- Natural Gas Production refers to the total volume of marketable natural gas extracted from underground reservoirs within a country during a given year.
Iraq Natural Gas Production was 9.90 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, up 6.5% on 2022. The Natural Gas Production dataset of Iraq from 2015 to 2023 provides a comprehensive overview of the country's natural gas production trends, highlighting annual output levels, production performance, and developments across the upstream natural gas industry. Measured in billion cubic metres (BCM), the dataset reflects the total volume of natural gas produced within the country each year.
Iraq Natural Gas Production moved from 7.30 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 9.90 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (+35.6%), an average of +3.9% a year. The series high was 11.00 Billion Cubic Metres in 2019 and the low 7.00 Billion Cubic Metres in 2020.
The gap between the series high (2019) and low (2020) is 4.00 Billion Cubic Metres. The sharpest single-year move was −36.4% in 2020.
Among the 37 countries in this dataset, Iraq ranks 32 for 2023, behind U.S. (1,035 Billion Cubic Metres) and Russia (586.4 Billion Cubic Metres). It accounts for 0.2% of the global total in 2023.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 9.90 | +6.5% |
| 2022 | 9.30 | +2.2% |
| 2021 | 9.10 | +30% |
| 2020 Trough | 7.00 | −36.4% |
| 2019Peak | 11.00 | +3.8% |
| 2018 | 10.60 | +5% |
| 2017 | 10.10 | +2% |
| 2016 | 9.90 | +35.6% |
| 2015 | 7.30 | — |
Regional context
Natural Gas Production by country, 2023, Billion Cubic Metres. Iraq is highlighted.
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 domestic energy production, upstream resource development, energy security, industrial growth, and the availability of natural gas for electricity generation, industrial applications, and future export opportunities.
Iraq produced 7.3 BCM of natural gas in 2015, increasing sharply to 9.9 BCM in 2016 and 10.1 BCM in 2017. Production continued to rise to 10.6 BCM in 2018 and 11.0 BCM in 2019, reflecting gradual expansion of upstream gas production. In 2020, output declined significantly to 7.0 BCM amid operational and market-related challenges. Production recovered to 9.1 BCM in 2021, increased slightly to 9.3 BCM in 2022, and reached 9.9 BCM in 2023, indicating improving upstream activity and ongoing efforts to strengthen domestic natural gas production.
Overall, the dataset demonstrates moderate fluctuations in Iraq's natural gas production during the review period. After steady growth between 2015 and 2019, production declined in 2020 before gradually recovering through 2023. These trends reflect evolving upstream investment, operational conditions, and continued initiatives to improve gas resource utilization and reduce dependence on imported energy supplies.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating Iraq's natural gas production trends, analyzing upstream sector performance, and assessing the country's progress in expanding domestic gas production. It supports energy market analysis, investment planning, policy formulation, infrastructure development, and long-term energy security assessments while providing valuable insights for researchers, analysts, industry stakeholders, and policymakers studying the future development and competitiveness of Iraq'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.
Iraq Natural Gas Production was 9.90 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, up 6.5% on 2022.
Iraq Natural Gas Production moved from 7.30 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 9.90 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (+35.6%), an average of +3.9% a year. The series high was 11.00 Billion Cubic Metres in 2019 and the low 7.00 Billion Cubic Metres in 2020.
The highest value was 11.00 Billion Cubic Metres in 2019 and the lowest was 7.00 Billion Cubic Metres in 2020.
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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