Fish discards in Kenya
Kenya: Fish discards was 663.31 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Fish discards in Kenya, 1980–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2018, fish discards in Kenya stood at 663.31.
The figure is down 11.5% on the previous year and up 23.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish discards in Kenya peaked at 2,338 in 1985 and was at its lowest, 135.26, in 1980.
Kenya ranks 112th of 161 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fish discards in Kenya, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 135.26 | — |
| 1981 | 270.52 | +100.0% |
| 1982 | 472.54 | +74.7% |
| 1983 | 439.26 | -7.0% |
| 1984 | 688.81 | +56.8% |
| 1985 | 2,338 | +239.5% |
| 1986 | 665.05 | -71.6% |
| 1987 | 969.26 | +45.7% |
| 1988 | 1,007 | +3.9% |
| 1989 | 838.54 | -16.8% |
| 1990 | 852.8 | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 969.26 | +13.7% |
| 1992 | 648.41 | -33.1% |
| 1993 | 220.61 | -66.0% |
| 1994 | 627.02 | +184.2% |
| 1995 | 218.23 | -65.2% |
| 1996 | 624.64 | +186.2% |
| 1997 | 893.21 | +43.0% |
| 1998 | 1,566 | +75.3% |
| 1999 | 945.49 | -39.6% |
| 2000 | 766.49 | -18.9% |
| 2001 | 351.57 | -54.1% |
| 2002 | 373.94 | +6.4% |
| 2003 | 359.4 | -3.9% |
| 2004 | 986.24 | +174.4% |
| 2005 | 962.03 | -2.5% |
| 2006 | 765.08 | -20.5% |
| 2007 | 536.8 | -29.8% |
| 2008 | 536.8 | +0.0% |
| 2009 | 536.8 | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 536.8 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 546.45 | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 552.62 | +1.1% |
| 2013 | 553.34 | +0.1% |
| 2014 | 559.94 | +1.2% |
| 2015 | 623.99 | +11.4% |
| 2016 | 616.91 | -1.1% |
| 2017 | 749.85 | +21.5% |
| 2018 | 663.31 | -11.5% |
Kenya compared with similar countries
- Kenya's 663.31 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5,286, 13% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Kenya's 663.31 is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,311, 51% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fish discards in Kenya 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | +239.5% | 688.81 | 2,338 |
| 1996 | +186.2% | 218.23 | 624.64 |
| 1994 | +184.2% | 220.61 | 627.02 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 782.48 | 135.26 | 2,338 | 10 |
| 1990s | 756.55 | 218.23 | 1,566 | 10 |
| 2000s | 617.51 | 351.57 | 986.24 | 10 |
| 2010s | 600.36 | 536.8 | 749.85 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Kenya
More agriculture & rural data for Kenya
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 16.52 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2316 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 547.24 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.47 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.6779 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 23.2% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 23.2% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 12.9% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.0% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fish discards in Kenya?
- Fish discards in Kenya was 663.31 in 2018, according to Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fish discards recorded in Kenya?
- The highest recorded value was 2,338 in 1985.
- What is the lowest fish discards recorded in Kenya?
- The lowest recorded value was 135.26 in 1980.
- How does Kenya rank for fish discards?
- Kenya ranks 112th out of 161 countries with data for 2018.
- Is fish discards rising or falling in Kenya?
- Over the last ten years it is up 23.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Kenya 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 — 39 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.