Aquaculture production in Ireland
Ireland: Aquaculture production was 37,632 metric tons in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Aquaculture production in Ireland, 1960–2024
Source: Food and Agriculture Organization., Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Measured in metric tons.
Analysis
The most recent figure for aquaculture production in Ireland is 37,632 metric tons, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 7.2% on the previous year and up 20.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, aquaculture production in Ireland peaked at 62,568 metric tons in 2002 and was at its lowest, 500 metric tons, in 1962.
That places Ireland 50th out of 216 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Aquaculture production in Ireland, year by year
| Year | metric tons | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 2,100 metric tons | — |
| 1961 | 900 metric tons | -57.1% |
| 1962 | 500 metric tons | -44.4% |
| 1963 | 1,100 metric tons | +120.0% |
| 1964 | 1,000 metric tons | -9.1% |
| 1965 | 1,100 metric tons | +10.0% |
| 1966 | 900 metric tons | -18.2% |
| 1967 | 1,300 metric tons | +44.4% |
| 1968 | 2,600 metric tons | +100.0% |
| 1969 | 3,000 metric tons | +15.4% |
| 1970 | 3,701 metric tons | +23.4% |
| 1971 | 4,906 metric tons | +32.6% |
| 1972 | 5,512 metric tons | +12.4% |
| 1973 | 3,423 metric tons | -37.9% |
| 1974 | 3,809 metric tons | +11.3% |
| 1975 | 4,258 metric tons | +11.8% |
| 1976 | 5,019 metric tons | +17.9% |
| 1977 | 4,654 metric tons | -7.3% |
| 1978 | 4,069 metric tons | -12.6% |
| 1979 | 3,692 metric tons | -9.3% |
| 1980 | 5,639 metric tons | +52.7% |
| 1981 | 5,811 metric tons | +3.1% |
| 1982 | 6,982 metric tons | +20.2% |
| 1983 | 7,078 metric tons | +1.4% |
| 1984 | 15,322 metric tons | +116.5% |
| 1985 | 11,964 metric tons | -21.9% |
| 1986 | 12,741 metric tons | +6.5% |
| 1987 | 18,693 metric tons | +46.7% |
| 1988 | 18,327 metric tons | -2.0% |
| 1989 | 20,790 metric tons | +13.4% |
| 1990 | 26,673 metric tons | +28.3% |
| 1991 | 27,749 metric tons | +4.0% |
| 1992 | 27,157 metric tons | -2.1% |
| 1993 | 30,158 metric tons | +11.1% |
| 1994 | 28,615 metric tons | -5.1% |
| 1995 | 27,366 metric tons | -4.4% |
| 1996 | 34,925 metric tons | +27.6% |
| 1997 | 36,854 metric tons | +5.5% |
| 1998 | 42,375 metric tons | +15.0% |
| 1999 | 43,856 metric tons | +3.5% |
| 2000 | 51,247 metric tons | +16.9% |
| 2001 | 60,940 metric tons | +18.9% |
| 2002 | 62,568 metric tons | +2.7% |
| 2003 | 62,516 metric tons | -0.1% |
| 2004 | 58,359 metric tons | -6.6% |
| 2005 | 60,050 metric tons | +2.9% |
| 2006 | 53,122 metric tons | -11.5% |
| 2007 | 57,104 metric tons | +7.5% |
| 2008 | 44,868 metric tons | -21.4% |
| 2009 | 47,512 metric tons | +5.9% |
| 2010 | 46,490 metric tons | -2.1% |
| 2011 | 44,266 metric tons | -4.8% |
| 2012 | 36,102 metric tons | -18.4% |
| 2013 | 34,198 metric tons | -5.3% |
| 2014 | 31,200 metric tons | -8.8% |
| 2015 | 39,650 metric tons | +27.1% |
| 2016 | 40,244 metric tons | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 45,433 metric tons | +12.9% |
| 2018 | 36,896 metric tons | -18.8% |
| 2019 | 37,914 metric tons | +2.8% |
| 2020 | 37,751 metric tons | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 42,099 metric tons | +11.5% |
| 2022 | 44,014 metric tons | +4.5% |
| 2023 | 35,118 metric tons | -20.2% |
| 2024 | 37,632 metric tons | +7.2% |
Ireland compared with similar countries
- Ireland's 37,632 metric tons is above the median for high income countries, which is 2,445 metric tons, 15.4× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Ireland's 37,632 metric tons is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 10,060 metric tons, 3.7× the median. (56 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Aquaculture production in Ireland changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | +120.0% | 500 metric tons | 1,100 metric tons |
| 1984 | +116.5% | 7,078 metric tons | 15,322 metric tons |
| 1968 | +100.0% | 1,300 metric tons | 2,600 metric tons |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1,450 metric tons | 500 metric tons | 3,000 metric tons | 10 |
| 1970s | 4,304 metric tons | 3,423 metric tons | 5,512 metric tons | 10 |
| 1980s | 12,335 metric tons | 5,639 metric tons | 20,790 metric tons | 10 |
| 1990s | 32,573 metric tons | 26,673 metric tons | 43,856 metric tons | 10 |
| 2000s | 55,829 metric tons | 44,868 metric tons | 62,568 metric tons | 10 |
| 2010s | 39,239 metric tons | 31,200 metric tons | 46,490 metric tons | 10 |
| 2020s | 39,323 metric tons | 35,118 metric tons | 44,014 metric tons | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ireland
More environment data for Ireland
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly 2.51 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly 2.17 Percentage change (2025)
- Standard Deviation, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Standard Deviation 0.412 °C (2025)
- Temperature change 1.89 °C (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual -1.13 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.0083 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is aquaculture production in Ireland?
- Aquaculture production in Ireland was 37,632 metric tons in 2024, according to Food and Agriculture Organization., Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
- What is the highest aquaculture production recorded in Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 62,568 metric tons in 2002.
- What is the lowest aquaculture production recorded in Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 500 metric tons in 1962.
- How does Ireland rank for aquaculture production?
- Ireland ranks 50th out of 216 countries with data for 2024.
- Is aquaculture production rising or falling in Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Food and Agriculture Organization., Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), publisher: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), published as part of Aquaculture production (metric tons). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
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.