Wild fish catch by gear type in China
China: Wild fish catch by gear type was 39,840 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Wild fish catch by gear type in China, 1985–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2018, wild fish catch by gear type in China stood at 39,840.
That represents a change of up 712.8% on the previous year and down 80.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wild fish catch by gear type in China peaked at 860,079 in 2014 and was at its lowest, 4,902, in 2017.
That places China 26th out of 123 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Wild fish catch by gear type in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 25,635 | — |
| 1986 | 25,924 | +1.1% |
| 1987 | 25,436 | -1.9% |
| 1988 | 24,949 | -1.9% |
| 1989 | 24,381 | -2.3% |
| 1990 | 23,748 | -2.6% |
| 1991 | 20,998 | -11.6% |
| 1992 | 20,118 | -4.2% |
| 1993 | 15,865 | -21.1% |
| 1994 | 12,083 | -23.8% |
| 1995 | 11,452 | -5.2% |
| 1996 | 8,975 | -21.6% |
| 1997 | 7,343 | -18.2% |
| 1998 | 35,903 | +389.0% |
| 1999 | 70,154 | +95.4% |
| 2000 | 110,505 | +57.5% |
| 2001 | 117,176 | +6.0% |
| 2002 | 102,415 | -12.6% |
| 2003 | 127,249 | +24.2% |
| 2004 | 31,797 | -75.0% |
| 2005 | 52,860 | +66.2% |
| 2006 | 125,543 | +137.5% |
| 2007 | 216,503 | +72.5% |
| 2008 | 205,803 | -4.9% |
| 2009 | 66,531 | -67.7% |
| 2010 | 40,278 | -39.5% |
| 2011 | 9,925 | -75.4% |
| 2012 | 90,030 | +807.1% |
| 2013 | 114,185 | +26.8% |
| 2014 | 860,079 | +653.2% |
| 2015 | 487,921 | -43.3% |
| 2016 | 474,965 | -2.7% |
| 2017 | 4,902 | -99.0% |
| 2018 | 39,840 | +712.8% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 39,840 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,680, 8.5× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- China's 39,840 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 855.29, 46.6× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Wild fish catch by gear type in China 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | +807.1% | 9,925 | 90,030 |
| 2018 | +712.8% | 4,902 | 39,840 |
| 2014 | +653.2% | 114,185 | 860,079 |
| 1998 | +389.0% | 7,343 | 35,903 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 25,265 | 24,381 | 25,924 | 5 |
| 1990s | 22,664 | 7,343 | 70,154 | 10 |
| 2000s | 115,638 | 31,797 | 216,503 | 10 |
| 2010s | 235,792 | 4,902 | 860,079 | 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 wild fish catch by gear type in China?
- Wild fish catch by gear type in China was 39,840 in 2018, according to Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest wild fish catch by gear type recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 860,079 in 2014.
- What is the lowest wild fish catch by gear type recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,902 in 2017.
- How does China rank for wild fish catch by gear type?
- China ranks 26th out of 123 countries with data for 2018.
- Is wild fish catch by gear type rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 80.6%. 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 Wild fish catch by gear type. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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