Sri Lanka: Capture fisheries production (metric tons)

Key figures

What the numbers say

In 2024, Sri Lanka's capture fisheries production (metric tons) rose 5.2% on 2023 (from 338,161 to 355,902).

Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +2% and a typical year strayed about 11.4% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

On record, the biggest yearly rise was 28.6% in 2006 and the biggest yearly fall was 34.9% in 2005. 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 18,932 a year. A straight line explains 80% 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, Sri Lanka had the 48th 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 Sri Lanka in the 2024 ranking

• Guinea — 44th of 215: 384,261
• Namibia — 45th of 215: 381,230
• Türkiye — 46th of 215: 355,994
• Papua New Guinea — 48th of 215: 342,808
• Greenland — 49th of 215: 331,285
• New Zealand — 50th of 215: 324,447

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

• Bangladesh — 2.04 million (2024)
• Bhutan — 5 (2024)
• India — 6.36 million (2024)
• Maldives — 107,414 (2024)
• Nepal — 21,000 (2024)

More environment data for Sri Lanka

• Population in largest city — 647,557 (2025)
• Population in the largest city (% of urban population) — 14.55% (2025)
• Rural population — 17.31 million (2025)
• Rural population (% of total population) — 79.55% (2025)
• Urban population — 4.45 million (2025)
• Urban population (% of total population) — 20.45% (2025)
• Aquaculture production (metric tons) — 56,118 (2024)
• Total fisheries production (metric tons) — 412,020 (2024)
• Rural population growth (annual %) — -0.92% (2025)
• Urban population growth (annual %) — 0.0056% (2025)

Reading data like this

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Questions people ask

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

355,902 in 2024, according to the World Bank (World Development Indicators).

How has it changed since 1960?

It is up 639.87% from 48,103 in 1960 (3.18% a year on average, compounded). The highest value was 493,497 in 2014 and the lowest 48,103 in 1960.

How does Sri Lanka rank?

48th highest of 215 economies with data for 2024.

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

In 2024, Sri Lanka's capture fisheries production (metric tons) rose 5.2% on 2023 (from 338,161 to 355,902). Across the 30 yearly changes before that (1994 to 2023), the average change was +2% and a typical year strayed about 11.4% from that (the standard deviation). This year's change was 0.3 standard deviations above that average, so it was an ordinary year: it sits within the range of normal year-to-year movement.

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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