Nigeria has emerged among the world’s ten cheapest countries for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, according to new data from GlobalPetrolPrices.com for August 25, 2025. The report compared the average retail prices of LPG across more than 100 countries, measuring costs per kilogram (kg), the standard unit of trade.
Below are the top ten cheapest countries for cooking gas:
- Algeria – ₦110.4/kg ($0.069)
- Angola – ₦174.4/kg ($0.109)
- Saudi Arabia – ₦465.6/kg ($0.291)
- Russia – ₦560.0/kg ($0.350)
- Belarus – ₦609.6/kg ($0.381)
- Azerbaijan – ₦611.2/kg ($0.382)
- Kuwait – ₦668.8/kg ($0.418)
- Kazakhstan – ₦736.0/kg ($0.460)
- Egypt – ₦750.0/kg ($0.469)
- Nigeria – ₦836.8/kg ($0.523)
Algeria leads the list as the cheapest market globally, with households paying just ₦110.4 per kg, a fraction of what many developing nations spend. By contrast, Nigeria, despite its large natural gas reserves, averages ₦836.8 per kg, nearly eight times more expensive than Algeria.
Why Nigeria Still Struggles
Analysts say Nigeria’s relatively low global ranking masks deep structural issues. The country holds Africa’s largest proven natural gas reserves but continues to rely heavily on imports to meet local demand. Limited domestic processing, inadequate storage, and distribution bottlenecks all contribute to higher retail prices.
Foreign exchange shortages have also played a role, as importers face rising costs in securing cargoes. This creates price volatility for Nigerian households, who already contend with high inflation and weak purchasing power.
Regional Comparison
In West Africa, Nigeria ranks better than countries like Ghana and Senegal, where LPG costs often exceed ₦1,500 per kg due to higher import dependence. However, it still lags behind Angola, another oil producer that has managed to maintain lower domestic gas prices through subsidies and stronger refining capacity.
Global Context
Most of the cheapest countries are either major energy producers or economies that maintain subsidies for household energy use. By contrast, higher-income nations in Europe and parts of Asia record LPG prices above $2 per kg, making Nigeria’s ₦836.8/kg appear low in global comparison, but still burdensome locally.
Experts warn that unless Nigeria invests aggressively in gas processing plants, expands distribution pipelines, and stabilizes its forex market, households will continue paying far more than they should, given the country’s vast natural gas wealth.