Aquaculture production (Food) in China
China: Aquaculture production (Food) was 81.95 million metric tons in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
81.95 million metric tons
Change on year
up 4.7%
World rank
1st
of 215 countries
All-time high
81.95 million metric tons
in 2024
All-time low
741,121 metric tons
in 1962
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Aquaculture production in China, 1960–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in metric tons.
Analysis
China recorded 81.95 million metric tons for aquaculture production in 2024. That is the highest value across all 65 years on record.
That represents a change of up 4.7% on the previous year and up 43.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, aquaculture production in China peaked at 81.95 million metric tons in 2024 and was at its lowest, 741,121 metric tons, in 1962.
That places China 1st out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Aquaculture production (Food) in China, year by year
| Year | metric tons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 958,506 metric tons | — |
| 1961 | 777,762 metric tons | -18.9% |
| 1962 | 741,121 metric tons | -4.7% |
| 1963 | 856,931 metric tons | +15.6% |
| 1964 | 1.02 million metric tons | +18.7% |
| 1965 | 1.16 million metric tons | +14.0% |
| 1966 | 1.32 million metric tons | +13.9% |
| 1967 | 1.32 million metric tons | -0.4% |
| 1968 | 1.31 million metric tons | -0.7% |
| 1969 | 1.51 million metric tons | +15.9% |
| 1970 | 1.48 million metric tons | -2.2% |
| 1971 | 1.79 million metric tons | +21.0% |
| 1972 | 1.99 million metric tons | +11.0% |
| 1973 | 1.82 million metric tons | -8.3% |
| 1974 | 1.98 million metric tons | +8.3% |
| 1975 | 2.16 million metric tons | +9.2% |
| 1976 | 2.11 million metric tons | -2.4% |
| 1977 | 2.79 million metric tons | +32.4% |
| 1978 | 2.99 million metric tons | +7.1% |
| 1979 | 2.90 million metric tons | -2.9% |
| 1980 | 3.11 million metric tons | +7.0% |
| 1981 | 3.03 million metric tons | -2.3% |
| 1982 | 3.26 million metric tons | +7.4% |
| 1983 | 3.66 million metric tons | +12.3% |
| 1984 | 4.27 million metric tons | +16.8% |
| 1985 | 5.03 million metric tons | +17.7% |
| 1986 | 5.61 million metric tons | +11.5% |
| 1987 | 6.33 million metric tons | +12.8% |
| 1988 | 7.38 million metric tons | +16.6% |
| 1989 | 8.10 million metric tons | +9.8% |
| 1990 | 8.39 million metric tons | +3.6% |
| 1991 | 9.70 million metric tons | +15.5% |
| 1992 | 12.19 million metric tons | +25.7% |
| 1993 | 15.22 million metric tons | +24.9% |
| 1994 | 18.21 million metric tons | +19.7% |
| 1995 | 21.15 million metric tons | +16.1% |
| 1996 | 23.47 million metric tons | +10.9% |
| 1997 | 23.75 million metric tons | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 25.67 million metric tons | +8.1% |
| 1999 | 28.00 million metric tons | +9.1% |
| 2000 | 29.75 million metric tons | +6.2% |
| 2001 | 31.10 million metric tons | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 33.16 million metric tons | +6.6% |
| 2003 | 34.89 million metric tons | +5.2% |
| 2004 | 37.17 million metric tons | +6.5% |
| 2005 | 38.94 million metric tons | +4.8% |
| 2006 | 40.91 million metric tons | +5.1% |
| 2007 | 42.53 million metric tons | +4.0% |
| 2008 | 44.07 million metric tons | +3.6% |
| 2009 | 46.06 million metric tons | +4.5% |
| 2010 | 47.79 million metric tons | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 49.15 million metric tons | +2.8% |
| 2012 | 52.08 million metric tons | +6.0% |
| 2013 | 55.03 million metric tons | +5.7% |
| 2014 | 57.32 million metric tons | +4.2% |
| 2015 | 59.37 million metric tons | +3.6% |
| 2016 | 62.32 million metric tons | +5.0% |
| 2017 | 64.36 million metric tons | +3.3% |
| 2018 | 66.14 million metric tons | +2.8% |
| 2019 | 68.42 million metric tons | +3.5% |
| 2020 | 70.48 million metric tons | +3.0% |
| 2021 | 72.81 million metric tons | +3.3% |
| 2022 | 75.44 million metric tons | +3.6% |
| 2023 | 78.28 million metric tons | +3.8% |
| 2024 | 81.95 million metric tons | +4.7% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 81.95 million metric tons is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5,803 metric tons, 14122.8× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- China's 81.95 million metric tons is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,310 metric tons, 62557.0× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.10 million metric tons | 741,121 metric tons | 1.51 million metric tons | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.20 million metric tons | 1.48 million metric tons | 2.99 million metric tons | 10 |
| 1980s | 4.98 million metric tons | 3.03 million metric tons | 8.10 million metric tons | 10 |
| 1990s | 18.57 million metric tons | 8.39 million metric tons | 28.00 million metric tons | 10 |
| 2000s | 37.86 million metric tons | 29.75 million metric tons | 46.06 million metric tons | 10 |
| 2010s | 58.20 million metric tons | 47.79 million metric tons | 68.42 million metric tons | 10 |
| 2020s | 75.79 million metric tons | 70.48 million metric tons | 81.95 million metric tons | 5 |
Countries ranked near China
More agriculture & rural data for China
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0314 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.0951 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0082 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.3742 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 1.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0666 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 923.03 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is aquaculture production in China?
- Aquaculture production in China was 81.95 million metric tons in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest aquaculture production recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 81.95 million metric tons in 2024.
- What is the lowest aquaculture production recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 741,121 metric tons in 1962.
- How does China rank for aquaculture production?
- China ranks 1st out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is aquaculture production rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), via World Bank (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Aquaculture production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Aquaculture production specifically refers to output from aquaculture activities, which are designated for final harvest for consumption.