Fish and seafood production in Nepal
Nepal: Fish and seafood production was 122,000 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Fish and seafood production in Nepal, 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 Nepal is 122,000 tonnes, measured in 2023. That is the highest value across all 63 years on record.
The figure is up 110.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish and seafood production in Nepal peaked at 122,000 tonnes in 2021 and was at its lowest, 1,500 tonnes, in 1961.
Nepal ranks 81st of 192 countries on this measure, 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 Nepal, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,500 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 1,500 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 1,500 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 1,600 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 1965 | 1,600 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1966 | 1,600 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 1,810 tonnes | +13.1% |
| 1968 | 1,820 tonnes | +0.6% |
| 1969 | 1,930 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1970 | 1,900 tonnes | -1.6% |
| 1971 | 2,100 tonnes | +10.5% |
| 1972 | 2,200 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1973 | 2,200 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 2,200 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 2,500 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1976 | 2,800 tonnes | +12.0% |
| 1977 | 3,000 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1978 | 3,300 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 1979 | 3,500 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1980 | 3,650 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1981 | 3,870 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1982 | 4,400 tonnes | +13.7% |
| 1983 | 4,700 tonnes | +6.8% |
| 1984 | 4,860 tonnes | +3.4% |
| 1985 | 9,080 tonnes | +86.8% |
| 1986 | 9,440 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1987 | 10,720 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 1988 | 12,100 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1989 | 12,520 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1990 | 14,550 tonnes | +16.2% |
| 1991 | 15,600 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1992 | 16,540 tonnes | +6.0% |
| 1993 | 16,950 tonnes | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 17,000 tonnes | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 21,150 tonnes | +24.4% |
| 1996 | 21,880 tonnes | +3.5% |
| 1997 | 23,210 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1998 | 24,870 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1999 | 25,780 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2000 | 31,720 tonnes | +23.0% |
| 2001 | 33,270 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 2002 | 35,000 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2003 | 36,570 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 2004 | 39,950 tonnes | +9.2% |
| 2005 | 42,460 tonnes | +6.3% |
| 2006 | 45,430 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 2007 | 46,780 tonnes | +3.0% |
| 2008 | 48,750 tonnes | +4.2% |
| 2009 | 48,230 tonnes | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 50,000 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2011 | 52,000 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 2012 | 56,000 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 2013 | 58,000 tonnes | +3.6% |
| 2014 | 65,000 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 2015 | 70,000 tonnes | +7.7% |
| 2016 | 71,000 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 2017 | 77,000 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 2018 | 87,000 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 2019 | 92,000 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 2020 | 98,000 tonnes | +6.5% |
| 2021 | 122,000 tonnes | +24.5% |
| 2022 | 122,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 122,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
Nepal compared with similar countries
- Nepal's 122,000 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 151,000 tonnes, 81% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Nepal's 122,000 tonnes is below the median for South Asia, which is 283,000 tonnes, 43% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fish and seafood production in Nepal 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 | +86.8% | 4,860 tonnes | 9,080 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,651 tonnes | 1,500 tonnes | 1,930 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 2,570 tonnes | 1,900 tonnes | 3,500 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 7,534 tonnes | 3,650 tonnes | 12,520 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 19,753 tonnes | 14,550 tonnes | 25,780 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 40,816 tonnes | 31,720 tonnes | 48,750 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 67,800 tonnes | 50,000 tonnes | 92,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 116,000 tonnes | 98,000 tonnes | 122,000 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Nepal
More agriculture & rural data for Nepal
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 4.5 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2156 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 331.1 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.7937 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.33 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 21.6% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 21.6% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 1.6% (2022)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.3% (2022)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fish and seafood production in Nepal?
- Fish and seafood production in Nepal was 122,000 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 Nepal?
- The highest recorded value was 122,000 tonnes in 2021.
- What is the lowest fish and seafood production recorded in Nepal?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,500 tonnes in 1961.
- How does Nepal rank for fish and seafood production?
- Nepal ranks 81st out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fish and seafood production rising or falling in Nepal?
- Over the last ten years it is up 110.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nepal 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).