Natural gas in Europe - statistics & facts

Natural gas is the second-most important source of primary energy in Europe following crude oil. Many European countries heavily utilize natural gas to generate electricity and heat, as well as aiding industrial manufacturing processes. However, the continent’s resources are limited, and demand has been predominantly met through pipeline trading with neighboring countries such as Russia and Algeria. The implications of Europe’s reliance on natural gas became especially apparent in the 2021/22 energy crisis.

The role of natural gas in Europe’s energy supply chain

Natural gas accounts for roughly 40 percent of gross heat generation in the European Union and more than 20 percent of final energy consumption. Some of the countries with the highest gas power generation share include Belarus and Malta, which derive electricity almost exclusively from natural gas. Meanwhile, in Italy and the Netherlands, it makes up nearly 50 percent of total electricity generation. Since 2000, gas power capacity in Europe has doubled not only because of greater energy demand, but also as a result of the phasing-out of coal, which is the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel. Today, natural gas has become the main source of EU power production after nuclear plants.

Natural gas supply amid the energy crisis

Russia plays a critical role in satisfying Europe’s natural gas demand, especially for parts of the continent where pipeline networks have made trading more convenient. The Baltic Sea-crossing Nord Stream pipeline and Ukraine transit network are the main trading routes used. However, the Russia-Ukraine war has put Russian gas supplies into question, with erratic development in weekly gas imports a reflection of political pressure. Following sabotage, the Nord Stream pipeline has since become unusable. The TurkStream pipeline across the Black Sea was the only supply route between Russia and continental Europe which had seen shipments stay comparatively steady since the start of the war. Countries in Eastern Europe are the most susceptible to a Russian gas supply cut, with GDP output losses of up to 6.5 percent expected in a worst-case scenario. To keep repercussions to a minimum, the EU has introduced a set of policies such as the RePowerEU plan, which is aimed at speedily reducing Russian gas dependence through the promotion of LNG infrastructure in the mid-term and renewable buildup in the long-term.

This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.

Natural gas production in the EU: 41.1bn m³

EU natural gas imports from Russia: 154.03bn m³

Gas power production in Europe: 1,207.5 TWh

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Natural gas production in Europe 2022, by country

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Overview

Premium Statistic Natural gas production in the European Union 1998-2022
Natural gas production in the European Union 1998-2022
Natural gas production in the European Union from 1998 to 2022 (in billion cubic meters)
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Leading natural gas producing countries in Europe in 2022 (in billion cubic meters)
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Trade

Premium Statistic Natural gas supply breakdown in Europe 2021, by source
Natural gas supply breakdown in Europe 2021, by source
Distribution of primary gas supply in OECD Europe in 2023, by source (in billion cubic meters)
Premium Statistic Gaseous state natural gas imports in Europe 2021-2022, by country
Gaseous state natural gas imports in Europe 2021-2022, by country
Import volume of natural gas in gaseous state in Europe in 2021 and 2022, by country (in million metric tons)
Basic Statistic Russian natural gas imports in Europe 2021, by country
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Natural gas imports from Russia in Europe in 2021, by country (in billion cubic meters)
Basic Statistic EU and UK gas imports from Russia weekly 2021-2023, by route
EU and UK gas imports from Russia weekly 2021-2023, by route
Natural gas import volume from Russia in the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) from week 1, 2021 to week 36, 2023, by exporting route (in million cubic meters)
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Daily value of Russian gas imported to the EU 2022
Estimated daily import value of Russian gas to meet demand in the European Union from February 1, 2021 to September 5, 2022 (in million euros)
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Estimated costs for natural gas pipelines in the European Union as of 2023, by development stage (in million euros)

Consumption and storage

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Share of natural gas storage capacity filled in Europe April 2024, by country
Percentage of natural gas storage capacity filled in select European countries as of April 2024
Premium Statistic Natural gas consumption in the European Union 1998-2022
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Natural gas consumption in the European Union from 1998 to 2022 (in billion cubic meters)
Premium Statistic Natural gas use in the EU-27 2021, by country
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Final energy consumption of natural gas in the European Union in 2021, by country (in million metric tons of oil equivalent)
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Natural gas share in energy use in the EU-27 2021
Share of natural gas in electricity and heat generation and overall energy consumption in the European Union in 2021

Electricity generation

Premium Statistic Gas power production capacity in Europe 2000-2022
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Natural gas electricity generation capacity in Europe from 2000 to 2022 (in gigawatts)
Premium Statistic Gas power production capacity in Europe 2022, by country
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Countries with largest natural gas electricity generation capacity in Europe in 2022 (in gigawatts)
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Natural gas electricity generation in Europe from 2000 to 2022 (in terawatt hours)
Basic Statistic Gas power production in Europe 2022, by country
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Gas share in power mix Europe 2022, by country
Countries with highest domestic natural gas electricity generation share in Europe in 2022
Basic Statistic Largest operational gas power plants in Europe by capacity 2021
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Largest operational natural gas power plants by capacity in Europe as of 2021 (in megawatts)

Energy crisis

Basic Statistic GDP impact of European embargo on Russian gas 2023-2024, by region
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Change in forecast gross domestic product (GDP) growth worldwide in case of an embargo on Russian gas in Europe from 2023 to 2024, by region (as a difference from baseline)
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Projected GDP output losses twelve months after a theoretical Russian gas supply shut-off in select European countries in 2022, by scenario
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Change in Russian pipeline gas exports to the EU 2021-2025
Forecast change in pipeline gas exports from Russia to the European Union (EU) in 2025 compared to 2021, by scenario
Premium Statistic Consumption change due to a potential Russian gas shutoff in Europe 2022, by country
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Basic Statistic Potential cuts in Russian gas imports into the EU 2025, by policy measure
Potential cuts in Russian gas imports into the EU 2025, by policy measure
Potential reductions in Russian gas imports through policy initiatives in the European Union by 2025, by policy measure (in billion cubic meters)

Outlook

Basic Statistic Natural gas consumption projections in OECD Europe 2015-2050
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Consumption of natural gas in OECD Europe from 2015 to 2020, with a forecast until 2050* (in trillion cubic feet)
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Forecast fossil gas and hydrogen supply and demand in Europe 2030
Forecast supply and demand of fossil gas and fossil hydrogen in a low carbon fuels scenario in Europe in 2030 (in billion cubic meters)

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