Wild fish catch by gear type in Nigeria
Nigeria: Wild fish catch by gear type was 43,597 tonnes in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Latest (2018)
43,597 tonnes
Change on year
down 24.0%
World rank
52nd
of 111 countries
All-time high
138,384 tonnes
in 1998
All-time low
1,458 tonnes
in 1950
Years of data
69
1950–2018
Wild fish catch by gear type in Nigeria, 1950–2018
Source: Sea Around Us (2020) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for wild fish catch by gear type in Nigeria is 43,597 tonnes, measured in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 24.0% on the previous year and up 10.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, wild fish catch by gear type in Nigeria peaked at 138,384 tonnes in 1998 and was at its lowest, 1,458 tonnes, in 1950.
That places Nigeria 52nd out of 111 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Wild fish catch by gear type in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 1,458 tonnes | — |
| 1951 | 1,613 tonnes | +10.7% |
| 1952 | 1,765 tonnes | +9.5% |
| 1953 | 1,915 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1954 | 2,205 tonnes | +15.1% |
| 1955 | 2,364 tonnes | +7.2% |
| 1956 | 2,520 tonnes | +6.6% |
| 1957 | 2,673 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1958 | 2,825 tonnes | +5.7% |
| 1959 | 2,974 tonnes | +5.3% |
| 1960 | 3,731 tonnes | +25.5% |
| 1961 | 3,642 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1962 | 4,271 tonnes | +17.3% |
| 1963 | 4,587 tonnes | +7.4% |
| 1964 | 6,803 tonnes | +48.3% |
| 1965 | 8,488 tonnes | +24.8% |
| 1966 | 9,211 tonnes | +8.5% |
| 1967 | 10,443 tonnes | +13.4% |
| 1968 | 10,864 tonnes | +4.0% |
| 1969 | 10,431 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 1970 | 13,361 tonnes | +28.1% |
| 1971 | 22,412 tonnes | +67.7% |
| 1972 | 20,860 tonnes | -6.9% |
| 1973 | 20,366 tonnes | -2.4% |
| 1974 | 20,851 tonnes | +2.4% |
| 1975 | 19,599 tonnes | -6.0% |
| 1976 | 17,539 tonnes | -10.5% |
| 1977 | 21,066 tonnes | +20.1% |
| 1978 | 29,065 tonnes | +38.0% |
| 1979 | 28,484 tonnes | -2.0% |
| 1980 | 25,942 tonnes | -8.9% |
| 1981 | 31,920 tonnes | +23.0% |
| 1982 | 41,868 tonnes | +31.2% |
| 1983 | 49,243 tonnes | +17.6% |
| 1984 | 55,490 tonnes | +12.7% |
| 1985 | 92,395 tonnes | +66.5% |
| 1986 | 98,043 tonnes | +6.1% |
| 1987 | 100,013 tonnes | +2.0% |
| 1988 | 107,875 tonnes | +7.9% |
| 1989 | 117,277 tonnes | +8.7% |
| 1990 | 132,370 tonnes | +12.9% |
| 1991 | 115,712 tonnes | -12.6% |
| 1992 | 128,266 tonnes | +10.8% |
| 1993 | 98,965 tonnes | -22.8% |
| 1994 | 98,964 tonnes | -0.0% |
| 1995 | 123,405 tonnes | +24.7% |
| 1996 | 120,307 tonnes | -2.5% |
| 1997 | 130,624 tonnes | +8.6% |
| 1998 | 138,384 tonnes | +5.9% |
| 1999 | 135,991 tonnes | -1.7% |
| 2000 | 46,509 tonnes | -65.8% |
| 2001 | 46,687 tonnes | +0.4% |
| 2002 | 48,449 tonnes | +3.8% |
| 2003 | 54,181 tonnes | +11.8% |
| 2004 | 49,515 tonnes | -8.6% |
| 2005 | 44,602 tonnes | -9.9% |
| 2006 | 49,112 tonnes | +10.1% |
| 2007 | 41,295 tonnes | -15.9% |
| 2008 | 39,628 tonnes | -4.0% |
| 2009 | 39,170 tonnes | -1.2% |
| 2010 | 38,646 tonnes | -1.3% |
| 2011 | 39,066 tonnes | +1.1% |
| 2012 | 48,251 tonnes | +23.5% |
| 2013 | 56,334 tonnes | +16.8% |
| 2014 | 50,347 tonnes | -10.6% |
| 2015 | 24,638 tonnes | -51.1% |
| 2016 | 41,656 tonnes | +69.1% |
| 2017 | 57,395 tonnes | +37.8% |
| 2018 | 43,597 tonnes | -24.0% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 43,597 tonnes is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 43,597 tonnes, 1.0× the median. (23 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 43,597 tonnes is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 14,282 tonnes, 3.1× the median. (24 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 2,231 tonnes | 1,458 tonnes | 2,974 tonnes | 10 |
| 1960s | 7,247 tonnes | 3,642 tonnes | 10,864 tonnes | 10 |
| 1970s | 21,360 tonnes | 13,361 tonnes | 29,065 tonnes | 10 |
| 1980s | 72,007 tonnes | 25,942 tonnes | 117,277 tonnes | 10 |
| 1990s | 122,299 tonnes | 98,964 tonnes | 138,384 tonnes | 10 |
| 2000s | 45,915 tonnes | 39,170 tonnes | 54,181 tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 44,437 tonnes | 24,638 tonnes | 57,395 tonnes | 9 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More agriculture & rural data for Nigeria
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 2.38 % change on previous year (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.2298 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 281.32 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate -0.1218 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.3622 units per person (2025)
- Share of GDP from agriculture 23.0% (2025)
- Agriculture as a share of GDP vs. GDP per capita 23.0% (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials exports 0.4% (2024)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 0.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is wild fish catch by gear type in Nigeria?
- Wild fish catch by gear type in Nigeria was 43,597 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 138,384 tonnes in 1998.
- What is the lowest wild fish catch by gear type recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 1,458 tonnes in 1950.
- How does Nigeria rank for wild fish catch by gear type?
- Nigeria ranks 52nd out of 111 countries with data for 2018.
- Is wild fish catch by gear type rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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
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