- 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.
Japan Natural Gas Consumption was 92.40 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, down 7.8% on 2022. The Natural Gas Consumption dataset of Japan from 2015 to 2023 provides a detailed 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.
Japan Natural Gas Consumption moved from 118.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 92.40 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (−22.2%), an average of −3.1% a year. The series high was 118.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 and the low 92.40 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023.
The gap between the series high (2015) and low (2023) is 26.30 Billion Cubic Metres. The sharpest single-year move was −7.8% in 2023.
Among the 43 countries in this dataset, Japan ranks 7 for 2023, behind U.S. (886.5 Billion Cubic Metres) and Russia (453.4 Billion Cubic Metres). It accounts for 2.3% 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 Trough | 92.40 | −7.8% |
| 2022 | 100.2 | −3.2% |
| 2021 | 103.5 | −0.6% |
| 2020 | 104.1 | −3.7% |
| 2019 | 108.1 | −6.6% |
| 2018 | 115.7 | −1.1% |
| 2017 | 117 | +0.5% |
| 2016 | 116.4 | −1.9% |
| 2015Peak | 118.7 | — |
Regional context
Natural Gas Consumption by country, 2023, Billion Cubic Metres. Japan 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 requirements, industrial energy demand, commercial usage, residential heating needs, and the contribution of natural gas within Japan’s energy mix.
Japan consumed 118.7 bcm of natural gas in 2015, declining to 116.4 bcm in 2016 before increasing slightly to 117.0 bcm in 2017. Consumption decreased marginally to 115.7 bcm in 2018 and further declined to 108.1 bcm in 2019. Demand continued decreasing to 104.1 bcm in 2020 and 103.5 bcm in 2021. Natural gas consumption declined to 100.2 bcm in 2022 and further decreased to 92.4 bcm in 2023, representing the lowest level during the review period.
Overall, the dataset indicates a gradual declining trend in Japan’s natural gas consumption between 2015 and 2023. The reduction was influenced by improvements in energy efficiency, declining electricity demand growth, increased renewable energy deployment, nuclear power adjustments, and changes in power generation requirements. Although consumption declined, natural gas remained an important component of Japan’s electricity generation mix due to its reliability and lower carbon intensity compared with coal.
The dataset provides valuable insights into Japan’s natural gas demand outlook, consumption changes, and future energy requirements. It supports market research, infrastructure planning, investment assessment, and policy development while assisting researchers, industry stakeholders, analysts, and policymakers in understanding Japan’s energy transition, supply security considerations, and the evolving role of natural gas within the country’s energy landscape.
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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.
Japan Natural Gas Consumption was 92.40 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, down 7.8% on 2022.
Japan Natural Gas Consumption moved from 118.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 92.40 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (−22.2%), an average of −3.1% a year. The series high was 118.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 and the low 92.40 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023.
The highest value was 118.7 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 and the lowest was 92.40 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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