Top seafood consumers in the world
Although meat remains a primary source of protein in many regions, seafood—including fish and other edible marine species—has steadily gained popularity as a widely consumed protein alternative.
According to our World in Data, as of 2022 the world produced around 20 million tonnes of fish and seafood annually.
This shows how protein consumption has evolved as in medieval times, seafood was considered less prestigious than other types of meat and was primarily viewed as a substitute during religious fast days when consumption of land-based animal meat was restricted.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations highlights that the global per capita seafood consumption has more than doubled since the 1960s, reaching 20.7 kg in 2022. This increase is driven by both population growth and rising demand for aquatic foods.
Here are the top 10 seafood consumers in the world:
- Iceland: 87.1 kg per person per year
- Maldives: 80.07 kg per person per year
- Kiribati: 73 kg per person per year
- Macau: 68.4 kg per person per year
- Hong Kong: 65.9 kg per person per year
- South Korea: 55.7 kg per person per year
- Portugal: 54.3 kg per person per year
- Antigua and Barbuda: 54.3 kg per person per year
- Malaysia: 52.2 kg per person per year
- Seychelles: 51.3 per person per year
