Fish landings and discards in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Fish landings and discards was 17,512 in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Fish landings and discards in Sri Lanka, 1950–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fish landings and discards in Sri Lanka is 17,512, measured in 2018.
The figure is up 20.4% on the previous year and down 23.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish landings and discards in Sri Lanka peaked at 74,383 in 1982 and was at its lowest, 4,039, in 1950.
That places Sri Lanka 54th 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 Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 4,039 | — |
| 1951 | 4,039 | +0.0% |
| 1952 | 4,847 | +20.0% |
| 1953 | 5,655 | +16.7% |
| 1954 | 9,694 | +71.4% |
| 1955 | 8,078 | -16.7% |
| 1956 | 12,118 | +50.0% |
| 1957 | 10,502 | -13.3% |
| 1958 | 16,965 | +61.5% |
| 1959 | 15,349 | -9.5% |
| 1960 | 16,157 | +5.3% |
| 1961 | 14,541 | -10.0% |
| 1962 | 24,235 | +66.7% |
| 1963 | 19,388 | -20.0% |
| 1964 | 39,584 | +104.2% |
| 1965 | 21,812 | -44.9% |
| 1966 | 25,851 | +18.5% |
| 1967 | 28,274 | +9.4% |
| 1968 | 21,004 | -25.7% |
| 1969 | 32,314 | +53.8% |
| 1970 | 28,274 | -12.5% |
| 1971 | 25,851 | -8.6% |
| 1972 | 29,890 | +15.6% |
| 1973 | 26,659 | -10.8% |
| 1974 | 42,816 | +60.6% |
| 1975 | 50,022 | +16.8% |
| 1976 | 57,752 | +15.5% |
| 1977 | 49,198 | -14.8% |
| 1978 | 58,722 | +19.4% |
| 1979 | 44,318 | -24.5% |
| 1980 | 38,945 | -12.1% |
| 1981 | 54,978 | +41.2% |
| 1982 | 74,383 | +35.3% |
| 1983 | 55,585 | -25.3% |
| 1984 | 52,429 | -5.7% |
| 1985 | 32,600 | -37.8% |
| 1986 | 32,484 | -0.4% |
| 1987 | 32,541 | +0.2% |
| 1988 | 32,700 | +0.5% |
| 1989 | 32,051 | -2.0% |
| 1990 | 29,371 | -8.4% |
| 1991 | 33,109 | +12.7% |
| 1992 | 41,561 | +25.5% |
| 1993 | 38,978 | -6.2% |
| 1994 | 17,076 | -56.2% |
| 1995 | 34,787 | +103.7% |
| 1996 | 28,760 | -17.3% |
| 1997 | 27,173 | -5.5% |
| 1998 | 31,668 | +16.5% |
| 1999 | 19,756 | -37.6% |
| 2000 | 33,873 | +71.5% |
| 2001 | 17,323 | -48.9% |
| 2002 | 15,265 | -11.9% |
| 2003 | 38,892 | +154.8% |
| 2004 | 38,099 | -2.0% |
| 2005 | 8,155 | -78.6% |
| 2006 | 20,192 | +147.6% |
| 2007 | 20,150 | -0.2% |
| 2008 | 22,978 | +14.0% |
| 2009 | 22,994 | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 24,319 | +5.8% |
| 2011 | 16,042 | -34.0% |
| 2012 | 16,362 | +2.0% |
| 2013 | 16,893 | +3.2% |
| 2014 | 22,272 | +31.8% |
| 2015 | 14,897 | -33.1% |
| 2016 | 18,265 | +22.6% |
| 2017 | 14,544 | -20.4% |
| 2018 | 17,512 | +20.4% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 17,512 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 5,034, 3.5× the median. (45 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fish landings and discards in Sri Lanka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +154.8% | 15,265 | 38,892 |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 9,129 | 4,039 | 16,965 | 10 |
| 1960s | 24,316 | 14,541 | 39,584 | 10 |
| 1970s | 41,350 | 25,851 | 58,722 | 10 |
| 1980s | 43,870 | 32,051 | 74,383 | 10 |
| 1990s | 30,224 | 17,076 | 41,561 | 10 |
| 2000s | 23,792 | 8,155 | 38,892 | 10 |
| 2010s | 17,901 | 14,544 | 24,319 | 9 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More agriculture & rural data for Sri Lanka
- Cropland extent over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0051 % 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 0.109 hectares per person (2025)
- Agricultural area over the long-term, annual growth rate 0.0043 % 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 0.1293 hectares per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 9.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0836 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 418.3 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.9172 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fish landings and discards in Sri Lanka?
- Fish landings and discards in Sri Lanka was 17,512 in 2018, according to Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fish landings and discards recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 74,383 in 1982.
- What is the lowest fish landings and discards recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 4,039 in 1950.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for fish landings and discards?
- Sri Lanka ranks 54th out of 161 countries with data for 2018.
- Is fish landings and discards rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 23.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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.