- 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.
UK Natural Gas Consumption was 63.50 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, down 10.4% on 2022. The Natural Gas Consumption dataset of the UK 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.
UK Natural Gas Consumption moved from 72.00 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 63.50 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (−11.8%), an average of −1.6% a year. The series high was 79.90 Billion Cubic Metres in 2016 and the low 63.50 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023.
The gap between the series high (2016) and low (2023) is 16.40 Billion Cubic Metres. The sharpest single-year move was +11% in 2016.
Among the 43 countries in this dataset, UK ranks 10 for 2023, behind U.S. (886.5 Billion Cubic Metres) and Russia (453.4 Billion Cubic Metres). It accounts for 1.6% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Trough | 63.50 | −10.4% |
| 2022 | 70.90 | −7.8% |
| 2021 | 76.90 | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 73.10 | −6.2% |
| 2019 | 77.90 | −1.1% |
| 2018 | 78.80 | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 78.20 | −2.1% |
| 2016Peak | 79.90 | +11% |
| 2015 | 72.00 | — |
Regional context
Natural Gas Consumption by country, 2023, Billion Cubic Metres. UK 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 energy demand, electricity generation, heating requirements, industrial usage, and the contribution of natural gas within the UK’s evolving energy system.
The UK consumed 72 bcm of natural gas in 2015, increasing to 79.9 bcm in 2016 before declining slightly to 78.2 bcm in 2017. Consumption remained stable at 78.8 bcm in 2018 and decreased marginally to 77.9 bcm in 2019. Demand declined further to 73.1 bcm in 2020 before recovering to 76.9 bcm in 2021. Natural gas consumption decreased to 70.9 bcm in 2022 and reached 63.5 bcm in 2023, reflecting changing energy demand patterns, efficiency improvements, and the transition toward lower-carbon energy sources.
Overall, the dataset indicates a declining trend in UK natural gas consumption between 2015 and 2023, with consumption reducing by approximately 12%. The decline was influenced by energy efficiency measures, renewable energy expansion, changing electricity generation patterns, and efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Short-term variations were affected by economic conditions, weather-related demand changes, and energy market fluctuations.
The dataset is valuable for evaluating UK natural gas consumption trends, assessing energy transition impacts, and understanding future demand requirements. It supports market analysis, infrastructure planning, investment evaluation, and policy development while providing insights for researchers, industry stakeholders, analysts, and policymakers monitoring energy transformation, supply-demand balance, and the future role of natural gas in the UK energy sector.
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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.
UK Natural Gas Consumption was 63.50 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023, down 10.4% on 2022.
UK Natural Gas Consumption moved from 72.00 Billion Cubic Metres in 2015 to 63.50 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023 (−11.8%), an average of −1.6% a year. The series high was 79.90 Billion Cubic Metres in 2016 and the low 63.50 Billion Cubic Metres in 2023.
The highest value was 79.90 Billion Cubic Metres in 2016 and the lowest was 63.50 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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