Aquaculture production (Food) in Nigeria
Nigeria: Aquaculture production (Food) was 258,230 metric tons in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Aquaculture production in Nigeria, 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 Nigeria is 258,230 metric tons, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 0.2% on the previous year and down 17.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, aquaculture production in Nigeria peaked at 316,727 metric tons in 2015 and was at its lowest, 2,005 metric tons, in 1960.
That places Nigeria 24th out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Aquaculture production (Food) in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | metric tons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2,005 metric tons | — |
| 1961 | 2,173 metric tons | +8.4% |
| 1962 | 2,361 metric tons | +8.7% |
| 1963 | 2,547 metric tons | +7.9% |
| 1964 | 2,730 metric tons | +7.2% |
| 1965 | 2,904 metric tons | +6.4% |
| 1966 | 3,084 metric tons | +6.2% |
| 1967 | 3,265 metric tons | +5.9% |
| 1968 | 3,434 metric tons | +5.2% |
| 1969 | 3,613 metric tons | +5.2% |
| 1970 | 3,809 metric tons | +5.4% |
| 1971 | 3,993 metric tons | +4.8% |
| 1972 | 4,183 metric tons | +4.8% |
| 1973 | 4,407 metric tons | +5.4% |
| 1974 | 4,630 metric tons | +5.1% |
| 1975 | 4,860 metric tons | +5.0% |
| 1976 | 5,087 metric tons | +4.7% |
| 1977 | 5,329 metric tons | +4.8% |
| 1978 | 5,562 metric tons | +4.4% |
| 1979 | 5,782 metric tons | +4.0% |
| 1980 | 6,028 metric tons | +4.3% |
| 1981 | 6,283 metric tons | +4.2% |
| 1982 | 6,559 metric tons | +4.4% |
| 1983 | 6,842 metric tons | +4.3% |
| 1984 | 6,519 metric tons | -4.7% |
| 1985 | 7,892 metric tons | +21.1% |
| 1986 | 5,456 metric tons | -30.9% |
| 1987 | 6,002 metric tons | +10.0% |
| 1988 | 10,631 metric tons | +77.1% |
| 1989 | 25,840 metric tons | +143.1% |
| 1990 | 7,347 metric tons | -71.6% |
| 1991 | 15,365 metric tons | +109.1% |
| 1992 | 17,088 metric tons | +11.2% |
| 1993 | 17,090 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1994 | 15,030 metric tons | -12.1% |
| 1995 | 16,619 metric tons | +10.6% |
| 1996 | 19,491 metric tons | +17.3% |
| 1997 | 24,297 metric tons | +24.7% |
| 1998 | 20,458 metric tons | -15.8% |
| 1999 | 21,737 metric tons | +6.3% |
| 2000 | 25,718 metric tons | +18.3% |
| 2001 | 24,398 metric tons | -5.1% |
| 2002 | 30,663 metric tons | +25.7% |
| 2003 | 30,677 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 43,950 metric tons | +43.3% |
| 2005 | 56,355 metric tons | +28.2% |
| 2006 | 84,578 metric tons | +50.1% |
| 2007 | 85,087 metric tons | +0.6% |
| 2008 | 143,207 metric tons | +68.3% |
| 2009 | 152,796 metric tons | +6.7% |
| 2010 | 200,535 metric tons | +31.2% |
| 2011 | 221,128 metric tons | +10.3% |
| 2012 | 253,898 metric tons | +14.8% |
| 2013 | 278,706 metric tons | +9.8% |
| 2014 | 313,231 metric tons | +12.4% |
| 2015 | 316,727 metric tons | +1.1% |
| 2016 | 306,767 metric tons | -3.1% |
| 2017 | 296,191 metric tons | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 291,323 metric tons | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 289,543 metric tons | -0.6% |
| 2020 | 261,711 metric tons | -9.6% |
| 2021 | 275,645 metric tons | +5.3% |
| 2022 | 259,106 metric tons | -6.0% |
| 2023 | 258,830 metric tons | -0.1% |
| 2024 | 258,230 metric tons | -0.2% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 258,230 metric tons is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 9,636 metric tons, 26.8× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 258,230 metric tons is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,824 metric tons, 141.6× the median. (48 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Aquaculture production (Food) in Nigeria changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | +143.1% | 10,631 metric tons | 25,840 metric tons |
| 1991 | +109.1% | 7,347 metric tons | 15,365 metric tons |
| 1990 | -71.6% | 25,840 metric tons | 7,347 metric tons |
| 1988 | +77.1% | 6,002 metric tons | 10,631 metric tons |
| 2008 | +68.3% | 85,087 metric tons | 143,207 metric tons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 2,812 metric tons | 2,005 metric tons | 3,613 metric tons | 10 |
| 1970s | 4,764 metric tons | 3,809 metric tons | 5,782 metric tons | 10 |
| 1980s | 8,805 metric tons | 5,456 metric tons | 25,840 metric tons | 10 |
| 1990s | 17,452 metric tons | 7,347 metric tons | 24,297 metric tons | 10 |
| 2000s | 67,743 metric tons | 24,398 metric tons | 152,796 metric tons | 10 |
| 2010s | 276,805 metric tons | 200,535 metric tons | 316,727 metric tons | 10 |
| 2020s | 262,704 metric tons | 258,230 metric tons | 275,645 metric tons | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More agriculture & rural data for Nigeria
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.9222 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1938 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.5433 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.2993 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2298 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 281.32 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1218 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is aquaculture production in Nigeria?
- Aquaculture production in Nigeria was 258,230 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 316,727 metric tons in 2015.
- What is the lowest aquaculture production recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,005 metric tons in 1960.
- How does Nigeria rank for aquaculture production?
- Nigeria ranks 24th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is aquaculture production rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 17.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.