Seafood and fish production in China
China: Seafood and fish production was 1.18 million tonnes in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2023)
1.18 million tonnes
Change on year
unchanged
World rank
1st
of 135 countries
All-time high
1.53 million tonnes
in 2015
All-time low
28,130 tonnes
in 1981
Years of data
63
1961–2023
Seafood and fish production in China, 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 seafood and fish production in China is 1.18 million tonnes, measured in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, seafood and fish production in China peaked at 1.53 million tonnes in 2015 and was at its lowest, 28,130 tonnes, in 1981.
That places China 1st out of 135 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Seafood and fish production in China, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | 40,000 tonnes | — |
| 1962 | 42,000 tonnes | +5.0% |
| 1963 | 42,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1964 | 42,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1965 | 44,000 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 1966 | 44,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1967 | 44,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1968 | 46,000 tonnes | +4.5% |
| 1969 | 46,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1970 | 56,600 tonnes | +23.0% |
| 1971 | 73,300 tonnes | +29.5% |
| 1972 | 47,800 tonnes | -34.8% |
| 1973 | 50,000 tonnes | +4.6% |
| 1974 | 50,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1975 | 50,000 tonnes | +0.0% |
| 1976 | 35,750 tonnes | -28.5% |
| 1977 | 40,390 tonnes | +13.0% |
| 1978 | 61,950 tonnes | +53.4% |
| 1979 | 90,130 tonnes | +45.5% |
| 1980 | 79,520 tonnes | -11.8% |
| 1981 | 28,130 tonnes | -64.6% |
| 1982 | 49,930 tonnes | +77.5% |
| 1983 | 53,390 tonnes | +6.9% |
| 1984 | 54,030 tonnes | +1.2% |
| 1985 | 53,100 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 1986 | 50,370 tonnes | -5.1% |
| 1987 | 62,560 tonnes | +24.2% |
| 1988 | 75,920 tonnes | +21.4% |
| 1989 | 59,090 tonnes | -22.2% |
| 1990 | 69,920 tonnes | +18.3% |
| 1991 | 70,170 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 1992 | 70,840 tonnes | +1.0% |
| 1993 | 122,160 tonnes | +72.4% |
| 1994 | 193,560 tonnes | +58.4% |
| 1995 | 225,420 tonnes | +16.5% |
| 1996 | 175,840 tonnes | -22.0% |
| 1997 | 228,810 tonnes | +30.1% |
| 1998 | 353,830 tonnes | +54.6% |
| 1999 | 389,070 tonnes | +10.0% |
| 2000 | 446,430 tonnes | +14.7% |
| 2001 | 476,510 tonnes | +6.7% |
| 2002 | 477,480 tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2003 | 809,460 tonnes | +69.5% |
| 2004 | 1.02 million tonnes | +25.8% |
| 2005 | 909,040 tonnes | -10.8% |
| 2006 | 865,010 tonnes | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 1.05 million tonnes | +21.7% |
| 2008 | 1.03 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2009 | 819,540 tonnes | -20.3% |
| 2010 | 904,000 tonnes | +10.3% |
| 2011 | 947,000 tonnes | +4.8% |
| 2012 | 1.09 million tonnes | +15.1% |
| 2013 | 1.09 million tonnes | +0.5% |
| 2014 | 1.38 million tonnes | +26.2% |
| 2015 | 1.53 million tonnes | +10.6% |
| 2016 | 941,000 tonnes | -38.4% |
| 2017 | 1.10 million tonnes | +17.2% |
| 2018 | 1.05 million tonnes | -4.4% |
| 2019 | 975,000 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 2020 | 1.01 million tonnes | +4.1% |
| 2021 | 1.18 million tonnes | +16.1% |
| 2022 | 1.18 million tonnes | +0.0% |
| 2023 | 1.18 million tonnes | +0.0% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1.18 million tonnes is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 6,000 tonnes, 196.3× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 43,333 tonnes | 40,000 tonnes | 46,000 tonnes | 9 |
| 1970s | 55,592 tonnes | 35,750 tonnes | 90,130 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 56,604 tonnes | 28,130 tonnes | 79,520 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 189,962 tonnes | 69,920 tonnes | 389,070 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 790,264 tonnes | 446,430 tonnes | 1.05 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.10 million tonnes | 904,000 tonnes | 1.53 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.14 million tonnes | 1.01 million tonnes | 1.18 million tonnes | 4 |
Countries ranked near China
More agriculture & rural data for China
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 1.98 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0666 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 923.03 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -1.48 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3366 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 6.7% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 6.7% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.3% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 2.7% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is seafood and fish production in China?
- Seafood and fish production in China was 1.18 million tonnes in 2023, according to Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest seafood and fish production recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 1.53 million tonnes in 2015.
- What is the lowest seafood and fish production recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 28,130 tonnes in 1981.
- How does China rank for seafood and fish production?
- China ranks 1st out of 135 countries with data for 2023.
- Is seafood and fish production rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is up 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this China 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 Seafood and fish production. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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