US Natural Gas Production Dominance: World's Top Producer Since 2011

A recent social media post by energy analyst Doug Lewin has challenged common perceptions regarding the United States' position in the global natural gas market and the growth trajectory of gas as an energy source. In his tweet, Lewin stated:

The US is not "rapidly becoming" the biggest source of gas. We've been #1 since 2011. And gas is nowhere near the "fastest growing energy source on the planet." Just demonstrably false. Lewin's statement directly refuted the idea of a recent shift in U.S. gas production dominance and dismissed claims about natural gas being the fastest-growing energy source globally.

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) supports Lewin's first claim, confirming the United States surpassed Russia in 2011 to become the world's largest producer of natural gas. This leadership has been maintained consistently, with the U.S. holding the top position for the 15th consecutive year in 2024, according to Energy In Depth. U.S. natural gas production reached new record highs annually from 2011 through 2015, and forecasts predict record production levels will continue into 2025.

Regarding the growth of energy sources, reports from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and other analyses indicate that renewable energy sources are indeed the fastest-growing globally. Renewables, particularly solar photovoltaics and wind power, led the growth in total energy supply in 2024, expanding by nearly 6%. While natural gas did see a significant increase in demand, rising by 2.7% in 2024 and reaching a new all-time high, especially in fast-growing Asian markets and for power generation, this growth is primarily within the fossil fuel category.

Ember's Global Electricity Review 2025 highlights solar power as the world's fastest-growing electricity source for the 20th consecutive year, doubling its output every three years since 2016. Although natural gas remains a critical component of the global energy mix and saw increased consumption in 2024, partly due to extreme weather driving higher electricity demand, its growth rate is outpaced by the accelerating expansion of clean energy technologies. The long-term trend points towards renewables leading overall energy growth.