Japan: Aquaculture production (metric tons)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Japan's aquaculture production (metric tons) fell 9.1% on 2023 (from 882,001 to 802,045).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was −1.2% and a typical year strayed about 6.7% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.2 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 21.5% in 1973 and the biggest yearly fall was 21.1% in 2011. 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 the straight-line trend is downward, about 27,919 a year. A straight line explains 88% of the movement over 10 observed years.

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

How it compares

In 2024, Japan had the 16th 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 Japan in the 2024 ranking

• Myanmar — 12th of 215: 1.21 million
• Thailand — 13th of 215: 998,645
• Brazil — 14th of 215: 882,935
• Iran, Islamic Rep. — 16th of 215: 709,391
• Korea, Dem. People's Rep. — 17th of 215: 685,700
• Türkiye — 18th of 215: 577,124

What this measures

Aquaculture is understood to mean the farming of aquatic organisms including fish, molluscs, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Aquaculture production specifically refers to output from aquaculture activities, which are designated for final harvest for consumption.

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

All 65 values

Aquaculture production (metric tons) in nearby economies

• American Samoa — 15 (2024)
• Australia — 117,540 (2024)
• Brunei Darussalam — 1,310 (2024)
• Cambodia — 320,282 (2024)
• China — 81.95 million (2024)
• Fiji — 580 (2024)
• French Polynesia — 1,247 (2024)
• Guam — 64 (2024)
• Hong Kong SAR, China — 2,579 (2024)
• Indonesia — 15.75 million (2024)
• Kiribati

More environment data for Japan

• Population in largest city — 37.04 million (2025)
• Population in the largest city (% of urban population) — 32.53% (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million — 80.94 million (2025)
• Population in urban agglomerations of more than 1 million (% of total population) — 65.61% (2025)
• Rural population — 9.5 million (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 7.7% (2025)
• Urban population — 113.87 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 92.3% (2025)
• Capture fisheries production (metric tons) — 2.85 million (2024)
• Total fisheries production (metric tons)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

What is Japan's aquaculture production (metric tons)?

802,045 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is up 160.37% from 308,044 in 1960 (1.51% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 1.43 million in 1988 and the lowest 308,044 in 1960.

How does Japan rank?

16th highest of 215 economies with data for 2024.

Is the latest change in aquaculture production (metric tons) unusual for Japan?

In 2024, Japan's aquaculture production (metric tons) fell 9.1% on 2023 (from 882,001 to 802,045). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was −1.2% and a typical year strayed about 6.7% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 1.2 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.AQUA.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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