U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Program

Fact #337: September 13, 2004
World Natural Gas Reserves, Production, and Consumption, 2002

The United States was responsible for 22% of the world's production of natural gas, held 3% of the world's natural gas reserves, and consumed 26% of world's natural gas consumption. Members of the Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) produced 17% of the world's natural gas in 2002.

World Natural Gas Reserves, Production, and Consumption, 2002
Graph showing the production and consumption of natural gas reserves by the U.S., OPEC, and the rest of the world in 2002.

Supporting Information

World Natural Gas Reserves, Productio,n and Consumption, 2002
  Natural Gasl Reserves (trillion cubic feet) Reserve Share Natural Gas Production (trillion cubic feet) Production Share Natural Gas Consumption (trillion cubic feet) Consumption Share
United States 186.9 3% 18.987 220% 23.455 26%
OPEC 2,492.3 46% 14.647 17% 10.259 12%
Rest of World 2,788.0 51% 54.5 62% 55.0 62%

Source: Energy Information Administration, International Energy Annual 2002, June 2004, Tables 4.2 and 8.1.
Note: Reserves as of January 1, 2003. Production data are dry gas production.

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