Aquaculture production (Food) in North Korea
North Korea: Aquaculture production (Food) was 685,700 metric tons in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
685,700 metric tons
Change on year
up 0.1%
World rank
17th
of 215 countries
All-time high
1.20 million metric tons
in 1989
All-time low
5,236 metric tons
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Aquaculture production in North Korea, 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
The most recent figure for aquaculture production in North Korea is 685,700 metric tons, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.1% on the previous year and up 20.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, aquaculture production in North Korea peaked at 1.20 million metric tons in 1989 and was at its lowest, 5,236 metric tons, in 1960.
That places North Korea 17th 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 North Korea, year by year
| Year | metric tons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 5,236 metric tons | — |
| 1961 | 6,287 metric tons | +20.1% |
| 1962 | 7,556 metric tons | +20.2% |
| 1963 | 9,229 metric tons | +22.1% |
| 1964 | 11,410 metric tons | +23.6% |
| 1965 | 14,143 metric tons | +24.0% |
| 1966 | 17,841 metric tons | +26.1% |
| 1967 | 24,690 metric tons | +38.4% |
| 1968 | 40,218 metric tons | +62.9% |
| 1969 | 55,844 metric tons | +38.9% |
| 1970 | 71,743 metric tons | +28.5% |
| 1971 | 88,133 metric tons | +22.8% |
| 1972 | 105,263 metric tons | +19.4% |
| 1973 | 123,457 metric tons | +17.3% |
| 1974 | 143,138 metric tons | +15.9% |
| 1975 | 165,608 metric tons | +15.7% |
| 1976 | 192,889 metric tons | +16.5% |
| 1977 | 223,564 metric tons | +15.9% |
| 1978 | 258,006 metric tons | +15.4% |
| 1979 | 297,961 metric tons | +15.5% |
| 1980 | 347,299 metric tons | +16.6% |
| 1981 | 404,354 metric tons | +16.4% |
| 1982 | 470,917 metric tons | +16.5% |
| 1983 | 549,383 metric tons | +16.7% |
| 1984 | 694,800 metric tons | +26.5% |
| 1985 | 744,900 metric tons | +7.2% |
| 1986 | 855,100 metric tons | +14.8% |
| 1987 | 1.08 million metric tons | +26.3% |
| 1988 | 1.09 million metric tons | +0.9% |
| 1989 | 1.20 million metric tons | +10.1% |
| 1990 | 900,000 metric tons | -25.0% |
| 1991 | 950,000 metric tons | +5.6% |
| 1992 | 1.10 million metric tons | +15.8% |
| 1993 | 1.13 million metric tons | +2.7% |
| 1994 | 817,039 metric tons | -27.7% |
| 1995 | 738,317 metric tons | -9.6% |
| 1996 | 782,475 metric tons | +6.0% |
| 1997 | 489,321 metric tons | -37.5% |
| 1998 | 481,500 metric tons | -1.6% |
| 1999 | 481,500 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 2000 | 467,700 metric tons | -2.9% |
| 2001 | 508,095 metric tons | +8.6% |
| 2002 | 508,095 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 2003 | 508,095 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 508,105 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 508,175 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 2006 | 508,180 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 2007 | 508,250 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 2008 | 508,550 metric tons | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 508,660 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 509,785 metric tons | +0.2% |
| 2011 | 509,800 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 2012 | 510,610 metric tons | +0.2% |
| 2013 | 511,675 metric tons | +0.2% |
| 2014 | 567,545 metric tons | +10.9% |
| 2015 | 567,750 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 2016 | 619,750 metric tons | +9.2% |
| 2017 | 628,060 metric tons | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 680,060 metric tons | +8.3% |
| 2019 | 681,560 metric tons | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 682,300 metric tons | +0.1% |
| 2021 | 684,560 metric tons | +0.3% |
| 2022 | 684,700 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 685,200 metric tons | +0.1% |
| 2024 | 685,700 metric tons | +0.1% |
North Korea compared with similar countries
- North Korea's 685,700 metric tons is above the median for low income countries, which is 1,165 metric tons, 588.6× the median. (25 countries reporting)
- North Korea's 685,700 metric tons is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 1,310 metric tons, 523.4× the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 19,245 metric tons | 5,236 metric tons | 55,844 metric tons | 10 |
| 1970s | 166,976 metric tons | 71,743 metric tons | 297,961 metric tons | 10 |
| 1980s | 743,675 metric tons | 347,299 metric tons | 1.20 million metric tons | 10 |
| 1990s | 787,015 metric tons | 481,500 metric tons | 1.13 million metric tons | 10 |
| 2000s | 504,190 metric tons | 467,700 metric tons | 508,660 metric tons | 10 |
| 2010s | 578,660 metric tons | 509,785 metric tons | 681,560 metric tons | 10 |
| 2020s | 684,492 metric tons | 682,300 metric tons | 685,700 metric tons | 5 |
Countries ranked near North Korea
More agriculture & rural data for North Korea
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.0256 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population 9.52 million (2025)
- Rural population growth -0.6% (2025)
- Rural population 35.8% (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3581 units per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.6454 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.0957 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.0251 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.0976 hectares per person (2025)
- Seafood production: wild fish catch vs. aquaculture 685,700 metric tons (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is aquaculture production in North Korea?
- Aquaculture production in North Korea was 685,700 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 North Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 1.20 million metric tons in 1989.
- What is the lowest aquaculture production recorded in North Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 5,236 metric tons in 1960.
- How does North Korea rank for aquaculture production?
- North Korea ranks 17th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is aquaculture production rising or falling in North Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North Korea 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
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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.