.
Europe Natural Gas Consumption moved from 509.3 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 463.4 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (−9%), an average of −1.2% a year. The series high was 572.5 Billion Cubic Metres in 2021 and the low 463.4 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023.
The gap between the series high (2021) and low (2023) is 109.1 Billion Cubic Metres. The sharpest single-year move was −13.1% in 2022.
Within Europe, Germany has the highest value in 2023 at 75.70 Billion Cubic Metres, 16.3% 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 | Germany | 75.70 | −2.3% | |
| 2 | UK | 63.50 | −10.4% | |
| 3 | Italy | 58.60 | −10.1% | |
| 4 | Turkey | 48.40 | −5.5% | |
| 5 | France | 33.90 | −11.7% | |
| 6 | Spain | 29.30 | −11.2% | |
| 7 | Netherlands | 25.80 | −6.2% | |
| 8 | Denmark | 1.60 | −5.9% | |
| 9 | Finland | 1.20 | +9.1% | |
| 10 | Sweden | 0.700 | −12.5% |
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 Trough | 463.4 | −6.9% |
| 2022 | 497.7 | −13.1% |
| 2021Peak | 572.5 | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 541.8 | −2.4% |
| 2019 | 555.4 | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 548.3 | −2% |
| 2017 | 559.3 | +4.1% |
| 2016 | 537.2 | +5.5% |
| 2015 | 509.3 | — |
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 heating requirements, and the role of natural gas within Europe’s energy system.
Europe consumed 509,300 mcm of natural gas in 2015, increasing to 537,200 mcm in 2016 and 559,300 mcm in 2017. Consumption declined to 548,300 mcm in 2018 before increasing slightly to 555,400 mcm in 2019. Regional demand decreased to 541,800 mcm in 2020 before reaching a review-period high of 572,500 mcm in 2021. Natural gas consumption declined sharply to 497,700 mcm in 2022 and further decreased to 463,400 mcm in 2023. Germany remained the largest consumer throughout the review period, while the UK, Italy, France, Turkey, and Spain also accounted for substantial regional demand.
Overall, the dataset indicates fluctuating natural gas consumption followed by a notable decline after 2021. Growth until 2021 was supported by electricity generation, industrial activity, and widespread residential and commercial heating demand. The subsequent decline reflected energy conservation measures, diversification of energy sources, efficiency improvements, accelerated renewable energy deployment, and changing gas market conditions across the region.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating Europe’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, consumption trends, and the evolving role of natural gas within Europe’s energy transition.
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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.
Europe Natural Gas Consumption was 463.4 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, down 6.9% on 2022.
Europe Natural Gas Consumption moved from 509.3 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 463.4 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (−9%), an average of −1.2% a year. The series high was 572.5 Billion Cubic Metres in 2021 and the low 463.4 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023.
The highest value was 572.5 Billion Cubic Metres in 2021 and the lowest was 463.4 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023.
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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