Fish and seafood production in Vanuatu
Vanuatu: Fish and seafood production was 45,000 tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
45,000 tonnes
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
109th
of 192 countries
All-time high
229,520 tonnes
in 2005
All-time low
1,400 tonnes
in 1961
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Fish and seafood production in Vanuatu, 1961–2023
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Vanuatu recorded 45,000 tonnes for fish and seafood production in 2023.
The figure is down 30.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fish and seafood production in Vanuatu peaked at 229,520 tonnes in 2005 and was at its lowest, 1,400 tonnes, in 1961.
Vanuatu ranks 109th 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 Vanuatu, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 1,400 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 1,400 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1963 | 1,500 tonnes | +7.1% |
| 1964 | 1,500 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 1,800 tonnes | +20.0% |
| 1966 | 1,800 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 1,800 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 1,800 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1969 | 1,800 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 2,100 tonnes | +16.7% |
| 1971 | 2,200 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1972 | 2,300 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1973 | 2,400 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1974 | 2,510 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1975 | 2,610 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1976 | 2,710 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1977 | 2,820 tonnes | +4.1% |
| 1978 | 2,830 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1979 | 2,820 tonnes | -0.4% |
| 1980 | 2,940 tonnes | +4.3% |
| 1981 | 2,720 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 1982 | 2,720 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1983 | 2,540 tonnes | -6.6% |
| 1984 | 2,960 tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1985 | 8,120 tonnes | +174.3% |
| 1986 | 16,810 tonnes | +107.0% |
| 1987 | 20,010 tonnes | +19.0% |
| 1988 | 25,800 tonnes | +28.9% |
| 1989 | 27,100 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1990 | 41,800 tonnes | +54.2% |
| 1991 | 44,240 tonnes | +5.8% |
| 1992 | 44,870 tonnes | +1.4% |
| 1993 | 40,590 tonnes | -9.5% |
| 1994 | 47,250 tonnes | +16.4% |
| 1995 | 57,800 tonnes | +22.3% |
| 1996 | 47,600 tonnes | -17.6% |
| 1997 | 70,260 tonnes | +47.6% |
| 1998 | 74,920 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1999 | 91,340 tonnes | +21.9% |
| 2000 | 70,500 tonnes | -22.8% |
| 2001 | 36,100 tonnes | -48.8% |
| 2002 | 44,900 tonnes | +24.4% |
| 2003 | 113,810 tonnes | +153.5% |
| 2004 | 212,750 tonnes | +86.9% |
| 2005 | 229,520 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 2006 | 222,640 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2007 | 213,670 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2008 | 172,580 tonnes | -19.2% |
| 2009 | 147,870 tonnes | -14.3% |
| 2010 | 101,000 tonnes | -31.7% |
| 2011 | 59,000 tonnes | -41.6% |
| 2012 | 67,000 tonnes | +13.6% |
| 2013 | 65,000 tonnes | -3.0% |
| 2014 | 74,000 tonnes | +13.8% |
| 2015 | 87,000 tonnes | +17.6% |
| 2016 | 49,000 tonnes | -43.7% |
| 2017 | 31,000 tonnes | -36.7% |
| 2018 | 39,000 tonnes | +25.8% |
| 2019 | 45,000 tonnes | +15.4% |
| 2020 | 45,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2021 | 45,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2022 | 45,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 45,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
Vanuatu compared with similar countries
- Vanuatu's 45,000 tonnes is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 151,000 tonnes, 30% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
- Vanuatu's 45,000 tonnes is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 178,000 tonnes, 25% of the median. (32 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Fish and seafood production in Vanuatu 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 | +174.3% | 2,960 tonnes | 8,120 tonnes |
| 2003 | +153.5% | 44,900 tonnes | 113,810 tonnes |
| 1986 | +107.0% | 8,120 tonnes | 16,810 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,644 tonnes | 1,400 tonnes | 1,800 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 2,530 tonnes | 2,100 tonnes | 2,830 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 11,172 tonnes | 2,540 tonnes | 27,100 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 56,067 tonnes | 40,590 tonnes | 91,340 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 146,434 tonnes | 36,100 tonnes | 229,520 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 61,700 tonnes | 31,000 tonnes | 101,000 tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 45,000 tonnes | 45,000 tonnes | 45,000 tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near Vanuatu
More agriculture & rural data for Vanuatu
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 13.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2663 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 1,054 current US$ per person (2024)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 2.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0002 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.7768 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 26.6% (2024)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 26.6% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.8% (2011)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.3% (2011)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fish and seafood production in Vanuatu?
- Fish and seafood production in Vanuatu was 45,000 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 Vanuatu?
- The highest recorded value was 229,520 tonnes in 2005.
- What is the lowest fish and seafood production recorded in Vanuatu?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,400 tonnes in 1961.
- How does Vanuatu rank for fish and seafood production?
- Vanuatu ranks 109th out of 192 countries with data for 2023.
- Is fish and seafood production rising or falling in Vanuatu?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Vanuatu 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).