Wild fish catch by gear type in South Africa
South Africa: Wild fish catch by gear type was 49,945 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
49,945
Change on year
down 13.3%
World rank
24th
of 123 countries
All-time high
450,854
in 1968
All-time low
42,666
in 1996
Years of data
69
1950–2018
Wild fish catch by gear type in South Africa, 1950–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2018, wild fish catch by gear type in South Africa stood at 49,945.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 13.3% on the previous year and down 7.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wild fish catch by gear type in South Africa peaked at 450,854 in 1968 and was at its lowest, 42,666, in 1996.
South Africa ranks 24th of 123 countries on this measure, 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 South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 60,154 | — |
| 1951 | 87,567 | +45.6% |
| 1952 | 125,160 | +42.9% |
| 1953 | 136,658 | +9.2% |
| 1954 | 135,439 | -0.9% |
| 1955 | 120,027 | -11.4% |
| 1956 | 109,875 | -8.5% |
| 1957 | 116,790 | +6.3% |
| 1958 | 115,910 | -0.8% |
| 1959 | 145,758 | +25.8% |
| 1960 | 154,368 | +5.9% |
| 1961 | 179,916 | +16.6% |
| 1962 | 193,886 | +7.8% |
| 1963 | 230,899 | +19.1% |
| 1964 | 240,193 | +4.0% |
| 1965 | 251,483 | +4.7% |
| 1966 | 271,817 | +8.1% |
| 1967 | 323,600 | +19.1% |
| 1968 | 450,854 | +39.3% |
| 1969 | 372,202 | -17.4% |
| 1970 | 205,485 | -44.8% |
| 1971 | 156,702 | -23.7% |
| 1972 | 170,686 | +8.9% |
| 1973 | 179,348 | +5.1% |
| 1974 | 213,491 | +19.0% |
| 1975 | 220,487 | +3.3% |
| 1976 | 180,660 | -18.1% |
| 1977 | 117,241 | -35.1% |
| 1978 | 90,849 | -22.5% |
| 1979 | 80,456 | -11.4% |
| 1980 | 64,536 | -19.8% |
| 1981 | 78,145 | +21.1% |
| 1982 | 73,847 | -5.5% |
| 1983 | 75,513 | +2.3% |
| 1984 | 67,571 | -10.5% |
| 1985 | 71,217 | +5.4% |
| 1986 | 80,161 | +12.6% |
| 1987 | 107,353 | +33.9% |
| 1988 | 96,963 | -9.7% |
| 1989 | 83,476 | -13.9% |
| 1990 | 60,009 | -28.1% |
| 1991 | 51,371 | -14.4% |
| 1992 | 62,387 | +21.4% |
| 1993 | 57,077 | -8.5% |
| 1994 | 47,870 | -16.1% |
| 1995 | 50,105 | +4.7% |
| 1996 | 42,666 | -14.8% |
| 1997 | 56,318 | +32.0% |
| 1998 | 48,232 | -14.4% |
| 1999 | 48,935 | +1.5% |
| 2000 | 49,532 | +1.2% |
| 2001 | 61,416 | +24.0% |
| 2002 | 63,117 | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 66,267 | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 87,137 | +31.5% |
| 2005 | 73,462 | -15.7% |
| 2006 | 65,658 | -10.6% |
| 2007 | 61,346 | -6.6% |
| 2008 | 53,997 | -12.0% |
| 2009 | 49,465 | -8.4% |
| 2010 | 53,412 | +8.0% |
| 2011 | 49,702 | -6.9% |
| 2012 | 55,876 | +12.4% |
| 2013 | 51,228 | -8.3% |
| 2014 | 57,612 | +12.5% |
| 2015 | 56,652 | -1.7% |
| 2016 | 54,439 | -3.9% |
| 2017 | 57,578 | +5.8% |
| 2018 | 49,945 | -13.3% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 49,945 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,680, 10.7× the median. (31 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 49,945 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 354.28, 141.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 115,334 | 60,154 | 145,758 | 10 |
| 1960s | 266,922 | 154,368 | 450,854 | 10 |
| 1970s | 161,540 | 80,456 | 220,487 | 10 |
| 1980s | 79,878 | 64,536 | 107,353 | 10 |
| 1990s | 52,497 | 42,666 | 62,387 | 10 |
| 2000s | 63,140 | 49,465 | 87,137 | 10 |
| 2010s | 54,049 | 49,702 | 57,612 | 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)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is wild fish catch by gear type in South Africa?
- Wild fish catch by gear type in South Africa was 49,945 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 Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 450,854 in 1968.
- What is the lowest wild fish catch by gear type recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 42,666 in 1996.
- How does South Africa rank for wild fish catch by gear type?
- South Africa ranks 24th out of 123 countries with data for 2018.
- Is wild fish catch by gear type rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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.
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