Fish catch by fishing sector in South Africa
South Africa: Fish catch by fishing sector was 561,550 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
561,550
Change on year
up 3.5%
World rank
28th
of 165 countries
All-time high
4.83 million
in 1968
All-time low
393,721
in 1950
Years of data
69
1950–2018
Fish catch by fishing sector in South Africa, 1950–2018
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 561,550 for fish catch by fishing sector in 2018.
The figure is up 3.5% on the previous year and down 16.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish catch by fishing sector in South Africa peaked at 4.83 million in 1968 and was at its lowest, 393,721, in 1950.
South Africa ranks 28th of 165 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fish catch by fishing sector in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 393,721 | — |
| 1951 | 679,645 | +72.6% |
| 1952 | 1.04 million | +53.3% |
| 1953 | 1.10 million | +5.3% |
| 1954 | 1.06 million | -3.3% |
| 1955 | 982,822 | -7.3% |
| 1956 | 898,948 | -8.5% |
| 1957 | 977,941 | +8.8% |
| 1958 | 1.05 million | +7.0% |
| 1959 | 1.20 million | +14.9% |
| 1960 | 1.35 million | +12.3% |
| 1961 | 1.63 million | +20.7% |
| 1962 | 1.83 million | +12.1% |
| 1963 | 2.24 million | +22.5% |
| 1964 | 2.33 million | +4.2% |
| 1965 | 2.47 million | +5.9% |
| 1966 | 2.63 million | +6.7% |
| 1967 | 3.30 million | +25.1% |
| 1968 | 4.83 million | +46.5% |
| 1969 | 4.18 million | -13.5% |
| 1970 | 2.42 million | -42.0% |
| 1971 | 2.07 million | -14.5% |
| 1972 | 2.06 million | -0.7% |
| 1973 | 2.54 million | +23.8% |
| 1974 | 2.79 million | +9.8% |
| 1975 | 2.67 million | -4.3% |
| 1976 | 2.21 million | -17.3% |
| 1977 | 1.58 million | -28.6% |
| 1978 | 1.62 million | +2.8% |
| 1979 | 1.48 million | -8.9% |
| 1980 | 1.21 million | -17.8% |
| 1981 | 1.31 million | +8.0% |
| 1982 | 1.11 million | -15.3% |
| 1983 | 1.31 million | +18.3% |
| 1984 | 946,426 | -28.0% |
| 1985 | 980,625 | +3.6% |
| 1986 | 1.02 million | +3.9% |
| 1987 | 2.03 million | +99.2% |
| 1988 | 1.61 million | -20.9% |
| 1989 | 1.13 million | -29.6% |
| 1990 | 597,226 | -47.2% |
| 1991 | 541,558 | -9.3% |
| 1992 | 768,191 | +41.8% |
| 1993 | 625,462 | -18.6% |
| 1994 | 584,774 | -6.5% |
| 1995 | 632,970 | +8.2% |
| 1996 | 507,610 | -19.8% |
| 1997 | 581,456 | +14.5% |
| 1998 | 635,023 | +9.2% |
| 1999 | 647,903 | +2.0% |
| 2000 | 715,526 | +10.4% |
| 2001 | 834,778 | +16.7% |
| 2002 | 825,812 | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 882,667 | +6.9% |
| 2004 | 939,438 | +6.4% |
| 2005 | 863,578 | -8.1% |
| 2006 | 658,026 | -23.8% |
| 2007 | 711,051 | +8.1% |
| 2008 | 669,295 | -5.9% |
| 2009 | 526,538 | -21.3% |
| 2010 | 642,535 | +22.0% |
| 2011 | 535,334 | -16.7% |
| 2012 | 724,772 | +35.4% |
| 2013 | 424,804 | -41.4% |
| 2014 | 611,995 | +44.1% |
| 2015 | 580,077 | -5.2% |
| 2016 | 629,973 | +8.6% |
| 2017 | 542,719 | -13.9% |
| 2018 | 561,550 | +3.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 938,204 | 393,721 | 1.20 million | 10 |
| 1960s | 2.68 million | 1.35 million | 4.83 million | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.14 million | 1.48 million | 2.79 million | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.27 million | 946,426 | 2.03 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 612,217 | 507,610 | 768,191 | 10 |
| 2000s | 762,671 | 526,538 | 939,438 | 10 |
| 2010s | 583,751 | 424,804 | 724,772 | 9 |
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)
- Agriculture share gdp 2.83 (2025)
- Value added in the agricultural sector as of gdp vs gdp per capita 2.83 (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fish catch by fishing sector in South Africa?
- Fish catch by fishing sector in South Africa was 561,550 in 2018, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fish catch by fishing sector recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 4.83 million in 1968.
- What is the lowest fish catch by fishing sector recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 393,721 in 1950.
- How does South Africa rank for fish catch by fishing sector?
- South Africa ranks 28th out of 165 countries with data for 2018.
- Is fish catch by fishing sector rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 16.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from 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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