Fish landings and discards in South Africa
South Africa: Fish landings and discards was 37,688 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
37,688
Change on year
up 5.9%
World rank
30th
of 161 countries
All-time high
457,798
in 1968
All-time low
27,490
in 2013
Years of data
69
1950–2018
Fish landings and discards in South Africa, 1950–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2018, fish landings and discards in South Africa stood at 37,688.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.9% on the previous year and down 12.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish landings and discards in South Africa peaked at 457,798 in 1968 and was at its lowest, 27,490, in 2013.
That places South Africa 30th out of 161 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Fish landings and discards in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 31,057 | — |
| 1951 | 58,744 | +89.1% |
| 1952 | 93,154 | +58.6% |
| 1953 | 101,392 | +8.8% |
| 1954 | 97,926 | -3.4% |
| 1955 | 91,006 | -7.1% |
| 1956 | 86,460 | -5.0% |
| 1957 | 89,890 | +4.0% |
| 1958 | 95,319 | +6.0% |
| 1959 | 111,424 | +16.9% |
| 1960 | 122,070 | +9.6% |
| 1961 | 147,499 | +20.8% |
| 1962 | 163,317 | +10.7% |
| 1963 | 206,840 | +26.6% |
| 1964 | 217,476 | +5.1% |
| 1965 | 225,125 | +3.5% |
| 1966 | 245,577 | +9.1% |
| 1967 | 315,786 | +28.6% |
| 1968 | 457,798 | +45.0% |
| 1969 | 379,555 | -17.1% |
| 1970 | 200,057 | -47.3% |
| 1971 | 154,569 | -22.7% |
| 1972 | 162,663 | +5.2% |
| 1973 | 184,753 | +13.6% |
| 1974 | 223,958 | +21.2% |
| 1975 | 222,480 | -0.7% |
| 1976 | 182,588 | -17.9% |
| 1977 | 109,915 | -39.8% |
| 1978 | 81,204 | -26.1% |
| 1979 | 74,873 | -7.8% |
| 1980 | 61,118 | -18.4% |
| 1981 | 71,128 | +16.4% |
| 1982 | 65,957 | -7.3% |
| 1983 | 72,524 | +10.0% |
| 1984 | 59,935 | -17.4% |
| 1985 | 58,632 | -2.2% |
| 1986 | 63,219 | +7.8% |
| 1987 | 107,063 | +69.4% |
| 1988 | 96,367 | -10.0% |
| 1989 | 66,505 | -31.0% |
| 1990 | 33,657 | -49.4% |
| 1991 | 31,015 | -7.9% |
| 1992 | 45,816 | +47.7% |
| 1993 | 36,525 | -20.3% |
| 1994 | 34,023 | -6.9% |
| 1995 | 37,686 | +10.8% |
| 1996 | 29,806 | -20.9% |
| 1997 | 34,901 | +17.1% |
| 1998 | 38,419 | +10.1% |
| 1999 | 39,694 | +3.3% |
| 2000 | 44,578 | +12.3% |
| 2001 | 52,186 | +17.1% |
| 2002 | 51,820 | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 55,889 | +7.9% |
| 2004 | 59,752 | +6.9% |
| 2005 | 55,138 | -7.7% |
| 2006 | 41,549 | -24.6% |
| 2007 | 45,572 | +9.7% |
| 2008 | 43,061 | -5.5% |
| 2009 | 33,590 | -22.0% |
| 2010 | 41,706 | +24.2% |
| 2011 | 34,733 | -16.7% |
| 2012 | 47,306 | +36.2% |
| 2013 | 27,490 | -41.9% |
| 2014 | 39,953 | +45.3% |
| 2015 | 37,835 | -5.3% |
| 2016 | 41,301 | +9.2% |
| 2017 | 35,576 | -13.9% |
| 2018 | 37,688 | +5.9% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 37,688 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5,034, 7.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 37,688 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 1,311, 28.8× the median. (32 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 85,637 | 31,057 | 111,424 | 10 |
| 1960s | 248,104 | 122,070 | 457,798 | 10 |
| 1970s | 159,706 | 74,873 | 223,958 | 10 |
| 1980s | 72,245 | 58,632 | 107,063 | 10 |
| 1990s | 36,154 | 29,806 | 45,816 | 10 |
| 2000s | 48,313 | 33,590 | 59,752 | 10 |
| 2010s | 38,176 | 27,490 | 47,306 | 9 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % 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 0.1917 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0 % 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 1.49 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fish landings and discards in South Africa?
- Fish landings and discards in South Africa was 37,688 in 2018, according to Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fish landings and discards recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 457,798 in 1968.
- What is the lowest fish landings and discards recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 27,490 in 2013.
- How does South Africa rank for fish landings and discards?
- South Africa ranks 30th out of 161 countries with data for 2018.
- Is fish landings and discards rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 12.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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.