The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020

particular deficiencies of iron, iodine, vitamin A 
and zinc. Full nutritional benefits can result 
from the consumption of the entire fish of 
small species, as their head, bones and skin 
are rich in micronutrients. This also helps to 
reduce waste and enhance global food security. 
Beyond meeting basic nutritional requirements, 
studies have also identified multiple health 
benefits associated with regular consumption 
of fish. For pregnant women and very young 
children in particular, fish consumption 
contributes to cognitive development during 
the most crucial stages of an unborn or young 
child’s growth (the first most critical 1 000 days). 
In addition, there is evidence of beneficial 
effects of fish consumption on mental health and 
prevention of cardiovascular diseases, stroke and 
age-related macular degeneration.
Global data on fish consumption hide 
considerable regional variation both between 
and within countries. Annual per capita fish 
consumption varies from less than 1 kg to more 
than 100 kg because of the influence of cultural, 
economic and geographical factors, including 
the proximity and access to fish landings and 
aquaculture facilities. To a large extent, this 
explains why island nations such as Iceland, 
Kiribati, Maldives and several SIDS continue 
to record levels of fish consumption that are 
in some cases hundreds of times higher than 
many landlocked States such as Ethiopia, 
Mongolia and Tajikistan. These inland countries 
still consume less than 1 kg of fish despite 
the fact that advances in logistics and supply 
chain infrastructure have made it progressively 
easier to access fish products harvested and 
processed thousands of kilometres away. 
Differences in income levels represent another 
important factor underlying differences in fish 
consumption, as do the availability and price 
of substitutable proteins. Other determinants 
include climate, market penetration, regional 
demographic characteristics, as well as the 
density and quality of transportation and 
distribution infrastructure. 
Despite persistent differences in levels of 
fish consumption between world regions and 
between individual States (
Figure 26
), some 
clear trends can nevertheless be identified. 
In developed countries, annual apparent fish 
consumption increased from 17.4 kg per capita 
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THE STATE OF WORLD FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE 
2020
in 1961 to peak at 26.4 kg per capita in 2007, 
and gradually decline in the following years 
to 24.4 kg in 2017. In developing countries, the 
corresponding value is lower, although it grew 
significantly from 5.2 kg in 1961 to 19.4 kg in 
2017, at an average annual rate of 2.4 percent. 
Among these, the LDCs, most of which are 
located on Africa, increased their annual per 
capita fish consumption from 6.1 kg in 1961 
to 12.6 kg in 2017, at an average annual rate 
of 1.3 percent. This growth rate has increased 
significantly in the last 20 years, reaching 
an average of 2.9 percent per year, explained 
primarily by the expansion of fish production and 
imports, in particular of small pelagic species, 
by a number of African States. In LIFDCs, where 
annual per capita fish consumption increased 
from 4.0 kg in 1961 to 9.3 kg in 2017, the growth 
rate has remained approximately stable at some 
1.5 percent. Despite their relatively lower levels 
of fish consumption, consumers in developing 
countries record a higher share of fish protein in 
total animal proteins in their diets than do those 
in developed countries. In 2017, fish consumption 
accounted for about 29 percent of animal protein 
intake in LDCs, 19 percent in other developing 
countries, and about 18 percent in LIFDCs. 
This share, although it has increased since 1961, 
has stagnated in recent years because of the 
growing consumption of other animal proteins. 
The share of fish in animal protein intake 
grew consistently in developed countries, from 
12.1 percent in 1961 to a peak of 13.9 percent 
in 1989, then decreased to 11.7 percent in 2017, 
while consumption of other animal proteins 
continued to increase. 
FIGURE 26
APPARENT FISH CONSUMPTION PER CAPITA, AVERAGE 2015–2017
NOTE: Final boundary between the Sudan and South Sudan has not yet been determined.
SOURCE: FAO.
AVERAGE PER CAPITA FISH SUPPLY 
(IN LIVE WEIGHT EQUIVALENT)
No data
< 5 kg/year
5–10 kg/year
10–20 kg/year
20–30 kg/year
> 50 kg/year
30–50 kg/year
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PART 1 
WORLD REVIEW
Historically, a major proportion of global 
fish consumption has been accounted for 
by Japan, the United States of America and 
Europe. In 1961, the combined consumption 
of these three markets accounted for almost 
half (47 percent) of the world food fish supply. 
In 2017, this share was closer to one-fifth 
(19 percent) of the 153 million tonnes of total 
food fish consumption, while Asia accounted 
for 71 percent (up from 48 percent in 1961). 
In particular, China increased its share from 
10 percent in 1961 to 36 percent in 2017. In 2017, 
the Americas consumed 10 percent of the 
total food fish supply, followed by Africa with 
8 percent, and Oceania with less than 1 percent. 
This considerable decline in the importance of 
the developed markets is the result of structural 
changes in the sector. These include the growing 
role of Asian countries in fish production (in