Fish catch by fishing sector in South Korea
South Korea: Fish catch by fishing sector was 1.59 million in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
1.59 million
Change on year
down 3.0%
World rank
12th
of 170 countries
All-time high
3.26 million
in 1986
All-time low
117,398
in 1950
Years of data
69
1950–2018
Fish catch by fishing sector in South Korea, 1950–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2018, fish catch by fishing sector in South Korea stood at 1.59 million.
The figure is down 3.0% on the previous year and down 28.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish catch by fishing sector in South Korea peaked at 3.26 million in 1986 and was at its lowest, 117,398, in 1950.
That places South Korea 12th 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 117,398 | — |
| 1951 | 157,751 | +34.4% |
| 1952 | 157,999 | +0.2% |
| 1953 | 153,585 | -2.8% |
| 1954 | 158,270 | +3.1% |
| 1955 | 163,197 | +3.1% |
| 1956 | 223,189 | +36.8% |
| 1957 | 260,408 | +16.7% |
| 1958 | 267,911 | +2.9% |
| 1959 | 272,835 | +1.8% |
| 1960 | 264,320 | -3.1% |
| 1961 | 327,502 | +23.9% |
| 1962 | 366,294 | +11.8% |
| 1963 | 399,439 | +9.0% |
| 1964 | 454,388 | +13.8% |
| 1965 | 517,188 | +13.8% |
| 1966 | 562,182 | +8.7% |
| 1967 | 648,769 | +15.4% |
| 1968 | 694,674 | +7.1% |
| 1969 | 801,999 | +15.4% |
| 1970 | 862,955 | +7.6% |
| 1971 | 1.10 million | +27.9% |
| 1972 | 1.28 million | +16.4% |
| 1973 | 1.52 million | +18.1% |
| 1974 | 1.75 million | +15.3% |
| 1975 | 1.88 million | +7.4% |
| 1976 | 2.16 million | +14.7% |
| 1977 | 2.32 million | +7.6% |
| 1978 | 2.37 million | +2.1% |
| 1979 | 2.37 million | +0.1% |
| 1980 | 2.42 million | +1.9% |
| 1981 | 2.74 million | +13.4% |
| 1982 | 2.69 million | -1.7% |
| 1983 | 2.90 million | +7.8% |
| 1984 | 3.00 million | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 2.92 million | -2.9% |
| 1986 | 3.26 million | +11.7% |
| 1987 | 2.78 million | -14.6% |
| 1988 | 2.65 million | -4.7% |
| 1989 | 2.88 million | +8.5% |
| 1990 | 3.01 million | +4.6% |
| 1991 | 2.83 million | -5.8% |
| 1992 | 3.16 million | +11.6% |
| 1993 | 2.82 million | -11.0% |
| 1994 | 2.88 million | +2.4% |
| 1995 | 2.83 million | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 2.90 million | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 2.75 million | -5.2% |
| 1998 | 2.42 million | -12.0% |
| 1999 | 2.64 million | +9.0% |
| 2000 | 2.35 million | -10.8% |
| 2001 | 2.53 million | +7.6% |
| 2002 | 2.15 million | -15.1% |
| 2003 | 2.00 million | -6.7% |
| 2004 | 1.91 million | -4.8% |
| 2005 | 1.97 million | +3.3% |
| 2006 | 2.11 million | +7.1% |
| 2007 | 2.20 million | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 2.24 million | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 2.12 million | -5.2% |
| 2010 | 1.95 million | -8.2% |
| 2011 | 2.10 million | +7.8% |
| 2012 | 1.99 million | -5.3% |
| 2013 | 1.93 million | -2.7% |
| 2014 | 2.20 million | +13.8% |
| 2015 | 1.98 million | -10.3% |
| 2016 | 1.63 million | -17.6% |
| 2017 | 1.64 million | +0.8% |
| 2018 | 1.59 million | -3.0% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 1.59 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 65,050, 24.5× the median. (65 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 1.59 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 75,456, 21.1× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 193,254 | 117,398 | 272,835 | 10 |
| 1960s | 503,676 | 264,320 | 801,999 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1.76 million | 862,955 | 2.37 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 2.82 million | 2.42 million | 3.26 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 2.82 million | 2.42 million | 3.16 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 2.16 million | 1.91 million | 2.53 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.89 million | 1.59 million | 2.20 million | 9 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More agriculture & rural data for South Korea
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 0.2516 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0146 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 530.46 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1591 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.1883 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.8% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fish catch by fishing sector in South Korea?
- Fish catch by fishing sector in South Korea was 1.59 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 3.26 million in 1986.
- What is the lowest fish catch by fishing sector recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 117,398 in 1950.
- How does South Korea rank for fish catch by fishing sector?
- South Korea ranks 12th out of 170 countries with data for 2018.
- Is fish catch by fishing sector rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Korea 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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