Wild fish catch by gear type in Iraq
Iraq: Wild fish catch by gear type was 976.73 tonnes in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Wild fish catch by gear type in Iraq, 1970–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
Iraq recorded 976.73 tonnes for wild fish catch by gear type in 2018.
That represents a change of down 8.8% on the previous year and down 9.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wild fish catch by gear type in Iraq peaked at 14,889 tonnes in 1979 and was at its lowest, 2.91 tonnes, in 1970.
Iraq ranks 95th of 111 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Wild fish catch by gear type in Iraq, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 2.91 tonnes | — |
| 1971 | 3.25 tonnes | +11.7% |
| 1972 | 6.17 tonnes | +89.8% |
| 1973 | 22.52 tonnes | +265.0% |
| 1974 | 24.49 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1975 | 26.47 tonnes | +8.1% |
| 1976 | 28.45 tonnes | +7.5% |
| 1977 | 30.44 tonnes | +7.0% |
| 1978 | 32.39 tonnes | +6.4% |
| 1979 | 14,889 tonnes | +45868.5% |
| 1980 | 4,631 tonnes | -68.9% |
| 1981 | 55.58 tonnes | -98.8% |
| 1992 | 225.09 tonnes | +305.0% |
| 1993 | 450.16 tonnes | +100.0% |
| 1994 | 675.24 tonnes | +50.0% |
| 1995 | 906.39 tonnes | +34.2% |
| 1996 | 1,138 tonnes | +25.5% |
| 1997 | 1,369 tonnes | +20.3% |
| 1998 | 1,600 tonnes | +16.9% |
| 1999 | 1,831 tonnes | +14.5% |
| 2000 | 2,062 tonnes | +12.6% |
| 2001 | 2,293 tonnes | +11.2% |
| 2002 | 2,524 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 2003 | 63.67 tonnes | -97.5% |
| 2004 | 193.82 tonnes | +204.4% |
| 2005 | 442.76 tonnes | +128.4% |
| 2006 | 597.8 tonnes | +35.0% |
| 2007 | 881.02 tonnes | +47.4% |
| 2008 | 1,081 tonnes | +22.7% |
| 2009 | 890.78 tonnes | -17.6% |
| 2010 | 717.38 tonnes | -19.5% |
| 2011 | 663.92 tonnes | -7.5% |
| 2012 | 790.56 tonnes | +19.1% |
| 2013 | 830.84 tonnes | +5.1% |
| 2014 | 854.92 tonnes | +2.9% |
| 2015 | 824.38 tonnes | -3.6% |
| 2016 | 925.66 tonnes | +12.3% |
| 2017 | 1,071 tonnes | +15.7% |
| 2018 | 976.73 tonnes | -8.8% |
Iraq compared with similar countries
- Iraq's 976.73 tonnes is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 18,359 tonnes, 5% of the median. (30 countries reporting)
- Iraq's 976.73 tonnes is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 11,256 tonnes, 9% of the median. (16 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Wild fish catch by gear type in Iraq 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | +45868.5% | 32.39 tonnes | 14,889 tonnes |
| 1992 | +305.0% | 55.58 tonnes | 225.09 tonnes |
| 1973 | +265.0% | 6.17 tonnes | 22.52 tonnes |
| 2004 | +204.4% | 63.67 tonnes | 193.82 tonnes |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 1,507 tonnes | 2.91 tonnes | 14,889 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 2,343 tonnes | 55.58 tonnes | 4,631 tonnes | 2 |
| 1990s | 1,024 tonnes | 225.09 tonnes | 1,831 tonnes | 8 |
| 2000s | 1,103 tonnes | 63.67 tonnes | 2,524 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 850.56 tonnes | 663.92 tonnes | 1,071 tonnes | 9 |
Countries ranked near Iraq
More agriculture & rural data for Iraq
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual -8.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.0341 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 184.67 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.94 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3006 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 3.4% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 3.4% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.0% (2016)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.1% (2014)
Frequently asked questions
- What is wild fish catch by gear type in Iraq?
- Wild fish catch by gear type in Iraq was 976.73 tonnes in 2018, according to Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest wild fish catch by gear type recorded in Iraq?
- The highest recorded value was 14,889 tonnes in 1979.
- What is the lowest wild fish catch by gear type recorded in Iraq?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.91 tonnes in 1970.
- How does Iraq rank for wild fish catch by gear type?
- Iraq ranks 95th out of 111 countries with data for 2018.
- Is wild fish catch by gear type rising or falling in Iraq?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iraq data come from?
- The figures come from Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Wild fish catch by gear type. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 39 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).