Gas reserves in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Gas reserves was 180.66 billion cubic meters in 2021. ▼ Falling
Latest (2021)
180.66 billion cubic meters
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
43rd
of 215 countries
All-time high
945.78 billion cubic meters
in 1987
All-time low
180.66 billion cubic meters
in 2018
Years of data
42
1980–2021
Gas reserves in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom is 180.66 billion cubic meters, measured in 2021. That is the lowest value across all 42 years on record.
The figure is down 29.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, gas reserves in United Kingdom peaked at 945.78 billion cubic meters in 1987 and was at its lowest, 180.66 billion cubic meters, in 2018.
That places United Kingdom 43rd out of 215 countries with data for 2021, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 42 years of available data.
Gas reserves in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | cubic meters | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 707.92 billion cubic meters | — |
| 1981 | 702.26 billion cubic meters | -0.8% |
| 1982 | 736.24 billion cubic meters | +4.8% |
| 1983 | 719.25 billion cubic meters | -2.3% |
| 1984 | 710.75 billion cubic meters | -1.2% |
| 1985 | 787.21 billion cubic meters | +10.8% |
| 1986 | 934.46 billion cubic meters | +18.7% |
| 1987 | 945.78 billion cubic meters | +1.2% |
| 1988 | 622.97 billion cubic meters | -34.1% |
| 1989 | 643.92 billion cubic meters | +3.4% |
| 1990 | 590.01 billion cubic meters | -8.4% |
| 1991 | 559.97 billion cubic meters | -5.1% |
| 1992 | 545.01 billion cubic meters | -2.7% |
| 1993 | 540.00 billion cubic meters | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 610.00 billion cubic meters | +13.0% |
| 1995 | 629.99 billion cubic meters | +3.3% |
| 1996 | 660.01 billion cubic meters | +4.8% |
| 1997 | 699.99 billion cubic meters | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 760.00 billion cubic meters | +8.6% |
| 1999 | 765.01 billion cubic meters | +0.7% |
| 2000 | 755.01 billion cubic meters | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 760.00 billion cubic meters | +0.7% |
| 2002 | 734.99 billion cubic meters | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 696.60 billion cubic meters | -5.2% |
| 2004 | 628.63 billion cubic meters | -9.8% |
| 2005 | 588.99 billion cubic meters | -6.3% |
| 2006 | 530.94 billion cubic meters | -9.9% |
| 2007 | 481.39 billion cubic meters | -9.3% |
| 2008 | 412.01 billion cubic meters | -14.4% |
| 2009 | 342.92 billion cubic meters | -16.8% |
| 2010 | 292.00 billion cubic meters | -14.8% |
| 2011 | 255.98 billion cubic meters | -12.3% |
| 2012 | 252.98 billion cubic meters | -1.2% |
| 2013 | 245.99 billion cubic meters | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 243.98 billion cubic meters | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 240.75 billion cubic meters | -1.3% |
| 2016 | 205.41 billion cubic meters | -14.7% |
| 2017 | 207.25 billion cubic meters | +0.9% |
| 2018 | 180.66 billion cubic meters | -12.8% |
| 2019 | 180.66 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2020 | 180.66 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 180.66 billion cubic meters | +0.0% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 180.66 billion cubic meters is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 3.96 billion cubic meters, 45.6× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 751.08 billion cubic meters | 622.97 billion cubic meters | 945.78 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 1990s | 636.00 billion cubic meters | 540.00 billion cubic meters | 765.01 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2000s | 593.15 billion cubic meters | 342.92 billion cubic meters | 760.00 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2010s | 230.57 billion cubic meters | 180.66 billion cubic meters | 292.00 billion cubic meters | 10 |
| 2020s | 180.66 billion cubic meters | 180.66 billion cubic meters | 180.66 billion cubic meters | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More energy & mining data for United Kingdom
- 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 -1.3 % 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 8.2% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is gas reserves in United Kingdom?
- Gas reserves in United Kingdom was 180.66 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 945.78 billion cubic meters in 1987.
- What is the lowest gas reserves recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 180.66 billion cubic meters in 2018.
- How does United Kingdom rank for gas reserves?
- United Kingdom ranks 43rd out of 215 countries with data for 2021.
- Is gas reserves rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 29.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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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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.