Fish discards in China
China: Fish discards was 609,409 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Fish discards in China, 1950–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2018, fish discards in China stood at 609,409.
The figure is down 25.3% on the previous year and up 179.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish discards in China peaked at 815,807 in 2017 and was at its lowest, 3,779, in 1950.
That places China 3rd out of 161 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.
Fish discards in China, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 3,779 | — |
| 1951 | 5,369 | +42.1% |
| 1952 | 6,684 | +24.5% |
| 1953 | 6,737 | +0.8% |
| 1954 | 8,132 | +20.7% |
| 1955 | 8,886 | +9.3% |
| 1956 | 10,590 | +19.2% |
| 1957 | 10,140 | -4.3% |
| 1958 | 10,220 | +0.8% |
| 1959 | 10,458 | +2.3% |
| 1960 | 10,430 | -0.3% |
| 1961 | 11,225 | +7.6% |
| 1962 | 12,347 | +10.0% |
| 1963 | 12,964 | +5.0% |
| 1964 | 13,699 | +5.7% |
| 1965 | 14,923 | +8.9% |
| 1966 | 15,881 | +6.4% |
| 1967 | 15,550 | -2.1% |
| 1968 | 16,225 | +4.3% |
| 1969 | 16,392 | +1.0% |
| 1970 | 25,903 | +58.0% |
| 1971 | 28,172 | +8.8% |
| 1972 | 33,178 | +17.8% |
| 1973 | 35,145 | +5.9% |
| 1974 | 36,242 | +3.1% |
| 1975 | 40,181 | +10.9% |
| 1976 | 48,513 | +20.7% |
| 1977 | 55,976 | +15.4% |
| 1978 | 55,360 | -1.1% |
| 1979 | 52,402 | -5.3% |
| 1980 | 43,631 | -16.7% |
| 1981 | 38,067 | -12.8% |
| 1982 | 69,878 | +83.6% |
| 1983 | 72,061 | +3.1% |
| 1984 | 75,032 | +4.1% |
| 1985 | 96,103 | +28.1% |
| 1986 | 99,034 | +3.1% |
| 1987 | 109,783 | +10.9% |
| 1988 | 126,532 | +15.3% |
| 1989 | 140,178 | +10.8% |
| 1990 | 150,744 | +7.5% |
| 1991 | 156,878 | +4.1% |
| 1992 | 155,772 | -0.7% |
| 1993 | 159,819 | +2.6% |
| 1994 | 163,101 | +2.1% |
| 1995 | 173,222 | +6.2% |
| 1996 | 186,188 | +7.5% |
| 1997 | 187,261 | +0.6% |
| 1998 | 188,391 | +0.6% |
| 1999 | 180,246 | -4.3% |
| 2000 | 190,247 | +5.5% |
| 2001 | 221,692 | +16.5% |
| 2002 | 228,182 | +2.9% |
| 2003 | 230,482 | +1.0% |
| 2004 | 224,644 | -2.5% |
| 2005 | 225,207 | +0.3% |
| 2006 | 224,899 | -0.1% |
| 2007 | 230,375 | +2.4% |
| 2008 | 218,144 | -5.3% |
| 2009 | 223,154 | +2.3% |
| 2010 | 244,193 | +9.4% |
| 2011 | 188,679 | -22.7% |
| 2012 | 178,876 | -5.2% |
| 2013 | 183,145 | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 746,885 | +307.8% |
| 2015 | 806,420 | +8.0% |
| 2016 | 806,678 | +0.0% |
| 2017 | 815,807 | +1.1% |
| 2018 | 609,409 | -25.3% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 609,409 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5,034, 121.1× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- China's 609,409 is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5,675, 107.4× the median. (28 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fish discards 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +307.8% | 183,145 | 746,885 |
| 1982 | +83.6% | 38,067 | 69,878 |
| 1970 | +58.0% | 16,392 | 25,903 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 8,099 | 3,779 | 10,590 | 10 |
| 1960s | 13,963 | 10,430 | 16,392 | 10 |
| 1970s | 41,107 | 25,903 | 55,976 | 10 |
| 1980s | 87,030 | 38,067 | 140,178 | 10 |
| 1990s | 170,162 | 150,744 | 188,391 | 10 |
| 2000s | 221,703 | 190,247 | 230,482 | 10 |
| 2010s | 508,899 | 178,876 | 815,807 | 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 fish discards in China?
- Fish discards in China was 609,409 in 2018, according to Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fish discards recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 815,807 in 2017.
- What is the lowest fish discards recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,779 in 1950.
- How does China rank for fish discards?
- China ranks 3rd out of 161 countries with data for 2018.
- Is fish discards rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 179.4%. 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 Fish discards. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 69 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Discards are animals thrown back (alive or dead) into the sea after being caught during fishing activities. This represents bycatch (fish caught unintentionally) that is not brought ashore for use.