What is wild fish catch used for? in South Africa
South Africa: What is wild fish catch used for? was 28,842 tonnes in 2015. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2015)
28,842 tonnes
Change on year
down 1.0%
World rank
11th
of 140 countries
All-time high
112,342 tonnes
in 2004
All-time low
100.14 tonnes
in 1959
Years of data
66
1950–2015
What is wild fish catch used for? in South Africa, 1950–2015
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
In 2015, what is wild fish catch used for? in South Africa stood at 28,842 tonnes.
The figure is down 1.0% on the previous year and down 61.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, what is wild fish catch used for? in South Africa peaked at 112,342 tonnes in 2004 and was at its lowest, 100.14 tonnes, in 1959.
South Africa ranks 11th of 140 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
What is wild fish catch used for? in South Africa, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 105.43 tonnes | — |
| 1951 | 172.7 tonnes | +63.8% |
| 1952 | 181.2 tonnes | +4.9% |
| 1953 | 164.93 tonnes | -9.0% |
| 1954 | 203.38 tonnes | +23.3% |
| 1955 | 161.22 tonnes | -20.7% |
| 1956 | 121.01 tonnes | -24.9% |
| 1957 | 164.94 tonnes | +36.3% |
| 1958 | 144.79 tonnes | -12.2% |
| 1959 | 100.14 tonnes | -30.8% |
| 1960 | 149.36 tonnes | +49.1% |
| 1961 | 143.24 tonnes | -4.1% |
| 1962 | 176.22 tonnes | +23.0% |
| 1963 | 135.53 tonnes | -23.1% |
| 1964 | 153.25 tonnes | +13.1% |
| 1965 | 194.34 tonnes | +26.8% |
| 1966 | 187.23 tonnes | -3.7% |
| 1967 | 173.95 tonnes | -7.1% |
| 1968 | 176.28 tonnes | +1.3% |
| 1969 | 198.59 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1970 | 185.83 tonnes | -6.4% |
| 1971 | 313.67 tonnes | +68.8% |
| 1972 | 198.57 tonnes | -36.7% |
| 1973 | 221.22 tonnes | +11.4% |
| 1974 | 201.84 tonnes | -8.8% |
| 1975 | 508.91 tonnes | +152.1% |
| 1976 | 725.43 tonnes | +42.5% |
| 1977 | 593.04 tonnes | -18.2% |
| 1978 | 389.09 tonnes | -34.4% |
| 1979 | 368.69 tonnes | -5.2% |
| 1980 | 298.73 tonnes | -19.0% |
| 1981 | 376.01 tonnes | +25.9% |
| 1982 | 403.58 tonnes | +7.3% |
| 1983 | 461.83 tonnes | +14.4% |
| 1984 | 435.42 tonnes | -5.7% |
| 1985 | 403.77 tonnes | -7.3% |
| 1986 | 452.76 tonnes | +12.1% |
| 1987 | 433.45 tonnes | -4.3% |
| 1988 | 571.49 tonnes | +31.8% |
| 1989 | 465.39 tonnes | -18.6% |
| 1990 | 275.79 tonnes | -40.7% |
| 1991 | 244.76 tonnes | -11.3% |
| 1992 | 248.5 tonnes | +1.5% |
| 1993 | 237.59 tonnes | -4.4% |
| 1994 | 270.45 tonnes | +13.8% |
| 1995 | 292.61 tonnes | +8.2% |
| 1996 | 303.69 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 1997 | 330.74 tonnes | +8.9% |
| 1998 | 8,008 tonnes | +2321.3% |
| 1999 | 16,009 tonnes | +99.9% |
| 2000 | 24,700 tonnes | +54.3% |
| 2001 | 46,327 tonnes | +87.6% |
| 2002 | 78,389 tonnes | +69.2% |
| 2003 | 87,165 tonnes | +11.2% |
| 2004 | 112,342 tonnes | +28.9% |
| 2005 | 74,208 tonnes | -33.9% |
| 2006 | 65,357 tonnes | -11.9% |
| 2007 | 42,014 tonnes | -35.7% |
| 2008 | 27,456 tonnes | -34.7% |
| 2009 | 28,458 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2010 | 33,885 tonnes | +19.1% |
| 2011 | 31,801 tonnes | -6.1% |
| 2012 | 32,993 tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2013 | 27,702 tonnes | -16.0% |
| 2014 | 29,143 tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2015 | 28,842 tonnes | -1.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 28,842 tonnes is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 61.75 tonnes, 467.1× the median. (42 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 28,842 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.63 tonnes, 2713.7× the median. (20 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where What is wild fish catch used for? in South Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | +2321.3% | 330.74 tonnes | 8,008 tonnes |
| 1975 | +152.1% | 201.84 tonnes | 508.91 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 151.97 tonnes | 100.14 tonnes | 203.38 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 168.8 tonnes | 135.53 tonnes | 198.59 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 370.63 tonnes | 185.83 tonnes | 725.43 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 430.24 tonnes | 298.73 tonnes | 571.49 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 2,622 tonnes | 237.59 tonnes | 16,009 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 58,642 tonnes | 24,700 tonnes | 112,342 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 30,728 tonnes | 27,702 tonnes | 33,885 tonnes | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More agriculture & rural data for South Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 7.11 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0283 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 186.56 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 0.812 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3618 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 2.8% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 2.8% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 2.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is what is wild fish catch used for? in South Africa?
- What is wild fish catch used for? in South Africa was 28,842 tonnes in 2015, according to Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest what is wild fish catch used for? recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 112,342 tonnes in 2004.
- What is the lowest what is wild fish catch used for? recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 100.14 tonnes in 1959.
- How does South Africa rank for what is wild fish catch used for??
- South Africa ranks 11th out of 140 countries with data for 2015.
- Is what is wild fish catch used for? rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 61.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of What is wild fish catch used for?. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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