Global natural gas reserves by country 2010-2020
Russia has the largest proved natural gas reserves in the world. As of 2020, it had 37.4 trillion cubic meters worth of the fossil fuel, three trillion cubic meters more than ten years prior. Iran and Qatar have the second and third largest proved natural gas reserves, at 32.1 and 24.7 trillion cubic meters in 2020, respectively.
Between 2000 and 2020, global proved natural gas reserves increased by some 1.5 quadrillion cubic feet. In 2019, worldwide reserves reached their peak at just over seven quadrillion cubic feet, of which 38 percent are located in the Middle East.
The United States is the world’s largest natural gas producer as of 2020, despite ranking fifth in terms of proved reserves. That year, it was responsible for approximately 915 billion cubic meters of natural gas being extracted. This compared to a production volume of 638.5 billion cubic meters by Russia.
Natural gas reserves overview
Used as a source of energy generation and a feedstock in the chemicals industry, natural gas serves a variety of purposes. It is mainly transported in gaseous form via pipelines, but may be shipped via tanker vessels once liquefied. Proved reserves is a measure used to establish recoverable resource volumes. These are linked to known reservoirs and estimated through exploratory drilling.Between 2000 and 2020, global proved natural gas reserves increased by some 1.5 quadrillion cubic feet. In 2019, worldwide reserves reached their peak at just over seven quadrillion cubic feet, of which 38 percent are located in the Middle East.
The United States is the world’s largest natural gas producer as of 2020, despite ranking fifth in terms of proved reserves. That year, it was responsible for approximately 915 billion cubic meters of natural gas being extracted. This compared to a production volume of 638.5 billion cubic meters by Russia.
