Wild fish catch by gear type in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Wild fish catch by gear type was 79,598 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Wild fish catch by gear type in Sri Lanka, 1976–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2018, wild fish catch by gear type in Sri Lanka stood at 79,598.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.7% on the previous year and up 421.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wild fish catch by gear type in Sri Lanka peaked at 85,294 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 45.9, in 1977.
Sri Lanka ranks 19th 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 85.5 | — |
| 1977 | 45.9 | -46.3% |
| 1978 | 62.1 | +35.3% |
| 1979 | 54.9 | -11.6% |
| 1980 | 71.1 | +29.5% |
| 1981 | 1,491 | +1997.2% |
| 1982 | 2,530 | +69.7% |
| 1983 | 3,242 | +28.1% |
| 1984 | 4,436 | +36.8% |
| 1985 | 4,668 | +5.2% |
| 1986 | 5,812 | +24.5% |
| 1987 | 6,935 | +19.3% |
| 1988 | 8,561 | +23.4% |
| 1989 | 12,010 | +40.3% |
| 1990 | 11,218 | -6.6% |
| 1991 | 13,113 | +16.9% |
| 1992 | 14,164 | +8.0% |
| 1993 | 20,503 | +44.8% |
| 1994 | 25,029 | +22.1% |
| 1995 | 23,991 | -4.1% |
| 1996 | 24,927 | +3.9% |
| 1997 | 29,966 | +20.2% |
| 1998 | 30,288 | +1.1% |
| 1999 | 32,368 | +6.9% |
| 2000 | 27,544 | -14.9% |
| 2001 | 22,886 | -16.9% |
| 2002 | 26,660 | +16.5% |
| 2003 | 25,884 | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 24,538 | -5.2% |
| 2005 | 15,644 | -36.2% |
| 2006 | 15,190 | -2.9% |
| 2007 | 14,048 | -7.5% |
| 2008 | 15,278 | +8.8% |
| 2009 | 13,291 | -13.0% |
| 2010 | 20,565 | +54.7% |
| 2011 | 41,095 | +99.8% |
| 2012 | 38,889 | -5.4% |
| 2013 | 57,125 | +46.9% |
| 2014 | 60,539 | +6.0% |
| 2015 | 77,839 | +28.6% |
| 2016 | 81,474 | +4.7% |
| 2017 | 85,294 | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 79,598 | -6.7% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 79,598 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4,680, 17.0× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Wild fish catch by gear type in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | +1997.2% | 71.1 | 1,491 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 62.1 | 45.9 | 85.5 | 4 |
| 1980s | 4,976 | 71.1 | 12,010 | 10 |
| 1990s | 22,557 | 11,218 | 32,368 | 10 |
| 2000s | 20,096 | 13,291 | 27,544 | 10 |
| 2010s | 60,269 | 20,565 | 85,294 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More agriculture & rural data for Sri Lanka
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 9.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0836 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 418.3 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.9172 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.7955 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 8.4% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 8.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.7% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.9% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is wild fish catch by gear type in Sri Lanka?
- Wild fish catch by gear type in Sri Lanka was 79,598 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 85,294 in 2017.
- What is the lowest wild fish catch by gear type recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 45.9 in 1977.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for wild fish catch by gear type?
- Sri Lanka ranks 19th out of 123 countries with data for 2018.
- Is wild fish catch by gear type rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 421.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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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