Fish landings and discards in Nigeria
Nigeria: Fish landings and discards was 2,418 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Fish landings and discards in Nigeria, 1950–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fish landings and discards in Nigeria is 2,418, measured in 2018.
The figure is up 55.2% on the previous year and down 22.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish landings and discards in Nigeria peaked at 21,113 in 1990 and was at its lowest, 217.8, in 1950.
That places Nigeria 95th 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 217.8 | — |
| 1951 | 225 | +3.3% |
| 1952 | 232.2 | +3.2% |
| 1953 | 239.4 | +3.1% |
| 1954 | 246.6 | +3.0% |
| 1955 | 253.8 | +2.9% |
| 1956 | 261 | +2.8% |
| 1957 | 268.2 | +2.8% |
| 1958 | 275.4 | +2.7% |
| 1959 | 282.6 | +2.6% |
| 1960 | 289.8 | +2.5% |
| 1961 | 297 | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 359.88 | +21.2% |
| 1963 | 422.75 | +17.5% |
| 1964 | 485.62 | +14.9% |
| 1965 | 568.07 | +17.0% |
| 1966 | 580.94 | +2.3% |
| 1967 | 593.78 | +2.2% |
| 1968 | 606.58 | +2.2% |
| 1969 | 619.34 | +2.1% |
| 1970 | 632.07 | +2.1% |
| 1971 | 719.85 | +13.9% |
| 1972 | 807.6 | +12.2% |
| 1973 | 895.31 | +10.9% |
| 1974 | 982.98 | +9.8% |
| 1975 | 1,096 | +11.5% |
| 1976 | 1,208 | +10.3% |
| 1977 | 1,320 | +9.3% |
| 1978 | 1,432 | +8.4% |
| 1979 | 1,543 | +7.7% |
| 1980 | 1,647 | +6.8% |
| 1981 | 1,758 | +6.7% |
| 1982 | 1,809 | +2.9% |
| 1983 | 1,883 | +4.0% |
| 1984 | 2,000 | +6.2% |
| 1985 | 16,804 | +740.3% |
| 1986 | 15,640 | -6.9% |
| 1987 | 17,107 | +9.4% |
| 1988 | 19,141 | +11.9% |
| 1989 | 20,580 | +7.5% |
| 1990 | 21,113 | +2.6% |
| 1991 | 18,065 | -14.4% |
| 1992 | 14,856 | -17.8% |
| 1993 | 13,226 | -11.0% |
| 1994 | 10,278 | -22.3% |
| 1995 | 7,613 | -25.9% |
| 1996 | 5,599 | -26.5% |
| 1997 | 3,726 | -33.4% |
| 1998 | 2,602 | -30.2% |
| 1999 | 2,803 | +7.7% |
| 2000 | 3,036 | +8.3% |
| 2001 | 3,173 | +4.5% |
| 2002 | 3,198 | +0.8% |
| 2003 | 3,514 | +9.9% |
| 2004 | 3,446 | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 3,379 | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 3,206 | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 3,682 | +14.9% |
| 2008 | 3,131 | -15.0% |
| 2009 | 3,230 | +3.2% |
| 2010 | 3,145 | -2.6% |
| 2011 | 2,880 | -8.4% |
| 2012 | 2,637 | -8.4% |
| 2013 | 2,409 | -8.7% |
| 2014 | 2,204 | -8.5% |
| 2015 | 2,018 | -8.5% |
| 2016 | 1,773 | -12.1% |
| 2017 | 1,558 | -12.1% |
| 2018 | 2,418 | +55.2% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 2,418 is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 5,286, 46% of the median. (33 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 2,418 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,311, 1.8× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fish landings and discards in Nigeria 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 | +740.3% | 2,000 | 16,804 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 250.2 | 217.8 | 282.6 | 10 |
| 1960s | 482.38 | 289.8 | 619.34 | 10 |
| 1970s | 1,064 | 632.07 | 1,543 | 10 |
| 1980s | 9,837 | 1,647 | 20,580 | 10 |
| 1990s | 9,988 | 2,602 | 21,113 | 10 |
| 2000s | 3,300 | 3,036 | 3,682 | 10 |
| 2010s | 2,338 | 1,558 | 3,145 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More agriculture & rural data for Nigeria
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.9222 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Cropland extent over the long-term, per capita 0.1938 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.5433 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per unit of GDP 0.0002 hectares per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, per capita 0.2993 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2298 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 281.32 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1218 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fish landings and discards in Nigeria?
- Fish landings and discards in Nigeria was 2,418 in 2018, according to Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fish landings and discards recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 21,113 in 1990.
- What is the lowest fish landings and discards recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 217.8 in 1950.
- How does Nigeria rank for fish landings and discards?
- Nigeria ranks 95th out of 161 countries with data for 2018.
- Is fish landings and discards rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is down 22.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.