Fish landings and discards in China
China: Fish landings and discards was 609,409 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Fish landings and discards in China, 1950–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
China recorded 609,409 for fish landings and discards in 2018.
That represents a change of down 25.3% on the previous year and up 179.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish landings and 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 landings and 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 landings and 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
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0314 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.0951 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0082 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.3742 hectares per person (2025)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fish landings and discards in China?
- Fish landings and 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 landings and discards recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 815,807 in 2017.
- What is the lowest fish landings and discards recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 3,779 in 1950.
- How does China rank for fish landings and discards?
- China ranks 3rd out of 161 countries with data for 2018.
- Is fish landings and 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 landings and 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
– Landings represent aquatic animals that are caught and brought ashore for use. – Discards are animals thrown back (alive or dead) into the sea after being caught during fishing activities.