Botswana: Capture fisheries production (metric tons)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Botswana's capture fisheries production (metric tons) fell 96.2% on 2023 (from 1,041 to 40).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +25.4% and a typical year strayed about 111.9% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.1 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 445.7% in 2007 and the biggest yearly fall was 96.2% in 2024. The numbers show how large and when, not why; for the cause, look at what happened in that country in those years.

From 2015 to 2024 there is no clear straight-line trend: a straight line explains 24% of the movement over 10 observed years, so the value is moving around more than it is heading anywhere.

Worked out from the yearly values above. How the checks work: standard deviation, z-scores and straight-line trends.

How it compares

In 2024, Botswana had the 205th highest value of the 215 economies reporting that year. Higher is not always better: for some indicators the lowest value is the one to aim for. See the full ranking.

Closest to Botswana in the 2024 ranking

• Eswatini — 202nd of 215: 65
• Northern Mariana Islands — 203rd of 215: 61.62
• Guam — 204th of 215: 45.64
• Kyrgyz Republic — 206th of 215: 32
• Mongolia — 207th of 215: 31
• Gibraltar — 208th of 215: 25.52

What this measures

Capture fisheries production measures the volume of fish catches landed by a country for all commercial, industrial, recreational and subsistence purposes.

Regional and income-group figures are computed by the World Bank as a sum.

All 65 values

Capture fisheries production (metric tons) in nearby economies

• Angola — 610,036 (2024)
• Benin — 61,561 (2024)
• Burkina Faso — 31,772 (2024)
• Burundi — 18,855 (2024)
• Cabo Verde — 5,547 (2024)
• Cameroon — 236,100 (2024)
• Central African Republic — 29,000 (2024)
• Chad — 109,000 (2024)
• Comoros — 17,728 (2024)
• Congo, Dem. Rep. — 265,975 (2024)

More environment data for Botswana

• Rural population — 821,007 (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 32.04% (2025)
• Urban population — 1.74 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 67.96% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 156 (2024)
• Total fisheries production (metric tons) — 196 (2024)
• Rural population growth (annual %) — 0.08% (2025)
• Urban population growth (annual %) — 2.34% (2025)
• Agricultural land (sq. km) — 258,615 (2024)
• Agricultural land (% of land area) — 45.63% (2024)
• Arable land (hectares)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Botswana's capture fisheries production (metric tons)?

40 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is down 90% from 400 in 1960 (3.53% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 8,014 in 1993 and the lowest 40 in 2024.

How does Botswana rank?

205th highest of 215 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in capture fisheries production (metric tons) unusual for Botswana?

In 2024, Botswana's capture fisheries production (metric tons) fell 96.2% on 2023 (from 1,041 to 40). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +25.4% and a typical year strayed about 111.9% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.1 standard deviations below that average, so it was larger than a typical year, though not out of the range seen before.

Source

World Bank, World Development Indicators, indicator ER.FSH.CAPT.MT, licensed CC BY 4.0. Original source: Food and Agriculture Organization., Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Figures are fetched from the World Bank API and refreshed monthly; see the series on data.worldbank.org. The full definition and method are in the World Bank's metadata glossary. Comparisons use the same World Bank release.

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