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Natural Gas Market Size, Share and Forecast 2026-2036

The global natural gas market is worth USD 800 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 975 bn by 2036, growing at a 2.0% CAGR. United States is the largest country market and Pipeline gas is the largest by delivery segment.

USD 800 bnMarket size 2026
USD 975 bnForecast 2036
2.0%CAGR 2026-2036
United StatesLargest country

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5 segmentation views25 countries2026 to 2036 yearly forecast

Market overview

The global natural gas market is worth USD 800 bn in 2026 and is forecast to reach USD 975 bn by 2036, growing at a 2.0% CAGR. United States is the largest country market and Pipeline gas is the largest by delivery segment.

ScopeNatural gas produced and sold worldwide as pipeline gas and LNG, measured at wholesale sales value of marketed production.
IndustryOil and Gas
Value 2025USD 780 bn
Value 2026USD 800 bn
Value 2036USD 975 bn
CAGR 2026-20362.0%
Volume 20264,313,119 million cubic metres
Volume 20364,759,698 million cubic metres
Average price 2026USD 0.19 per cubic metre
Report priceStarts from USD 1,999
PublishedNovember 2026

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Natural Gas market size and forecast, 2026-2036

Exhibit 1The global natural gas market is forecast to grow from USD 800 bn in 2026 to USD 975 bn by 2036, a rise of 22%Global market value in USD: 2025 base year, 2026 estimate and forecast to 2036. CAGR 2026 to 2036: 2.0%
Natural Gas market value, 2025 to 2036Market value by year. 2025: USD 780 bn; 2026: USD 800 bn; 2027: USD 815 bn; 2028: USD 832 bn; 2029: USD 848 bn; 2030: USD 865 bn; 2031: USD 883 bn; 2032: USD 900 bn; 2033: USD 918 bn; 2034: USD 937 bn; 2035: USD 955 bn; 2036: USD 975 bn. Compound annual growth rate 2026 to 2036: 2.0%.2025800 bn2026883 bn2031975 bn20362.0% CAGR

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

YearMarket value
2026USD 800 bn
2027USD 815 bn
2028USD 832 bn
2029USD 848 bn
2030USD 865 bn
2031USD 883 bn
2032USD 900 bn
2033USD 918 bn
2034USD 937 bn
2035USD 955 bn
2036USD 975 bn

Natural Gas market segmentation

By delivery

Exhibit 2Pipeline gas is the largest segment by delivery, with 71.0% of 2026 revenueEstimated share of 2026 global revenue, by delivery
Natural Gas market share by delivery, 2026Share of 2026 revenue by delivery. Pipeline gas: 71.0%; LNG: 27.0%; Other (compressed gas, local supply): 2.0%.Pipeline gas71.0%LNG27.0%Other (compressed gas, local supply)2.0%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Pipeline gas71.0%65.0%USD 568 bn1.1%
LNG27.0%33.1%USD 216 bn4.1%
Other (compressed gas, local supply)2.0%1.9%USD 16.0 bn1.6%

By source

Exhibit 3Shale and tight gas adds the most revenue by source, growing from USD 160 bn in 2026 to USD 227 bn by 2036Estimated revenue in USD by source, 2026 and 2036 forecast
Natural Gas market by source, 2026 and 2036Revenue by source in 2026 and 2036. Conventional onshore: USD 384 bn in 2026, USD 427 bn in 2036, change +11%; Offshore: USD 208 bn in 2026, USD 255 bn in 2036, change +23%; Shale and tight gas: USD 160 bn in 2026, USD 227 bn in 2036, change +42%; Coal bed methane and other: USD 48.0 bn in 2026, USD 65.0 bn in 2036, change +35%.20262036 forecastChangeConventional onshore+11%384 bn427 bnOffshore+23%208 bn255 bnShale and tight gas+42%160 bn227 bnCoal bed methane and other+35%48.0 bn65.0 bn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Conventional onshore48.0%43.8%USD 384 bn1.1%
Offshore26.0%26.2%USD 208 bn2.1%
Shale and tight gas20.0%23.3%USD 160 bn3.6%
Coal bed methane and other6.0%6.7%USD 48.0 bn3.1%

By end use

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Power generation34.0%32.0%USD 272 bn1.4%
Residential and commercial24.0%22.0%USD 192 bn1.1%
Industrial28.0%28.0%USD 224 bn2.0%
Transport and chemical feedstock14.0%18.0%USD 112 bn4.6%

By pricing basis

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Oil-indexed24.0%16.0%USD 192 bn-2.0%
Hub-indexed40.0%46.0%USD 320 bn3.4%
Regulated tariffs36.0%38.0%USD 288 bn2.5%

By gas composition

SegmentShare 2026Share 2036Value 2026CAGR 2026-36
Dry gas60.0%56.0%USD 480 bn1.3%
Wet gas with liquids28.0%30.0%USD 224 bn2.7%
Sour gas12.0%14.0%USD 95.9 bn3.6%

Top 25 countries for natural gas by revenue

Countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales in the country, not by where the product is made. The ten largest hold 55.9% of 2026 revenue and the 25 countries below together hold 82.3%.

Exhibit 4United States is the largest country market at USD 168 bn in 2026, and the three largest countries hold 37.0% of global revenueEstimated 2026 revenue in USD and share of the global market, ten largest countries
Natural Gas market, ten largest countries in 2026Ten largest countries by 2026 revenue. United States: USD 168 bn, 21.0%; China: USD 87.9 bn, 11.0%; Russia: USD 40.0 bn, 5.0%; Japan: USD 30.4 bn, 3.8%; Germany: USD 25.6 bn, 3.2%; India: USD 20.8 bn, 2.6%; United Kingdom: USD 20.0 bn, 2.5%; Italy: USD 18.4 bn, 2.3%; Canada: USD 18.4 bn, 2.3%; Iran: USD 17.6 bn, 2.2%.United States168 bn 21.0%China87.9 bn 11.0%Russia40.0 bn 5.0%Japan30.4 bn 3.8%Germany25.6 bn 3.2%India20.8 bn 2.6%United Kingdom20.0 bn 2.5%Italy18.4 bn 2.3%Canada18.4 bn 2.3%Iran17.6 bn 2.2%

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

#CountryValue 2026Share 2026Value 2036CAGR 2026-36
1United StatesUSD 168 bn21.0%USD 203 bn1.9%
2ChinaUSD 87.9 bn11.0%USD 123 bn3.4%
3RussiaUSD 40.0 bn5.0%USD 43.9 bn0.9%
4JapanUSD 30.4 bn3.8%USD 32.2 bn0.6%
5GermanyUSD 25.6 bn3.2%USD 28.3 bn1.0%
6IndiaUSD 20.8 bn2.6%USD 37.0 bn6.0%
7United KingdomUSD 20.0 bn2.5%USD 20.5 bn0.2%
8ItalyUSD 18.4 bn2.3%USD 19.5 bn0.6%
9CanadaUSD 18.4 bn2.3%USD 21.4 bn1.6%
10IranUSD 17.6 bn2.2%USD 20.5 bn1.5%
11Saudi ArabiaUSD 17.0 bn2.1%USD 20.0 bn1.6%
12South KoreaUSD 17.0 bn2.1%USD 20.0 bn1.6%
13MexicoUSD 17.0 bn2.1%USD 20.0 bn1.6%
14FranceUSD 17.0 bn2.1%USD 17.0 bn-0.04%
15TurkeyUSD 16.6 bn2.1%USD 24.4 bn3.9%
16EgyptUSD 15.8 bn2.0%USD 23.1 bn3.9%
17NetherlandsUSD 15.0 bn1.9%USD 14.9 bn-0.08%
18ArgentinaUSD 14.2 bn1.8%USD 16.7 bn1.6%
19ThailandUSD 13.5 bn1.7%USD 15.9 bn1.6%
20AustraliaUSD 12.9 bn1.6%USD 15.0 bn1.6%
21PakistanUSD 12.2 bn1.5%USD 17.8 bn3.8%
22SpainUSD 11.6 bn1.4%USD 11.5 bn-0.08%
23AlgeriaUSD 11.0 bn1.4%USD 12.9 bn1.6%
24UzbekistanUSD 10.5 bn1.3%USD 15.3 bn3.9%
25MalaysiaUSD 9.9 bn1.2%USD 11.7 bn1.7%
Rest of worldUSD 141 bn17.7%USD 170 bn1.9%
Exhibit 5China and United States account for 40% of the USD 175 bn the market is forecast to add by 2036Forecast revenue added between 2026 and 2036 by country, in USD
Natural Gas market, where the growth to 2036 comes fromRevenue added between 2026 and 2036. Market value 2026: USD 800 bn. China: +USD 34.9 bn; United States: +USD 34.8 bn; India: +USD 16.2 bn; Turkey: +USD 7.7 bn; Egypt: +USD 7.3 bn; 20 other countries: +USD 45.4 bn; Rest of world: +USD 28.7 bn. Market value 2036: USD 975 bn.China+34.9 bnUnited States+34.8 bnIndia+16.2 bnTurkey+7.7 bnEgypt+7.3 bn20 other countries+45.4 bnRest of world+28.7 bn

Source: Compare Market Research analysis.
© 2026 Compare Market Research. All rights reserved.

Competitive landscape

Group 1: Global leaders

  • Gazprom
  • ExxonMobil
  • Shell
  • QatarEnergy
  • Chevron
  • TotalEnergies
  • Saudi Aramco

Group 2: Regional and specialist players

  • Equinor
  • Novatek
  • Petronas
  • CNPC
  • ConocoPhillips
  • ADNOC
  • Sonatrach
  • Eni
  • Woodside Energy
  • National Iranian Oil Company

Group 3: Emerging and niche players

  • EQT
  • Expand Energy
  • Cheniere Energy
  • Coterra Energy
  • Antero Resources
  • Range Resources
  • Comstock Resources

Research methodology

Every figure on this page comes from the research framework that we apply to all of the markets we cover. The 2025 base for the natural gas market is built from the volume sold and the price that buyers pay, and is cross-checked against the size of the wider industry the market belongs to. Where a market can be sized in more than one way, the routes are compared before a figure is set.

The forecast runs year by year from the 2025 base to 2036. Growth in each year reflects demand from the industries that buy the product, adoption of new technology, pricing, regulation and replacement cycles. Volume and price are modelled together, so revenue in each year equals volume multiplied by average price. The 2026 to 2036 compound annual growth rate of 2.0% is calculated from the resulting values.

The market is divided by delivery, by source, by end use, by pricing basis, by gas composition. The 25 largest countries are ranked by revenue earned from sales to buyers in each country, not by where the product is made. Segment values and country values add up to the market total in every year, and every report is checked for consistency before it is published.

Companies are placed in three groups: global leaders, regional and specialist players, and emerging and niche players. The groups describe how companies compete in the market. They are not a ranking and they are not market shares.

Our analysts also carry out primary research. Customized reports add interviews with key opinion leaders, such as senior executives, technical specialists and buyers, to test the assumptions behind the numbers for the question being asked.

Read the full research methodology

Frequently asked questions

How big is the natural gas market?

The global natural gas market is estimated at USD 780 bn in 2025 and USD 800 bn in 2026.

How fast will the natural gas market grow?

It is forecast to reach USD 975 bn by 2036, a compound annual growth rate of 2.0% from 2026, an increase of USD 175 bn.

Which country is the largest market for natural gas?

United States is the largest market by revenue at USD 168 bn in 2026, 21.0% of the global total. The three largest countries together hold 37.0%.

Which country is growing fastest?

Among the ten largest markets, India is growing fastest at 6.0% a year from 2026 to 2036.

Which natural gas segment is largest?

In the by delivery split, Pipeline gas is the largest segment with 71.0% of 2026 revenue.

Who are the leading natural gas companies?

Global leaders include Gazprom, ExxonMobil, Shell, QatarEnergy.

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