15 Largest Natural Gas Producing Countries in the World, Where Does Indonesia Rank?
Natural gas is one of the strategic energy commodities that plays a crucial role in supporting global energy needs.
Natural gas production remains highly concentrated in a handful of countries. In 2024, around nine countries contributed more than 70% of total world production, demonstrating the high market dominance by major energy players.
Amid rising global energy demand, particularly from developing countries, the role of natural gas is increasingly debated. Although its combustion emissions are lower than coal, scientists warn that methane leaks and the risk of carbon lock-in from long-term gas infrastructure could erode those advantages.
Major Countries Dominate Natural Gas
The United States remains the world’s largest natural gas producer with annual production reaching 37.766 billion cubic metres, surpassing Russia which recorded 22.673 billion cubic metres per year.
US dominance is driven by the shale gas revolution, particularly from regions like the Appalachian Basin. Even the Shale Crescent area alone produces 369 billion cubic metres, making it one of the world’s largest production centres.
Meanwhile, Russia remains a strategic player, especially in gas exports to Europe and Asia, although it has faced geopolitical pressures in recent years.
In addition to these two giants, countries in Asia and the Middle East are showing significant increases. Iran and Qatar with production of 9.852 billion cubic metres and 6.001 billion cubic metres demonstrate dominance in the Gulf region.
China has become one of the world’s largest natural gas producers with output reaching around 9.127 billion cubic metres in 2024. This increase is driven by growing domestic energy needs alongside industrial expansion and urbanisation.
Natural Gas in Indonesia
Indonesia is one of the important natural gas producers in the world, ranking 13th globally in 2024 with production of around 2.465 billion cubic metres. This position places Indonesia as a mid-tier player, but still strategic in Southeast Asia.
Historically, Indonesia’s natural gas production has shown a relatively fluctuating trend but tends to be stagnant in the long term.
Production increased significantly from 1980 until it peaked in the early 2010s, at around 2.917 billion cubic metres in 2010, before experiencing a decline and stabilising in the range of 2,300-2,500 billion cubic metres up to 2024.
The post-2010 decline was caused by depletion of old gas fields and natural decline in existing fields, while major potential new projects have not yet fully come into production due to the need for time and significant investment.
Looking ahead, Indonesia’s prospects will greatly depend on exploration investments, development of new blocks, and optimisation of existing fields to maintain production stability amid the dynamics of the global energy transition.