From powering our homes to reshaping global politics, the statistics tell a stunning story: the global gas industry, producing over four trillion cubic meters annually, is a complex and powerful engine of the modern world, facing both unprecedented opportunity and profound environmental and geopolitical challenges.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, global natural gas production reached 4,047 billion cubic meters.
- U.S. dry natural gas production averaged 102.0 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2023.
- Qatar's natural gas production was 177 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Proven reserves of natural gas worldwide were 187 trillion cubic meters at end-2022.
- Russia's gas reserves are 38 trillion cubic meters, 20% of world total.
- Iran's reserves stand at 34 trillion cubic meters.
- Global natural gas consumption was 3,941 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- U.S. consumed 883 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- China's gas consumption reached 364 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- World natural gas trade volume was 1,132 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- U.S. LNG exports reached 11.9 billion cubic feet per day in 2023.
- Qatar exported 126 billion cubic meters of LNG in 2022.
- U.S. Henry Hub spot price averaged $6.45/MMBtu in 2022.
- European TTF hub price peaked at €300/MWh in 2022.
- Global LNG spot price averaged $25/MMBtu in 2022.
Global natural gas production grew in 2022, with the U.S. remaining the world's largest producer and exporter.
Consumption Statistics
- Global natural gas consumption was 3,941 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- U.S. consumed 883 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- China's gas consumption reached 364 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Russia consumed 473 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Europe's consumption fell 12% to 346 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Japan's consumption was 96 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- India's gas use grew to 65 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- South Korea consumed 65 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Germany used 84 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Iran's consumption 249 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Canada's consumption 112 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Australia's use 41 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Mexico consumed 90 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Saudi Arabia 111 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Turkey 55 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Ukraine 25 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Global residential sector gas use 24% of total in 2022.
- Power sector consumption grew 2% globally in 2022.
- Industry consumed 40% of global gas in 2022.
- U.S. consumption per capita 2.3 MMBtu in 2022.
- Asia-Pacific consumption share 25% in 2022.
- Global consumption grew 0.9% in 2022 despite Europe drop.
- U.S. power sector gas use 40% of total consumption.
- China industry gas demand up 8% in 2022.
- Europe residential use down 5% in 2022.
- Global LNG imports 404 million tonnes in 2022.
Consumption Statistics Interpretation
Despite a dramatic energy shuffle in Europe, the world’s gas appetite stubbornly inched forward, revealing a global stage where the U.S. remains a gluttonous heavyweight, China’s industrial furnace burns hotter, and the rest of the world nervously juggles its dependence on the molecule.
Environmental Impact Statistics
- Global CO2 emissions from gas 7.4 Gt in 2022.
- Methane emissions from gas sector 100 Mt CH4/year globally.
- Gas flaring volume 148 bcm in 2022.
- U.S. gas methane intensity 0.2% in 2022.
- Global gas contributes 22% of energy CO2 emissions.
- LNG shipping emissions 20 Mt CO2/year.
- Russia gas sector methane 10 Mt/year.
- Flaring reduction target 50% by 2030 from 2021 levels.
- Gas power plants efficiency 50-60% combined cycle.
- CO2 intensity gas 56 g/MJ vs coal 94 g/MJ.
- Global gas leak detection satellites launched 2023.
- U.S. EPA methane rule cuts 1.5 Mt/year.
- EU gas imports carbon footprint reporting mandatory 2023.
- Hydrogen blending in gas networks up to 20% tested.
- CCS capacity for gas 40 Mtpa operational globally.
- Gas sector water use 1-2 barrels per MMBtu.
- Biodiversity impact from gas infrastructure 5% land use.
- Air quality improvement NOx from gas switch 30%.
- Global gas CCUS projects 20 operational.
- Methane pledge 30% cut by 2030 signed by 50 companies.
- U.S. gas fracking wastewater recycled 50% in Permian.
- Europe gas heating emissions 0.2 tCO2/MWh.
- LNG liquefaction energy 10% of cargo energy.
- Global gas venting 20 bcm/year.
Environmental Impact Statistics Interpretation
This sobering jigsaw puzzle reveals natural gas as a climate conundrum: while it can be a cleaner bridge away from coal, its staggering leaks, flaring, and emissions stubbornly undermine its credentials, demanding that our current fixes—from satellites to efficiency drives—catch up to the scale of the problem.
Market Prices and Economics Statistics
- U.S. Henry Hub spot price averaged $6.45/MMBtu in 2022.
- European TTF hub price peaked at €300/MWh in 2022.
- Global LNG spot price averaged $25/MMBtu in 2022.
- Natural gas market size $800 billion in 2022.
- U.S. gas futures traded 1.2 quadrillion Btu in 2022.
- Russia's Gazprom revenue from gas exports $100 billion in 2022.
- Global gas industry investment $280 billion in 2022.
- Henry Hub price volatility 80% annualized in 2022.
- Asia JKM LNG price $30/MMBtu average 2022.
- Natural gas share in global energy 24% in 2022.
- U.S. rig count for gas 130 in 2023 average.
- Global gas demand elasticity -0.2 short-term.
- ExxonMobil gas revenue $50 billion in 2022.
- Chevron gas sales volume 3.5 Bcf/d in 2022.
- Shell LNG trading volume 67 Mt in 2022.
- Gas futures open interest 2 million contracts in 2022.
- Global gas wholesale market value $1.2 trillion 2022.
- U.S. gas storage capacity 4,000 Bcf working gas.
- Europe gas storage fill rate 90% by Nov 2023.
- Natural gas 8% of global commodity trade value.
- Global gas pipeline length 2.5 million km.
- Nord Stream 1 capacity 55 bcm/year.
Market Prices and Economics Statistics Interpretation
The global gas market roared through 2022, revealing a world of starkly divergent realities where U.S. producers enjoyed relatively stable prices while Europe endured a hyper-volatile crisis that saw prices briefly soar fifty-fold higher, all within a titanic, trillion-dollar system that is both deeply entrenched and startlingly fragile.
Production Statistics
- In 2022, global natural gas production reached 4,047 billion cubic meters.
- U.S. dry natural gas production averaged 102.0 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2023.
- Qatar's natural gas production was 177 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Russia's natural gas production declined to 616 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Iran produced 256 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2022.
- China's natural gas production hit 209 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Australia’s natural gas production was 147 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Norway produced 114 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2022.
- Saudi Arabia's gas production reached 121 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Canada produced 172 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2022.
- U.S. natural gas production grew by 4% in 2023 to 37.8 trillion cubic feet.
- LNG production globally was 404 million tonnes in 2022.
- Turkmenistan's gas production was 62 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- UAE produced 93 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2022.
- Algeria's production stood at 93 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Egypt produced 59 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Indonesia's gas output was 71 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Malaysia produced 55 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Nigeria's production was 40 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- U.S. shale gas production accounted for 81% of total U.S. production in 2023.
- Global associated gas production was 1,380 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Non-associated gas production globally was 2,667 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- U.S. Permian Basin gas production hit 20 Bcf/d in 2023.
- Qatar LNG capacity is 77 million tonnes per annum.
- Global gas production grew 3.2% in 2022.
- U.S. marketed production was 38.9 trillion cubic feet in 2023.
- Russia's production share was 15% of global in 2022.
- Top 5 producers accounted for 50% of global output in 2022.
- U.S. became largest producer in 2011 and held in 2022 at 26% share.
- Global production per capita was about 0.5 toe in 2022.
Production Statistics Interpretation
So, while the U.S. is practically drowning the world in shale gas, Russia's stumble and Qatar's quiet LNG dominance reveal a global energy chessboard where old monopolies are fracturing and new powers are rising from the sand and sea.
Reserves Statistics
- Proven reserves of natural gas worldwide were 187 trillion cubic meters at end-2022.
- Russia's gas reserves are 38 trillion cubic meters, 20% of world total.
- Iran's reserves stand at 34 trillion cubic meters.
- Qatar has 24 trillion cubic meters of reserves.
- Turkmenistan reserves are 11 trillion cubic meters.
- U.S. gas reserves were 13.2 trillion cubic meters at end-2022.
- Saudi Arabia reserves 9 trillion cubic meters.
- UAE reserves 6 trillion cubic meters.
- Venezuela has 5 trillion cubic meters.
- Nigeria reserves 5.3 trillion cubic meters.
- Algeria 3.9 trillion cubic meters.
- China reserves 6 trillion cubic meters.
- Australia 3.5 trillion cubic meters.
- Iraq 3.7 trillion cubic meters.
- Indonesia 2.7 trillion cubic meters.
- Malaysia 3 trillion cubic meters.
- Egypt 2.9 trillion cubic meters.
- Norway 1.8 trillion cubic meters.
- Canada 2 trillion cubic meters.
- Global R/P ratio for gas was 49.1 years in 2022.
- Middle East holds 41% of world gas reserves.
- Former Soviet Union 30% of reserves.
- U.S. technically recoverable resources 670 Tcf.
- Global undiscovered resources estimated at 6,620 Tcf.
- Qatar North Field reserves 900 Tcf.
- Permian Basin shale gas resources 210 Tcf.
- Global shale gas resources 7,299 Tcf technically recoverable.
- World's proven reserves increased 1% in 2022.
Reserves Statistics Interpretation
The planet is sitting on a nearly 50-year supply of gas, but with over 70% of it concentrated in the hands of the volatile Middle East and former Soviet states, the global energy map looks less like a balanced portfolio and more like a geopolitical game of musical chairs where the music could stop at any moment.
Trade and Exports Statistics
- World natural gas trade volume was 1,132 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- U.S. LNG exports reached 11.9 billion cubic feet per day in 2023.
- Qatar exported 126 billion cubic meters of LNG in 2022.
- Russia pipeline exports to Europe fell 80% in 2022.
- Australia's LNG exports 81 million tonnes in 2022.
- Norway exported 120 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- U.S. pipeline exports to Mexico 8 Bcf/d in 2023.
- Global LNG trade grew 6.6% to 404 Mt in 2022.
- Russia total gas exports 200 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- Algeria exported 53 billion cubic meters in 2022.
- LNG as share of trade rose to 36% in 2022.
- U.S. became top LNG exporter with 84 Mt in 2022.
- Europe's gas imports from Russia dropped to 43 bcm in 2023.
- Qatar LNG exports share 20% globally in 2022.
- Pipeline trade 64% of total gas trade in 2022.
- U.S. LNG exports to Europe surged 140% in 2022.
- Indonesia LNG exports 18 Mt in 2022.
- Malaysia exported 28 Mt LNG in 2022.
- Nigeria LNG exports 22 Mt in 2022.
- Top 5 LNG exporters 55% of trade in 2022.
- Global LNG import capacity 512 Mtpa in 2022.
- China's LNG imports 79 Mt in 2022.
- Japan LNG imports 66 Mt in 2022.
- South Korea LNG 44 Mt in 2022.
- Europe LNG imports up 42% to 121 bcm in 2022.
Trade and Exports Statistics Interpretation
The global gas trade is a high-stakes geopolitical chessboard where the U.S. and Qatar have become LNG royalty, Russia's pipeline pawn has been decisively captured by Europe, and everyone else is scrambling for position as the board itself gets bigger and more liquid.
Sources & References
- Reference 1BPbp.comVisit source
- Reference 2EIAeia.govVisit source
- Reference 3YEARBOOKyearbook.enerdata.netVisit source
- Reference 4IEAiea.orgVisit source
- Reference 5IGUigu.orgVisit source
- Reference 6NRCANnrcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 7GEMgem.wikiVisit source
- Reference 8OGJogj.comVisit source
- Reference 9ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 10GIIGNLgiignl.orgVisit source
- Reference 11NORSKPETROLEUMnorskpetroleum.noVisit source
- Reference 12ENERGYenergy.ec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 13REUTERSreuters.comVisit source
- Reference 14STATISTAstatista.comVisit source
- Reference 15CMEGROUPcmegroup.comVisit source
- Reference 16GAZPROMgazprom.comVisit source
- Reference 17PLATTSplatts.comVisit source
- Reference 18RIGCOUNTrigcount.bakerhughes.comVisit source
- Reference 19CORPORATEcorporate.exxonmobil.comVisit source
- Reference 20CHEVRONchevron.comVisit source
- Reference 21REPORTSreports.shell.comVisit source
- Reference 22AGSIagsi.gie.euVisit source
- Reference 23NORD-STREAMnord-stream.comVisit source
- Reference 24WORLDBANKworldbank.orgVisit source
- Reference 25EDFedf.orgVisit source
- Reference 26IPCCipcc.chVisit source
- Reference 27GHGSATghgsat.comVisit source
- Reference 28EPAepa.govVisit source
- Reference 29GLOBALCCSINSTITUTEglobalccsinstitute.comVisit source
- Reference 30NRELnrel.govVisit source
- Reference 31IPBESipbes.netVisit source
- Reference 32IEAGREENCCUSSieagreenccuss.orgVisit source
- Reference 33OGMPARTNERSHIPogmpartnership.orgVisit source