Fish catch by fishing sector in China
China: Fish catch by fishing sector was 12.05 million in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
12.05 million
Change on year
down 11.4%
World rank
1st
of 170 countries
All-time high
13.97 million
in 2015
All-time low
65,849
in 1950
Years of data
69
1950–2018
Fish catch by fishing sector in China, 1950–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
China recorded 12.05 million for fish catch by fishing sector in 2018.
The figure is down 11.4% on the previous year and up 15.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish catch by fishing sector in China peaked at 13.97 million in 2015 and was at its lowest, 65,849, in 1950.
That places China 1st out of 170 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fish catch by fishing sector in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 65,849 | — |
| 1951 | 98,461 | +49.5% |
| 1952 | 128,673 | +30.7% |
| 1953 | 136,281 | +5.9% |
| 1954 | 173,253 | +27.1% |
| 1955 | 198,513 | +14.6% |
| 1956 | 249,553 | +25.7% |
| 1957 | 250,719 | +0.5% |
| 1958 | 273,543 | +9.1% |
| 1959 | 303,424 | +10.9% |
| 1960 | 319,319 | +5.2% |
| 1961 | 344,427 | +7.9% |
| 1962 | 386,914 | +12.3% |
| 1963 | 403,569 | +4.3% |
| 1964 | 432,742 | +7.2% |
| 1965 | 474,806 | +9.7% |
| 1966 | 500,584 | +5.4% |
| 1967 | 521,809 | +4.2% |
| 1968 | 564,319 | +8.1% |
| 1969 | 581,031 | +3.0% |
| 1970 | 596,201 | +2.6% |
| 1971 | 639,347 | +7.2% |
| 1972 | 808,012 | +26.4% |
| 1973 | 915,866 | +13.3% |
| 1974 | 1.04 million | +13.8% |
| 1975 | 1.09 million | +4.3% |
| 1976 | 1.14 million | +5.2% |
| 1977 | 1.26 million | +10.3% |
| 1978 | 1.25 million | -0.9% |
| 1979 | 1.14 million | -8.6% |
| 1980 | 1.23 million | +7.3% |
| 1981 | 1.25 million | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 1.50 million | +19.9% |
| 1983 | 1.60 million | +6.6% |
| 1984 | 1.75 million | +9.3% |
| 1985 | 2.03 million | +16.3% |
| 1986 | 2.48 million | +22.3% |
| 1987 | 2.99 million | +20.2% |
| 1988 | 3.31 million | +10.8% |
| 1989 | 3.69 million | +11.7% |
| 1990 | 4.12 million | +11.6% |
| 1991 | 4.61 million | +11.9% |
| 1992 | 5.27 million | +14.3% |
| 1993 | 5.85 million | +11.0% |
| 1994 | 6.92 million | +18.3% |
| 1995 | 8.01 million | +15.7% |
| 1996 | 8.85 million | +10.5% |
| 1997 | 9.14 million | +3.3% |
| 1998 | 9.63 million | +5.3% |
| 1999 | 9.39 million | -2.5% |
| 2000 | 9.37 million | -0.2% |
| 2001 | 9.30 million | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 9.31 million | +0.1% |
| 2003 | 10.14 million | +8.9% |
| 2004 | 10.28 million | +1.3% |
| 2005 | 10.43 million | +1.5% |
| 2006 | 10.48 million | +0.4% |
| 2007 | 10.52 million | +0.3% |
| 2008 | 10.48 million | -0.4% |
| 2009 | 10.55 million | +0.7% |
| 2010 | 10.84 million | +2.7% |
| 2011 | 10.94 million | +1.0% |
| 2012 | 11.22 million | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 11.48 million | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 13.08 million | +13.9% |
| 2015 | 13.97 million | +6.8% |
| 2016 | 13.53 million | -3.2% |
| 2017 | 13.61 million | +0.6% |
| 2018 | 12.05 million | -11.4% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 12.05 million is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 26,613, 452.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
- China's 12.05 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 75,456, 159.7× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 187,827 | 65,849 | 303,424 | 10 |
| 1960s | 452,952 | 319,319 | 581,031 | 10 |
| 1970s | 988,511 | 596,201 | 1.26 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.18 million | 1.23 million | 3.69 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 7.18 million | 4.12 million | 9.63 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 10.09 million | 9.30 million | 10.55 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.30 million | 10.84 million | 13.97 million | 9 |
Countries ranked near China
More agriculture & rural data for China
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 1.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0666 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 923.03 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3366 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fish catch by fishing sector in China?
- Fish catch by fishing sector in China was 12.05 million in 2018, according to Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fish catch by fishing sector recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 13.97 million in 2015.
- What is the lowest fish catch by fishing sector recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 65,849 in 1950.
- How does China rank for fish catch by fishing sector?
- China ranks 1st out of 170 countries with data for 2018.
- Is fish catch by fishing sector rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China data come from?
- The figures come from Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fish catch by fishing sector. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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