Fish and seafood production in Malta
Malta: Fish and seafood production was 19,000 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
19,000 tonnes
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
136th
of 192 countries
All-time high
22,000 tonnes
in 2018
All-time low
790 tonnes
in 1990
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Fish and seafood production in Malta, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fish and seafood production in Malta is 19,000 tonnes, measured in 2023.
That represents a change of up 72.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish and seafood production in Malta peaked at 22,000 tonnes in 2018 and was at its lowest, 790 tonnes, in 1990.
That places Malta 136th out of 192 countries with data for 2023, 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 and seafood production in Malta, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,300 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 1,300 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 1,600 tonnes | +23.1% |
| 1964 | 1,400 tonnes | -12.5% |
| 1965 | 1,200 tonnes | -14.3% |
| 1966 | 1,300 tonnes | +8.3% |
| 1967 | 1,400 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 1968 | 1,200 tonnes | -14.3% |
| 1969 | 1,100 tonnes | -8.3% |
| 1970 | 1,210 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1971 | 1,220 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 1972 | 1,220 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 1,620 tonnes | +32.8% |
| 1974 | 1,550 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1975 | 1,530 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 1976 | 1,570 tonnes | +2.6% |
| 1977 | 1,480 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1978 | 1,080 tonnes | -27.0% |
| 1979 | 1,320 tonnes | +22.2% |
| 1980 | 1,080 tonnes | -18.2% |
| 1981 | 940 tonnes | -13.0% |
| 1982 | 1,220 tonnes | +29.8% |
| 1983 | 1,000 tonnes | -18.0% |
| 1984 | 1,230 tonnes | +23.0% |
| 1985 | 2,580 tonnes | +109.8% |
| 1986 | 1,170 tonnes | -54.7% |
| 1987 | 1,050 tonnes | -10.3% |
| 1988 | 890 tonnes | -15.2% |
| 1989 | 930 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1990 | 790 tonnes | -15.1% |
| 1991 | 970 tonnes | +22.8% |
| 1992 | 1,080 tonnes | +11.3% |
| 1993 | 1,490 tonnes | +38.0% |
| 1994 | 3,260 tonnes | +118.8% |
| 1995 | 5,540 tonnes | +69.9% |
| 1996 | 10,750 tonnes | +94.0% |
| 1997 | 2,840 tonnes | -73.6% |
| 1998 | 3,130 tonnes | +10.2% |
| 1999 | 3,250 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 2,820 tonnes | -13.2% |
| 2001 | 2,140 tonnes | -24.1% |
| 2002 | 2,200 tonnes | +2.8% |
| 2003 | 2,020 tonnes | -8.2% |
| 2004 | 2,010 tonnes | -0.5% |
| 2005 | 2,140 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2006 | 3,270 tonnes | +52.8% |
| 2007 | 3,950 tonnes | +20.8% |
| 2008 | 3,980 tonnes | +0.8% |
| 2009 | 4,460 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 2010 | 9,000 tonnes | +101.8% |
| 2011 | 5,000 tonnes | -44.4% |
| 2012 | 10,000 tonnes | +100.0% |
| 2013 | 11,000 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 2014 | 11,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2015 | 13,000 tonnes | +18.2% |
| 2016 | 17,000 tonnes | +30.8% |
| 2017 | 18,000 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 2018 | 22,000 tonnes | +22.2% |
| 2019 | 16,000 tonnes | -27.3% |
| 2020 | 22,000 tonnes | +37.5% |
| 2021 | 19,000 tonnes | -13.6% |
| 2022 | 19,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 19,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
Malta compared with similar countries
- Malta's 19,000 tonnes is below the median for high income countries, which is 89,000 tonnes, 21% of the median. (63 countries reporting)
- Malta's 19,000 tonnes is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 49,000 tonnes, 39% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,311 tonnes | 1,100 tonnes | 1,600 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 1,380 tonnes | 1,080 tonnes | 1,620 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 1,209 tonnes | 890 tonnes | 2,580 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 3,310 tonnes | 790 tonnes | 10,750 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 2,899 tonnes | 2,010 tonnes | 4,460 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 13,200 tonnes | 5,000 tonnes | 22,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 19,750 tonnes | 19,000 tonnes | 22,000 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malta
More agriculture & rural data for Malta
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 6.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0047 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 224.75 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.3 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.0432 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 0.5% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 0.5% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.1% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.2% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fish and seafood production in Malta?
- Fish and seafood production in Malta was 19,000 tonnes in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fish and seafood production recorded in Malta?
- The highest recorded value was 22,000 tonnes in 2018.
- What is the lowest fish and seafood production recorded in Malta?
- The lowest recorded value was 790 tonnes in 1990.
- How does Malta rank for fish and seafood production?
- Malta ranks 136th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fish and seafood production rising or falling in Malta?
- Over the last ten years it is up 72.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malta data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Fish and seafood production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Fish and seafood production is measured as the sum of seafood from wild catch and fish farming (aquaculture).