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

Fact #488: September 24, 2007
World Natural Gas Reserves, Production, and Consumption, 2005

The U.S. was responsible for 18% of the World's natural gas production, held only 3% of reserves, and consumed 21% of the world's natural gas in 2005. The Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) held just over half of the world's natural gas reserves, but only produced 18% of world natural gas.

World Natural Gas Reserves, Production, and Consumption, 2005
Graph showing the world natural gas reserves, production, and consumption in 2005 for the US, OPEC, and the rest of the world. For more detailed information, see the table below.

Supporting Information

World Natural Gas Reserves, Production, and Consumption, 2005 (trillion cubic feet)
  Natural Gas Reserves Reserve Share Natural Gas Production Production Share Natural Gas Consumption Consumption Share
United States 204.4 3% 18.1 18% 22.2 21%
OPEC 3,154.4 52% 17.8 18% 12.5 12%
Rest of World 2,765.2 45% 65.6 65% 69.0 67%
Total 6,124.0 100% 101.5 100% 103.7 100%

Note: Reserves as of January 1, 2004. Production data are dry gas production.

* OPEC countries include Venezuela, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Libya, Nigeria, and Indonesia, Gabon, and Ecuador.

Source: Energy Information Administration, International Energy Annual 2005, June 21, 2007 Tables 1.3, 2.4, and 8.1.

 

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