Aquaculture production (Food) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Aquaculture production (Food) was 226,006 metric tons in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2024)
226,006 metric tons
Change on year
up 21.5%
World rank
26th
of 215 countries
All-time high
239,175 metric tons
in 2021
All-time low
35 metric tons
in 1960
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Aquaculture production in United Kingdom, 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
In 2024, aquaculture production in United Kingdom stood at 226,006 metric tons.
That represents a change of up 21.5% on the previous year and down 3.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, aquaculture production in United Kingdom peaked at 239,175 metric tons in 2021 and was at its lowest, 35 metric tons, in 1960.
United Kingdom ranks 26th of 215 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Aquaculture production (Food) in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | metric tons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 35 metric tons | — |
| 1961 | 135 metric tons | +285.7% |
| 1962 | 35 metric tons | -74.1% |
| 1963 | 35 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 200 metric tons | +471.4% |
| 1965 | 300 metric tons | +50.0% |
| 1966 | 200 metric tons | -33.3% |
| 1967 | 200 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 200 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 200 metric tons | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 444 metric tons | +122.0% |
| 1971 | 516 metric tons | +16.2% |
| 1972 | 213 metric tons | -58.7% |
| 1973 | 401 metric tons | +88.3% |
| 1974 | 556 metric tons | +38.7% |
| 1975 | 876 metric tons | +57.6% |
| 1976 | 690 metric tons | -21.2% |
| 1977 | 585 metric tons | -15.2% |
| 1978 | 888 metric tons | +51.8% |
| 1979 | 2,351 metric tons | +164.8% |
| 1980 | 2,855 metric tons | +21.4% |
| 1981 | 4,049 metric tons | +41.8% |
| 1982 | 11,987 metric tons | +196.0% |
| 1983 | 11,684 metric tons | -2.5% |
| 1984 | 17,612 metric tons | +50.7% |
| 1985 | 20,104 metric tons | +14.1% |
| 1986 | 24,013 metric tons | +19.4% |
| 1987 | 29,435 metric tons | +22.6% |
| 1988 | 36,392 metric tons | +23.6% |
| 1989 | 49,316 metric tons | +35.5% |
| 1990 | 50,044 metric tons | +1.5% |
| 1991 | 60,887 metric tons | +21.7% |
| 1992 | 56,824 metric tons | -6.7% |
| 1993 | 68,774 metric tons | +21.0% |
| 1994 | 85,701 metric tons | +24.6% |
| 1995 | 93,838 metric tons | +9.5% |
| 1996 | 109,901 metric tons | +17.1% |
| 1997 | 129,715 metric tons | +18.0% |
| 1998 | 137,421 metric tons | +5.9% |
| 1999 | 154,800 metric tons | +12.6% |
| 2000 | 152,485 metric tons | -1.5% |
| 2001 | 170,526 metric tons | +11.8% |
| 2002 | 179,051 metric tons | +5.0% |
| 2003 | 181,853 metric tons | +1.6% |
| 2004 | 207,218 metric tons | +13.9% |
| 2005 | 172,828 metric tons | -16.6% |
| 2006 | 171,863 metric tons | -0.6% |
| 2007 | 174,215 metric tons | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 175,734 metric tons | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 196,648 metric tons | +11.9% |
| 2010 | 201,414 metric tons | +2.4% |
| 2011 | 199,018 metric tons | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 205,645 metric tons | +3.3% |
| 2013 | 225,822 metric tons | +9.8% |
| 2014 | 234,429 metric tons | +3.8% |
| 2015 | 211,820 metric tons | -9.6% |
| 2016 | 194,567 metric tons | -8.1% |
| 2017 | 227,644 metric tons | +17.0% |
| 2018 | 189,862 metric tons | -16.6% |
| 2019 | 233,777 metric tons | +23.1% |
| 2020 | 219,944 metric tons | -5.9% |
| 2021 | 239,175 metric tons | +8.7% |
| 2022 | 201,320 metric tons | -15.8% |
| 2023 | 186,033 metric tons | -7.6% |
| 2024 | 226,006 metric tons | +21.5% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 226,006 metric tons is above the median for high income countries, which is 2,445 metric tons, 92.4× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 226,006 metric tons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 10,060 metric tons, 22.5× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Aquaculture production (Food) in United Kingdom 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | +471.4% | 35 metric tons | 200 metric tons |
| 1961 | +285.7% | 35 metric tons | 135 metric tons |
| 1982 | +196.0% | 4,049 metric tons | 11,987 metric tons |
| 1979 | +164.8% | 888 metric tons | 2,351 metric tons |
| 1970 | +122.0% | 200 metric tons | 444 metric tons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 154 metric tons | 35 metric tons | 300 metric tons | 10 |
| 1970s | 752 metric tons | 213 metric tons | 2,351 metric tons | 10 |
| 1980s | 20,745 metric tons | 2,855 metric tons | 49,316 metric tons | 10 |
| 1990s | 94,790 metric tons | 50,044 metric tons | 154,800 metric tons | 10 |
| 2000s | 178,242 metric tons | 152,485 metric tons | 207,218 metric tons | 10 |
| 2010s | 212,400 metric tons | 189,862 metric tons | 234,429 metric tons | 10 |
| 2020s | 214,496 metric tons | 186,033 metric tons | 239,175 metric tons | 5 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More agriculture & rural data for United Kingdom
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.2731 % 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 0.0861 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.8055 % 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 0.2384 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 8.26 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0064 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 368.63 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1852 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is aquaculture production in United Kingdom?
- Aquaculture production in United Kingdom was 226,006 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 239,175 metric tons in 2021.
- What is the lowest aquaculture production recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 35 metric tons in 1960.
- How does United Kingdom rank for aquaculture production?
- United Kingdom ranks 26th out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is aquaculture production rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 3.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.