Wild fish catch by gear type in South Korea
South Korea: Wild fish catch by gear type was 237,419 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
237,419
Change on year
down 20.4%
World rank
8th
of 123 countries
All-time high
941,984
in 1986
All-time low
10,886
in 1952
Years of data
69
1950–2018
Wild fish catch by gear type in South Korea, 1950–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for wild fish catch by gear type in South Korea is 237,419, measured in 2018.
The figure is down 20.4% on the previous year and down 47.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wild fish catch by gear type in South Korea peaked at 941,984 in 1986 and was at its lowest, 10,886, in 1952.
That places South Korea 8th 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 South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 12,579 | — |
| 1951 | 22,212 | +76.6% |
| 1952 | 10,886 | -51.0% |
| 1953 | 16,744 | +53.8% |
| 1954 | 17,931 | +7.1% |
| 1955 | 12,162 | -32.2% |
| 1956 | 14,308 | +17.6% |
| 1957 | 20,128 | +40.7% |
| 1958 | 16,846 | -16.3% |
| 1959 | 14,204 | -15.7% |
| 1960 | 14,651 | +3.1% |
| 1961 | 19,045 | +30.0% |
| 1962 | 30,283 | +59.0% |
| 1963 | 39,458 | +30.3% |
| 1964 | 32,496 | -17.6% |
| 1965 | 44,283 | +36.3% |
| 1966 | 58,983 | +33.2% |
| 1967 | 86,492 | +46.6% |
| 1968 | 48,627 | -43.8% |
| 1969 | 55,112 | +13.3% |
| 1970 | 71,157 | +29.1% |
| 1971 | 144,868 | +103.6% |
| 1972 | 189,641 | +30.9% |
| 1973 | 329,622 | +73.8% |
| 1974 | 353,129 | +7.1% |
| 1975 | 475,696 | +34.7% |
| 1976 | 585,559 | +23.1% |
| 1977 | 480,408 | -18.0% |
| 1978 | 461,768 | -3.9% |
| 1979 | 386,985 | -16.2% |
| 1980 | 386,803 | -0.0% |
| 1981 | 574,211 | +48.5% |
| 1982 | 598,216 | +4.2% |
| 1983 | 643,010 | +7.5% |
| 1984 | 707,673 | +10.1% |
| 1985 | 765,610 | +8.2% |
| 1986 | 941,984 | +23.0% |
| 1987 | 828,903 | -12.0% |
| 1988 | 709,966 | -14.3% |
| 1989 | 849,735 | +19.7% |
| 1990 | 793,315 | -6.6% |
| 1991 | 719,332 | -9.3% |
| 1992 | 919,548 | +27.8% |
| 1993 | 701,412 | -23.7% |
| 1994 | 752,613 | +7.3% |
| 1995 | 771,664 | +2.5% |
| 1996 | 681,676 | -11.7% |
| 1997 | 740,677 | +8.7% |
| 1998 | 541,148 | -26.9% |
| 1999 | 676,336 | +25.0% |
| 2000 | 522,119 | -22.8% |
| 2001 | 667,223 | +27.8% |
| 2002 | 357,658 | -46.4% |
| 2003 | 348,463 | -2.6% |
| 2004 | 281,200 | -19.3% |
| 2005 | 325,441 | +15.7% |
| 2006 | 386,123 | +18.6% |
| 2007 | 464,859 | +20.4% |
| 2008 | 447,835 | -3.7% |
| 2009 | 390,428 | -12.8% |
| 2010 | 349,179 | -10.6% |
| 2011 | 395,758 | +13.3% |
| 2012 | 406,696 | +2.8% |
| 2013 | 389,245 | -4.3% |
| 2014 | 478,518 | +22.9% |
| 2015 | 434,862 | -9.1% |
| 2016 | 304,370 | -30.0% |
| 2017 | 298,263 | -2.0% |
| 2018 | 237,419 | -20.4% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 237,419 is above the median for high income countries, which is 5,878, 40.4× the median. (49 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 237,419 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 855.29, 277.6× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15,800 | 10,886 | 22,212 | 10 |
| 1960s | 42,943 | 14,651 | 86,492 | 10 |
| 1970s | 347,883 | 71,157 | 585,559 | 10 |
| 1980s | 700,611 | 386,803 | 941,984 | 10 |
| 1990s | 729,772 | 541,148 | 919,548 | 10 |
| 2000s | 419,135 | 281,200 | 667,223 | 10 |
| 2010s | 366,034 | 237,419 | 478,518 | 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 wild fish catch by gear type in South Korea?
- Wild fish catch by gear type in South Korea was 237,419 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 941,984 in 1986.
- What is the lowest wild fish catch by gear type recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 10,886 in 1952.
- How does South Korea rank for wild fish catch by gear type?
- South Korea ranks 8th out of 123 countries with data for 2018.
- Is wild fish catch by gear type rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 47.0%. 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 Wild fish catch by gear type. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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