Production and consumption of gas

The main natural gas consumer countries in the world in 2005 are the following :

As is the case for oil, the major consumer countries for gas are the developed countries and often as well, developing countries having significant production of their own, together with a large population (Iran, Egypt, Uzbekistan…).

Consumption of gas is increasing steadily every year, more rapidly even than oil, since it progressed by 41 % in the 15 years from 1990.

Worldwide production of natural gas by country (2005):

As is the case for oil, the Middle East has major gas reserves (42% of world reserves). But its production remains relatively limited (31% of world production). In fact, the major consuming countries of North America and Europe are drawing on their own reserves, partly because the distribution of gas is proportionally more expensive than that of oil. It is therefore less attractive to bring gas from distant locations.