Wild fish catch by gear type in Japan
Japan: Wild fish catch by gear type was 1.84 million in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Wild fish catch by gear type in Japan, 1950–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Japan recorded 1.84 million for wild fish catch by gear type in 2018. That is the highest value across all 69 years on record.
That represents a change of up 0.6% on the previous year and up 57,581.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wild fish catch by gear type in Japan peaked at 1.84 million in 2018 and was at its lowest, 2,892, in 2016.
That places Japan 1st out of 123 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.
Wild fish catch by gear type in Japan, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 7,437 | — |
| 1951 | 8,400 | +12.9% |
| 1952 | 10,143 | +20.7% |
| 1953 | 11,494 | +13.3% |
| 1954 | 11,898 | +3.5% |
| 1955 | 12,907 | +8.5% |
| 1956 | 12,321 | -4.5% |
| 1957 | 13,119 | +6.5% |
| 1958 | 12,282 | -6.4% |
| 1959 | 36,397 | +196.3% |
| 1960 | 17,389 | -52.2% |
| 1961 | 12,127 | -30.3% |
| 1962 | 15,930 | +31.4% |
| 1963 | 14,679 | -7.9% |
| 1964 | 47,120 | +221.0% |
| 1965 | 53,740 | +14.0% |
| 1966 | 69,421 | +29.2% |
| 1967 | 120,568 | +73.7% |
| 1968 | 104,034 | -13.7% |
| 1969 | 96,357 | -7.4% |
| 1970 | 79,610 | -17.4% |
| 1971 | 78,311 | -1.6% |
| 1972 | 87,583 | +11.8% |
| 1973 | 110,858 | +26.6% |
| 1974 | 124,663 | +12.5% |
| 1975 | 108,662 | -12.8% |
| 1976 | 82,895 | -23.7% |
| 1977 | 102,801 | +24.0% |
| 1978 | 71,021 | -30.9% |
| 1979 | 65,452 | -7.8% |
| 1980 | 63,877 | -2.4% |
| 1981 | 59,180 | -7.4% |
| 1982 | 52,548 | -11.2% |
| 1983 | 51,397 | -2.2% |
| 1984 | 48,635 | -5.4% |
| 1985 | 51,710 | +6.3% |
| 1986 | 55,048 | +6.5% |
| 1987 | 53,185 | -3.4% |
| 1988 | 52,694 | -0.9% |
| 1989 | 50,447 | -4.3% |
| 1990 | 44,684 | -11.4% |
| 1991 | 44,400 | -0.6% |
| 1992 | 41,368 | -6.8% |
| 1993 | 31,587 | -23.6% |
| 1994 | 28,565 | -9.6% |
| 1995 | 17,304 | -39.4% |
| 1996 | 13,486 | -22.1% |
| 1997 | 12,268 | -9.0% |
| 1998 | 16,277 | +32.7% |
| 1999 | 16,019 | -1.6% |
| 2000 | 21,038 | +31.3% |
| 2001 | 17,725 | -15.8% |
| 2002 | 17,395 | -1.9% |
| 2003 | 12,437 | -28.5% |
| 2004 | 13,304 | +7.0% |
| 2005 | 3,918 | -70.5% |
| 2006 | 4,102 | +4.7% |
| 2007 | 3,987 | -2.8% |
| 2008 | 3,194 | -19.9% |
| 2009 | 4,236 | +32.6% |
| 2010 | 8,459 | +99.7% |
| 2011 | 4,194 | -50.4% |
| 2012 | 4,024 | -4.0% |
| 2013 | 4,014 | -0.3% |
| 2014 | 6,013 | +49.8% |
| 2015 | 3,778 | -37.2% |
| 2016 | 2,892 | -23.5% |
| 2017 | 1.83 million | +63237.0% |
| 2018 | 1.84 million | +0.6% |
Japan compared with similar countries
- Japan's 1.84 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 5,878, 313.4× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- Japan's 1.84 million is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 855.29, 2154.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Wild fish catch by gear type in Japan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +63237.0% | 2,892 | 1.83 million |
| 1964 | +221.0% | 14,679 | 47,120 |
| 1959 | +196.3% | 12,282 | 36,397 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 13,640 | 7,437 | 36,397 | 10 |
| 1960s | 55,136 | 12,127 | 120,568 | 10 |
| 1970s | 91,186 | 65,452 | 124,663 | 10 |
| 1980s | 53,872 | 48,635 | 63,877 | 10 |
| 1990s | 26,596 | 12,268 | 44,684 | 10 |
| 2000s | 10,134 | 3,194 | 21,038 | 10 |
| 2010s | 411,920 | 2,892 | 1.84 million | 9 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More agriculture & rural data for Japan
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.95 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0096 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 323.87 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.89 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.077 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 1.0% (2024)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 1.0% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is wild fish catch by gear type in Japan?
- Wild fish catch by gear type in Japan was 1.84 million 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 Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 1.84 million in 2018.
- What is the lowest wild fish catch by gear type recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 2,892 in 2016.
- How does Japan rank for wild fish catch by gear type?
- Japan ranks 1st out of 123 countries with data for 2018.
- Is wild fish catch by gear type rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 57,581.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Japan 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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