Fish and seafood consumption per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Fish and seafood consumption per capita was 5.59 kilograms per year per capita in 2023. ▼ Falling
Latest (2023)
5.59 kilograms per year per capita
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
153rd
of 192 countries
All-time high
11.84 kilograms per year per capita
in 1975
All-time low
5.05 kilograms per year per capita
in 2009
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Fish and seafood consumption per capita in South Africa, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in kilograms per year per capita.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 5.59 kilograms per year per capita for fish and seafood consumption per capita in 2023.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 8.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish and seafood consumption per capita in South Africa peaked at 11.84 kilograms per year per capita in 1975 and was at its lowest, 5.05 kilograms per year per capita, in 2009.
That places South Africa 153rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 63 years of available data.
Fish and seafood consumption per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | kilograms per year per capita | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 5.79 kilograms per year per capita | — |
| 1962 | 5.74 kilograms per year per capita | -0.7% |
| 1963 | 5.94 kilograms per year per capita | +3.4% |
| 1964 | 6.25 kilograms per year per capita | +5.2% |
| 1965 | 7.7 kilograms per year per capita | +23.3% |
| 1966 | 8.15 kilograms per year per capita | +5.9% |
| 1967 | 9.14 kilograms per year per capita | +12.1% |
| 1968 | 7.3 kilograms per year per capita | -20.1% |
| 1969 | 6.81 kilograms per year per capita | -6.8% |
| 1970 | 8.66 kilograms per year per capita | +27.2% |
| 1971 | 7.96 kilograms per year per capita | -8.1% |
| 1972 | 8.02 kilograms per year per capita | +0.8% |
| 1973 | 10.43 kilograms per year per capita | +30.0% |
| 1974 | 10.31 kilograms per year per capita | -1.1% |
| 1975 | 11.84 kilograms per year per capita | +14.9% |
| 1976 | 10.08 kilograms per year per capita | -14.9% |
| 1977 | 9.73 kilograms per year per capita | -3.5% |
| 1978 | 9.54 kilograms per year per capita | -1.9% |
| 1979 | 9.13 kilograms per year per capita | -4.3% |
| 1980 | 8.55 kilograms per year per capita | -6.4% |
| 1981 | 10.19 kilograms per year per capita | +19.1% |
| 1982 | 8.09 kilograms per year per capita | -20.5% |
| 1983 | 8.2 kilograms per year per capita | +1.3% |
| 1984 | 8.59 kilograms per year per capita | +4.7% |
| 1985 | 8.09 kilograms per year per capita | -5.8% |
| 1986 | 7.46 kilograms per year per capita | -7.9% |
| 1987 | 8.93 kilograms per year per capita | +19.7% |
| 1988 | 9.37 kilograms per year per capita | +4.9% |
| 1989 | 8.37 kilograms per year per capita | -10.7% |
| 1990 | 9.01 kilograms per year per capita | +7.7% |
| 1991 | 7.19 kilograms per year per capita | -20.2% |
| 1992 | 8.36 kilograms per year per capita | +16.3% |
| 1993 | 8.2 kilograms per year per capita | -1.9% |
| 1994 | 6.11 kilograms per year per capita | -25.5% |
| 1995 | 7.99 kilograms per year per capita | +30.7% |
| 1996 | 6.19 kilograms per year per capita | -22.5% |
| 1997 | 7.68 kilograms per year per capita | +24.0% |
| 1998 | 6.24 kilograms per year per capita | -18.7% |
| 1999 | 6.18 kilograms per year per capita | -1.0% |
| 2000 | 5.84 kilograms per year per capita | -5.5% |
| 2001 | 6.67 kilograms per year per capita | +14.2% |
| 2002 | 6.72 kilograms per year per capita | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 6.85 kilograms per year per capita | +1.9% |
| 2004 | 9.59 kilograms per year per capita | +40.0% |
| 2005 | 8.3 kilograms per year per capita | -13.4% |
| 2006 | 7.71 kilograms per year per capita | -7.2% |
| 2007 | 7.65 kilograms per year per capita | -0.8% |
| 2008 | 6.82 kilograms per year per capita | -10.8% |
| 2009 | 5.05 kilograms per year per capita | -26.1% |
| 2010 | 5.75 kilograms per year per capita | +13.9% |
| 2011 | 5.54 kilograms per year per capita | -3.7% |
| 2012 | 7.26 kilograms per year per capita | +31.0% |
| 2013 | 6.13 kilograms per year per capita | -15.6% |
| 2014 | 6.99 kilograms per year per capita | +14.0% |
| 2015 | 6.36 kilograms per year per capita | -9.0% |
| 2016 | 6.06 kilograms per year per capita | -4.7% |
| 2017 | 6.36 kilograms per year per capita | +5.0% |
| 2018 | 7.47 kilograms per year per capita | +17.5% |
| 2019 | 6.31 kilograms per year per capita | -15.5% |
| 2020 | 5.24 kilograms per year per capita | -17.0% |
| 2021 | 5.75 kilograms per year per capita | +9.7% |
| 2022 | 5.66 kilograms per year per capita | -1.6% |
| 2023 | 5.59 kilograms per year per capita | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6.98 kilograms per year per capita | 5.74 kilograms per year per capita | 9.14 kilograms per year per capita | 9 |
| 1970s | 9.57 kilograms per year per capita | 7.96 kilograms per year per capita | 11.84 kilograms per year per capita | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.58 kilograms per year per capita | 7.46 kilograms per year per capita | 10.19 kilograms per year per capita | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.31 kilograms per year per capita | 6.11 kilograms per year per capita | 9.01 kilograms per year per capita | 10 |
| 2000s | 7.12 kilograms per year per capita | 5.05 kilograms per year per capita | 9.59 kilograms per year per capita | 10 |
| 2010s | 6.42 kilograms per year per capita | 5.54 kilograms per year per capita | 7.47 kilograms per year per capita | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.56 kilograms per year per capita | 5.24 kilograms per year per capita | 5.75 kilograms per year per capita | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 150 Cuba 6.1 kilograms per year per capita compare
- 151 Bosnia and Herzegovina 5.86 kilograms per year per capita compare
- 152 Chad 5.61 kilograms per year per capita compare
- 154 Haiti 5.42 kilograms per year per capita compare
- 155 Paraguay 5.33 kilograms per year per capita compare
- 156 Türkiye 5.32 kilograms per year per capita compare
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 fish and seafood consumption per capita in South Africa?
- Fish and seafood consumption per capita in South Africa was 5.59 kilograms per year per capita in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fish and seafood consumption per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 11.84 kilograms per year per capita in 1975.
- What is the lowest fish and seafood consumption per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.05 kilograms per year per capita in 2009.
- How does South Africa rank for fish and seafood consumption per capita?
- South Africa ranks 153rd out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fish and seafood consumption per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 8.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fish and seafood consumption per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Quantity that is available for consumption at the end of the supply chain. It does not account for consumer waste, so the quantity that is actually consumed may be lower.