Fish discards in Ghana
Ghana: Fish discards was 145,268 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Fish discards in Ghana, 1950–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fish discards in Ghana is 145,268, measured in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 17.6% on the previous year and up 43.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish discards in Ghana peaked at 151,994 in 1975 and was at its lowest, 29.4, in 1951.
That places Ghana 14th 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 Ghana, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 32.96 | — |
| 1951 | 29.4 | -10.8% |
| 1952 | 54.54 | +85.5% |
| 1953 | 36.8 | -32.5% |
| 1954 | 59.7 | +62.2% |
| 1955 | 66.98 | +12.2% |
| 1956 | 161.48 | +141.1% |
| 1957 | 258.81 | +60.3% |
| 1958 | 1,881 | +626.7% |
| 1959 | 8,037 | +327.3% |
| 1960 | 2,277 | -71.7% |
| 1961 | 2,593 | +13.9% |
| 1962 | 5,332 | +105.6% |
| 1963 | 13,141 | +146.5% |
| 1964 | 50,842 | +286.9% |
| 1965 | 40,689 | -20.0% |
| 1966 | 39,981 | -1.7% |
| 1967 | 42,180 | +5.5% |
| 1968 | 30,179 | -28.5% |
| 1969 | 44,834 | +48.6% |
| 1970 | 54,441 | +21.4% |
| 1971 | 53,689 | -1.4% |
| 1972 | 76,032 | +41.6% |
| 1973 | 126,739 | +66.7% |
| 1974 | 99,362 | -21.6% |
| 1975 | 151,994 | +53.0% |
| 1976 | 148,338 | -2.4% |
| 1977 | 151,835 | +2.4% |
| 1978 | 130,649 | -14.0% |
| 1979 | 42,162 | -67.7% |
| 1980 | 127,892 | +203.3% |
| 1981 | 141,250 | +10.4% |
| 1982 | 138,749 | -1.8% |
| 1983 | 132,148 | -4.8% |
| 1984 | 103,105 | -22.0% |
| 1985 | 114,411 | +11.0% |
| 1986 | 111,237 | -2.8% |
| 1987 | 110,319 | -0.8% |
| 1988 | 113,158 | +2.6% |
| 1989 | 116,612 | +3.1% |
| 1990 | 132,385 | +13.5% |
| 1991 | 126,036 | -4.8% |
| 1992 | 116,905 | -7.2% |
| 1993 | 109,577 | -6.3% |
| 1994 | 107,579 | -1.8% |
| 1995 | 119,622 | +11.2% |
| 1996 | 127,587 | +6.7% |
| 1997 | 112,042 | -12.2% |
| 1998 | 115,793 | +3.3% |
| 1999 | 131,112 | +13.2% |
| 2000 | 123,762 | -5.6% |
| 2001 | 122,479 | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 119,464 | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 121,985 | +2.1% |
| 2004 | 101,431 | -16.8% |
| 2005 | 98,287 | -3.1% |
| 2006 | 97,830 | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 98,958 | +1.2% |
| 2008 | 101,548 | +2.6% |
| 2009 | 118,821 | +17.0% |
| 2010 | 127,330 | +7.2% |
| 2011 | 93,450 | -26.6% |
| 2012 | 108,101 | +15.7% |
| 2013 | 107,533 | -0.5% |
| 2014 | 119,061 | +10.7% |
| 2015 | 119,544 | +0.4% |
| 2016 | 123,688 | +3.5% |
| 2017 | 123,489 | -0.2% |
| 2018 | 145,268 | +17.6% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 145,268 is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5,286, 27.5× the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 145,268 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,311, 110.8× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fish discards in Ghana 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | +626.7% | 258.81 | 1,881 |
| 1959 | +327.3% | 1,881 | 8,037 |
| 1964 | +286.9% | 13,141 | 50,842 |
| 1980 | +203.3% | 42,162 | 127,892 |
| 1963 | +146.5% | 5,332 | 13,141 |
| 1956 | +141.1% | 66.98 | 161.48 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1,062 | 29.4 | 8,037 | 10 |
| 1960s | 27,205 | 2,277 | 50,842 | 10 |
| 1970s | 103,524 | 42,162 | 151,994 | 10 |
| 1980s | 120,888 | 103,105 | 141,250 | 10 |
| 1990s | 119,864 | 107,579 | 132,385 | 10 |
| 2000s | 110,456 | 97,830 | 123,762 | 10 |
| 2010s | 118,607 | 93,450 | 145,268 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More agriculture & rural data for Ghana
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 41.79 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2128 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 692.99 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.4821 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.4108 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 21.3% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 21.3% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.1% (2023)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.6% (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fish discards in Ghana?
- Fish discards in Ghana was 145,268 in 2018, according to Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fish discards recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 151,994 in 1975.
- What is the lowest fish discards recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 29.4 in 1951.
- How does Ghana rank for fish discards?
- Ghana ranks 14th out of 161 countries with data for 2018.
- Is fish discards rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is up 43.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ghana 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.