Aquaculture production in South Africa
South Africa: Aquaculture production was 8,439 metric tons in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
8,439 metric tons
Change on year
down 2.6%
World rank
90th
of 215 countries
All-time high
11,355 metric tons
in 2022
All-time low
0 metric tons
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Aquaculture production in South Africa, 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 South Africa is 8,439 metric tons, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of down 2.6% on the previous year and up 16.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, aquaculture production in South Africa peaked at 11,355 metric tons in 2022 and was at its lowest, 0 metric tons, in 1960.
South Africa ranks 90th of 215 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Aquaculture production in South Africa, year by year
| Year | metric tons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 0 metric tons | — |
| 1961 | 0 metric tons | — |
| 1962 | 0 metric tons | — |
| 1963 | 0 metric tons | — |
| 1964 | 0 metric tons | — |
| 1965 | 0 metric tons | — |
| 1966 | 0 metric tons | — |
| 1967 | 0 metric tons | — |
| 1968 | 0 metric tons | — |
| 1969 | 0 metric tons | — |
| 1970 | 0 metric tons | — |
| 1971 | 0 metric tons | — |
| 1972 | 0 metric tons | — |
| 1973 | 0 metric tons | — |
| 1974 | 9 metric tons | — |
| 1975 | 9 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 9 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1977 | 12 metric tons | +33.3% |
| 1978 | 14 metric tons | +16.7% |
| 1979 | 14 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1980 | 13 metric tons | -7.1% |
| 1981 | 11 metric tons | -15.4% |
| 1982 | 10 metric tons | -9.1% |
| 1983 | 6 metric tons | -40.0% |
| 1984 | 366 metric tons | +6000.0% |
| 1985 | 615 metric tons | +68.0% |
| 1986 | 789 metric tons | +28.3% |
| 1987 | 1,096 metric tons | +38.9% |
| 1988 | 1,376 metric tons | +25.5% |
| 1989 | 2,037 metric tons | +48.0% |
| 1990 | 3,613 metric tons | +77.4% |
| 1991 | 4,882 metric tons | +35.1% |
| 1992 | 4,288 metric tons | -12.2% |
| 1993 | 4,021 metric tons | -6.2% |
| 1994 | 4,429 metric tons | +10.1% |
| 1995 | 3,530 metric tons | -20.3% |
| 1996 | 3,013 metric tons | -14.6% |
| 1997 | 4,196 metric tons | +39.3% |
| 1998 | 5,088 metric tons | +21.3% |
| 1999 | 4,148 metric tons | -18.5% |
| 2000 | 2,819 metric tons | -32.0% |
| 2001 | 2,830 metric tons | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 4,105 metric tons | +45.1% |
| 2003 | 6,602 metric tons | +60.8% |
| 2004 | 5,954 metric tons | -9.8% |
| 2005 | 5,895 metric tons | -1.0% |
| 2006 | 6,037 metric tons | +2.4% |
| 2007 | 5,669 metric tons | -6.1% |
| 2008 | 5,421 metric tons | -4.4% |
| 2009 | 4,982 metric tons | -8.1% |
| 2010 | 5,148 metric tons | +3.3% |
| 2011 | 5,343 metric tons | +3.8% |
| 2012 | 5,927 metric tons | +10.9% |
| 2013 | 6,613 metric tons | +11.6% |
| 2014 | 7,222 metric tons | +9.2% |
| 2015 | 6,730 metric tons | -6.8% |
| 2016 | 8,094 metric tons | +20.3% |
| 2017 | 6,338 metric tons | -21.7% |
| 2018 | 7,992 metric tons | +26.1% |
| 2019 | 9,224 metric tons | +15.4% |
| 2020 | 9,753 metric tons | +5.7% |
| 2021 | 10,347 metric tons | +6.1% |
| 2022 | 11,355 metric tons | +9.7% |
| 2023 | 8,661 metric tons | -23.7% |
| 2024 | 8,439 metric tons | -2.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0 metric tons | 0 metric tons | 0 metric tons | 10 |
| 1970s | 6.7 metric tons | 0 metric tons | 14 metric tons | 10 |
| 1980s | 631.9 metric tons | 6 metric tons | 2,037 metric tons | 10 |
| 1990s | 4,121 metric tons | 3,013 metric tons | 5,088 metric tons | 10 |
| 2000s | 5,031 metric tons | 2,819 metric tons | 6,602 metric tons | 10 |
| 2010s | 6,863 metric tons | 5,148 metric tons | 9,224 metric tons | 10 |
| 2020s | 9,711 metric tons | 8,439 metric tons | 11,355 metric tons | 5 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is aquaculture production in South Africa?
- Aquaculture production in South Africa was 8,439 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 South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11,355 metric tons in 2022.
- What is the lowest aquaculture production recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 0 metric tons in 1960.
- How does South Africa rank for aquaculture production?
- South Africa ranks 90th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is aquaculture production rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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.