Gas reserves in New Zealand
New Zealand: Gas reserves was 31.15 billion cubic meters in 2021. ◆ Volatile
Gas reserves in New Zealand, 1980–2021
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in cubic meters.
Analysis
The most recent figure for gas reserves in New Zealand is 31.15 billion cubic meters, measured in 2021.
That represents a change of up 5.3% on the previous year and down 9.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gas reserves in New Zealand peaked at 172.73 billion cubic meters in 1981 and was at its lowest, 25.49 billion cubic meters, in 2006.
That places New Zealand 65th out of 215 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Gas reserves in New Zealand, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 169.90 billion cubic meters | — |
| 1981 | 172.73 billion cubic meters | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 170.47 billion cubic meters | -1.3% |
| 1983 | 157.02 billion cubic meters | -7.9% |
| 1984 | 156.68 billion cubic meters | -0.2% |
| 1985 | 153.99 billion cubic meters | -1.7% |
| 1986 | 156.17 billion cubic meters | +1.4% |
| 1987 | 161.12 billion cubic meters | +3.2% |
| 1988 | 147.25 billion cubic meters | -8.6% |
| 1989 | 145.83 billion cubic meters | -1.0% |
| 1990 | 144.98 billion cubic meters | -0.6% |
| 1991 | 116.27 billion cubic meters | -19.8% |
| 1992 | 97.66 billion cubic meters | -16.0% |
| 1993 | 95.88 billion cubic meters | -1.8% |
| 1994 | 89.34 billion cubic meters | -6.8% |
| 1995 | 85.18 billion cubic meters | -4.7% |
| 1996 | 80.48 billion cubic meters | -5.5% |
| 1997 | 67.90 billion cubic meters | -15.6% |
| 1998 | 67.96 billion cubic meters | +0.1% |
| 1999 | 69.38 billion cubic meters | +2.1% |
| 2000 | 69.38 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2001 | 69.38 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2002 | 58.98 billion cubic meters | -15.0% |
| 2003 | 87.39 billion cubic meters | +48.2% |
| 2004 | 37.38 billion cubic meters | -57.2% |
| 2005 | 33.36 billion cubic meters | -10.8% |
| 2006 | 25.49 billion cubic meters | -23.6% |
| 2007 | 25.49 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 29.68 billion cubic meters | +16.4% |
| 2009 | 33.98 billion cubic meters | +14.5% |
| 2010 | 33.98 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 34.38 billion cubic meters | +1.2% |
| 2012 | 27.64 billion cubic meters | -19.6% |
| 2013 | 29.42 billion cubic meters | +6.5% |
| 2014 | 28.35 billion cubic meters | -3.7% |
| 2015 | 38.54 billion cubic meters | +36.0% |
| 2016 | 36.90 billion cubic meters | -4.3% |
| 2017 | 35.88 billion cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 33.70 billion cubic meters | -6.1% |
| 2019 | 28.06 billion cubic meters | -16.7% |
| 2020 | 29.59 billion cubic meters | +5.4% |
| 2021 | 31.15 billion cubic meters | +5.3% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Gas reserves in New Zealand changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | -57.2% | 87.39 billion cubic meters | 37.38 billion cubic meters |
| 2003 | +48.2% | 58.98 billion cubic meters | 87.39 billion cubic meters |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 159.12 billion cubic meters | 145.83 billion cubic meters | 172.73 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 91.50 billion cubic meters | 67.90 billion cubic meters | 144.98 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 47.05 billion cubic meters | 25.49 billion cubic meters | 87.39 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 32.68 billion cubic meters | 27.64 billion cubic meters | 38.54 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 30.37 billion cubic meters | 29.59 billion cubic meters | 31.15 billion cubic meters | 2 |
Countries ranked near New Zealand
- 62 Afghanistan 49.55 billion cubic meters compare
- 63 Serbia 48.14 billion cubic meters compare
- 64 Italy 45.76 billion cubic meters compare
- 66 Denmark 29.53 billion cubic meters compare
- 67 Cote d'Ivoire 28.32 billion cubic meters compare
- 67 Mauritania 28.32 billion cubic meters compare
More energy & mining data for New Zealand
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 1.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Fuel imports 12.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gas reserves in New Zealand?
- Gas reserves in New Zealand was 31.15 billion cubic meters in 2021, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest gas reserves recorded in New Zealand?
- The highest recorded value was 172.73 billion cubic meters in 1981.
- What is the lowest gas reserves recorded in New Zealand?
- The lowest recorded value was 25.49 billion cubic meters in 2006.
- How does New Zealand rank for gas reserves?
- New Zealand ranks 65th out of 215 countries with data for 2021.
- Is gas reserves rising or falling in New Zealand?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this New Zealand data come from?
- The figures come from U.S. Energy Information Administration (2022) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Gas reserves. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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CSV · JSON — 42 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Proved reserves, measured in cubic meters, are generally those quantities that can be recovered in the future from known reservoirs under existing economic and operating conditions, according to geological and engineering information.