- Natural Gas Production refers to the total volume of marketable natural gas extracted from underground reservoirs within a country during a given year.
Global Natural Gas Production was 4,059 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, up 0.3% on 2022. The Natural Gas Production dataset for the Global market from 2015 to 2023 provides a comprehensive overview of worldwide natural gas output, highlighting production trends, upstream developments, and long-term changes across the natural gas sector. Measured in trillion cubic metres (tcm), the dataset represents the total volume of marketable natural gas produced annually across producing countries.
Global Natural Gas Production moved from 3,506 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 4,059 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (+15.8%), an average of +1.8% a year. The series high was 4,059 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 and the low 3,506 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015.
The gap between the series high (2023) and low (2015) is 553.2 Billion Cubic Metres. The sharpest single-year move was +4.8% in 2018.
Of the 37 countries in this dataset, U.S., Russia and Iran have the highest values in 2023 (1,035, 586.4, 251.7 Billion Cubic Metres respectively).
Country ranking
Billion Cubic Metres. Sort by any column, or search for a country.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Rank↕ | Country↕ | Share of top | Billion Cubic Metres↕ | vs 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | U.S. | 1,035 | +4.2% | |
| 2 | Russia | 586.4 | −5.2% | |
| 3 | Iran | 251.7 | +1.6% | |
| 4 | China | 234.3 | +5.6% | |
| 5 | Canada | 190.3 | +3% | |
| 6 | Qatar | 181 | +1.4% | |
| 7 | Australia | 151.7 | −1.6% | |
| 8 | Norway | 116.6 | −5.2% | |
| 9 | Saudi Arabia | 114.1 | −2.2% | |
| 10 | Algeria | 101.5 | +4% | |
| 11 | Malaysia | 81.10 | −2.3% | |
| 12 | Turkmenistan | 76.30 | −2.6% | |
| 13 | Indonesia | 64.30 | +2.4% | |
| 14 | Egypt | 57.10 | −11.5% | |
| 15 | UAE | 55.60 | +2.6% | |
| 16 | Uzbekistan | 44.20 | −9.6% | |
| 17 | Nigeria | 43.70 | −7.2% | |
| 18 | Oman | 43.20 | +2.6% | |
| 19 | Argentina | 41.60 | −0.2% | |
| 20 | Azerbaijan | 35.60 | +4.4% | |
| 21 | Mexico | 35.60 | +5.6% | |
| 22 | UK | 34.50 | −9.4% | |
| 23 | India | 31.60 | +6% | |
| 24 | Venezuela | 29.70 | +2.1% | |
| 25 | Thailand | 25.70 | +0.4% | |
| 26 | Israel | 23.50 | +13% | |
| 27 | Brazil | 23.40 | +1.7% | |
| 28 | Ukraine | 17.70 | +1.1% | |
| 29 | Kuwait | 13.50 | +2.3% | |
| 30 | Colombia | 12.10 | −2.4% | |
| 31 | Netherlands | 9.90 | −34% | |
| 32 | Iraq | 9.90 | +6.5% | |
| 33 | Romania | 8.90 | +1.1% | |
| 34 | Vietnam | 7.20 | −7.7% | |
| 35 | Germany | 3.80 | −11.6% | |
| 36 | Italy | 2.80 | −12.5% | |
| 37 | Denmark | 1.40 | 0% |
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.
Scroll the table sideways to see all columns.
| Year | Billion Cubic Metres | Change vs prior year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023Peak | 4,059 | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 4,049 | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 4,044 | +4.6% |
| 2020 | 3,866 | −2.5% |
| 2019 | 3,964 | +3.1% |
| 2018 | 3,845 | +4.8% |
| 2017 | 3,671 | +4.7% |
| 2016 | 3,508 | 0% |
| 2015 Trough | 3,506 | — |
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 global upstream production capability, energy availability, supply security, LNG trade potential, and the ability of producers to support electricity generation, industrial development, and growing international energy demand.
Global natural gas production totaled 3.51 tcm in both 2015 and 2016 before increasing to 3.67 tcm in 2017, 3.85 tcm in 2018, and 3.96 tcm in 2019. Production declined to 3.87 tcm in 2020 before recovering to 4.04 tcm in 2021, 4.05 tcm in 2022, and reaching 4.06 tcm in 2023. The U.S. remained the world's largest producer, increasing output from 740.3 bcm to 1,035.3 bcm. Russia remained a major producer, recording 584.4 bcm in 2015, peaking at 702.1 bcm in 2021, and declining to 586.4 bcm in 2023. China showed the strongest sustained growth among the leading producers, expanding from 135.7 bcm in 2015 to 234.3 bcm in 2023.
Overall, the dataset demonstrates steady long-term growth in global natural gas production throughout the review period. Despite a temporary decline in 2020, worldwide output recovered quickly and reached its highest level by 2023, reflecting continued upstream investment, technological advancements, and increasing natural gas demand across global energy markets.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating global 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, energy security, LNG trade, and future industry development.
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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.
Global Natural Gas Production was 4,059 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, up 0.3% on 2022.
Global Natural Gas Production moved from 3,506 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 4,059 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (+15.8%), an average of +1.8% a year. The series high was 4,059 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 and the low 3,506 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015.
The highest value was 4,059 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 and the lowest was 3,506 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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