Fish discards in Panama
Panama: Fish discards was 20,033 in 2018. ▬ Flat
Fish discards in Panama, 1950–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fish discards in Panama is 20,033, measured in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 73.4% on the previous year and down 27.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish discards in Panama peaked at 64,944 in 2013 and was at its lowest, 3,398, in 1951.
That places Panama 51st out of 161 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
Fish discards in Panama, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 4,077 | — |
| 1951 | 3,398 | -16.7% |
| 1952 | 4,077 | +20.0% |
| 1953 | 4,077 | +0.0% |
| 1954 | 11,546 | +183.2% |
| 1955 | 13,584 | +17.6% |
| 1956 | 20,406 | +50.2% |
| 1957 | 27,227 | +33.4% |
| 1958 | 29,571 | +8.6% |
| 1959 | 36,121 | +22.1% |
| 1960 | 35,474 | -1.8% |
| 1961 | 32,788 | -7.6% |
| 1962 | 35,285 | +7.6% |
| 1963 | 35,427 | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 42,970 | +21.3% |
| 1965 | 37,254 | -13.3% |
| 1966 | 35,518 | -4.7% |
| 1967 | 40,844 | +15.0% |
| 1968 | 38,293 | -6.2% |
| 1969 | 34,791 | -9.1% |
| 1970 | 42,448 | +22.0% |
| 1971 | 40,219 | -5.3% |
| 1972 | 34,233 | -14.9% |
| 1973 | 36,770 | +7.4% |
| 1974 | 33,622 | -8.6% |
| 1975 | 30,451 | -9.4% |
| 1976 | 34,667 | +13.8% |
| 1977 | 33,824 | -2.4% |
| 1978 | 32,721 | -3.3% |
| 1979 | 30,724 | -6.1% |
| 1980 | 35,652 | +16.0% |
| 1981 | 50,512 | +41.7% |
| 1982 | 43,434 | -14.0% |
| 1983 | 42,377 | -2.4% |
| 1984 | 36,318 | -14.3% |
| 1985 | 54,885 | +51.1% |
| 1986 | 40,117 | -26.9% |
| 1987 | 31,518 | -21.4% |
| 1988 | 25,744 | -18.3% |
| 1989 | 36,854 | +43.2% |
| 1990 | 24,356 | -33.9% |
| 1991 | 31,082 | +27.6% |
| 1992 | 32,837 | +5.6% |
| 1993 | 34,092 | +3.8% |
| 1994 | 40,126 | +17.7% |
| 1995 | 39,858 | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 34,797 | -12.7% |
| 1997 | 32,372 | -7.0% |
| 1998 | 34,877 | +7.7% |
| 1999 | 27,104 | -22.3% |
| 2000 | 31,114 | +14.8% |
| 2001 | 31,602 | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 23,710 | -25.0% |
| 2003 | 28,072 | +18.4% |
| 2004 | 25,467 | -9.3% |
| 2005 | 20,050 | -21.3% |
| 2006 | 25,374 | +26.6% |
| 2007 | 32,073 | +26.4% |
| 2008 | 27,624 | -13.9% |
| 2009 | 27,058 | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 19,929 | -26.3% |
| 2011 | 17,937 | -10.0% |
| 2012 | 7,481 | -58.3% |
| 2013 | 64,944 | +768.1% |
| 2014 | 12,097 | -81.4% |
| 2015 | 14,004 | +15.8% |
| 2016 | 9,234 | -34.1% |
| 2017 | 11,556 | +25.1% |
| 2018 | 20,033 | +73.4% |
Panama compared with similar countries
- Panama's 20,033 is above the median for high income countries, which is 8,028, 2.5× the median. (61 countries reporting)
- Panama's 20,033 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5,850, 3.4× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fish discards in Panama 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | +768.1% | 7,481 | 64,944 |
| 1954 | +183.2% | 4,077 | 11,546 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 15,408 | 3,398 | 36,121 | 10 |
| 1960s | 36,864 | 32,788 | 42,970 | 10 |
| 1970s | 34,968 | 30,451 | 42,448 | 10 |
| 1980s | 39,741 | 25,744 | 54,885 | 10 |
| 1990s | 33,150 | 24,356 | 40,126 | 10 |
| 2000s | 27,214 | 20,050 | 32,073 | 10 |
| 2010s | 19,690 | 7,481 | 64,944 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Panama
More agriculture & rural data for Panama
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.06 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0262 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 518.14 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.7724 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3385 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 4.7% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.4% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fish discards in Panama?
- Fish discards in Panama was 20,033 in 2018, according to Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fish discards recorded in Panama?
- The highest recorded value was 64,944 in 2013.
- What is the lowest fish discards recorded in Panama?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,398 in 1951.
- How does Panama rank for fish discards?
- Panama ranks 51st out of 161 countries with data for 2018.
- Is fish discards rising or falling in Panama?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Panama 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.