Abstract
Global production and consumption of natural gas in 2007 was approximately 3 trillion cubic meters. Global natural gas consumption is estimated to have increased by 1.9% in 2007, and is expected to increase by 2.8% per year from 2007 to 2012, declining to 2.0% per year from 2012 to 2017.
About 95% of total natural gas consumption in 2007 was for direct fuel uses. North America was the largest consuming region in 2007 with almost 27% of world consumption, following by Central/Eastern Europe with 24%. The following pie chart shows world consumption of natural gas in 2007 by region:
