Fish landings and discards in Costa Rica
Costa Rica: Fish landings and discards was 20,647 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
20,647
Change on year
down 0.0%
World rank
50th
of 161 countries
All-time high
58,142
in 1986
All-time low
662.2
in 1950
Years of data
69
1950–2018
Fish landings and discards in Costa Rica, 1950–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
Costa Rica recorded 20,647 for fish landings and discards in 2018.
The figure is down 30.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish landings and discards in Costa Rica peaked at 58,142 in 1986 and was at its lowest, 662.2, in 1950.
That places Costa Rica 50th out of 161 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fish landings and discards in Costa Rica, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 662.2 | — |
| 1951 | 662.2 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 713.2 | +7.7% |
| 1953 | 662.2 | -7.2% |
| 1954 | 692.2 | +4.5% |
| 1955 | 1,324 | +91.3% |
| 1956 | 1,324 | +0.0% |
| 1957 | 1,326 | +0.1% |
| 1958 | 2,650 | +99.9% |
| 1959 | 4,635 | +74.9% |
| 1960 | 7,304 | +57.6% |
| 1961 | 7,289 | -0.2% |
| 1962 | 7,284 | -0.1% |
| 1963 | 8,012 | +10.0% |
| 1964 | 12,582 | +57.0% |
| 1965 | 11,257 | -10.5% |
| 1966 | 11,920 | +5.9% |
| 1967 | 11,920 | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 15,956 | +33.9% |
| 1969 | 13,000 | -18.5% |
| 1970 | 17,748 | +36.5% |
| 1971 | 26,707 | +50.5% |
| 1972 | 20,116 | -24.7% |
| 1973 | 24,217 | +20.4% |
| 1974 | 24,466 | +1.0% |
| 1975 | 24,255 | -0.9% |
| 1976 | 20,351 | -16.1% |
| 1977 | 15,439 | -24.1% |
| 1978 | 17,146 | +11.1% |
| 1979 | 20,580 | +20.0% |
| 1980 | 24,100 | +17.1% |
| 1981 | 31,346 | +30.1% |
| 1982 | 30,471 | -2.8% |
| 1983 | 18,223 | -40.2% |
| 1984 | 29,708 | +63.0% |
| 1985 | 58,048 | +95.4% |
| 1986 | 58,142 | +0.2% |
| 1987 | 39,909 | -31.4% |
| 1988 | 37,123 | -7.0% |
| 1989 | 33,623 | -9.4% |
| 1990 | 33,079 | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 17,034 | -48.5% |
| 1992 | 21,805 | +28.0% |
| 1993 | 30,392 | +39.4% |
| 1994 | 34,096 | +12.2% |
| 1995 | 32,574 | -4.5% |
| 1996 | 30,403 | -6.7% |
| 1997 | 26,957 | -11.3% |
| 1998 | 21,269 | -21.1% |
| 1999 | 24,631 | +15.8% |
| 2000 | 17,901 | -27.3% |
| 2001 | 23,551 | +31.6% |
| 2002 | 20,497 | -13.0% |
| 2003 | 18,589 | -9.3% |
| 2004 | 23,187 | +24.7% |
| 2005 | 23,372 | +0.8% |
| 2006 | 25,599 | +9.5% |
| 2007 | 24,206 | -5.4% |
| 2008 | 29,538 | +22.0% |
| 2009 | 29,072 | -1.6% |
| 2010 | 22,472 | -22.7% |
| 2011 | 26,063 | +16.0% |
| 2012 | 27,623 | +6.0% |
| 2013 | 26,854 | -2.8% |
| 2014 | 29,275 | +9.0% |
| 2015 | 29,652 | +1.3% |
| 2016 | 30,289 | +2.1% |
| 2017 | 20,647 | -31.8% |
| 2018 | 20,647 | -0.0% |
Costa Rica compared with similar countries
- Costa Rica's 20,647 is above the median for high income countries, which is 8,028, 2.6× the median. (61 countries reporting)
- Costa Rica's 20,647 is above the median for Latin America & Caribbean, which is 5,850, 3.5× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 1,465 | 662.2 | 4,635 | 10 |
| 1960s | 10,652 | 7,284 | 15,956 | 10 |
| 1970s | 21,102 | 15,439 | 26,707 | 10 |
| 1980s | 36,069 | 18,223 | 58,142 | 10 |
| 1990s | 27,224 | 17,034 | 34,096 | 10 |
| 2000s | 23,551 | 17,901 | 29,538 | 10 |
| 2010s | 25,947 | 20,647 | 30,289 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Costa Rica
More agriculture & rural data for Costa Rica
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.5759 % 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 0.0996 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate -0.1685 % 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 0.3415 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.56 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0337 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 672.15 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fish landings and discards in Costa Rica?
- Fish landings and discards in Costa Rica was 20,647 in 2018, according to Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fish landings and discards recorded in Costa Rica?
- The highest recorded value was 58,142 in 1986.
- What is the lowest fish landings and discards recorded in Costa Rica?
- The lowest recorded value was 662.2 in 1950.
- How does Costa Rica rank for fish landings and discards?
- Costa Rica ranks 50th out of 161 countries with data for 2018.
- Is fish landings and discards rising or falling in Costa Rica?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Costa Rica 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.