Fish and fish products remain vital to Africa’s food security. The continent will record the world’s fastest growth in demand for fish over the next decade. The OECD/FAO Agricultural Outlook, released in mid-July, projects a 24% rise in total fish consumption in Africa between 2025 and 2034. This growth surpasses the global average increase of 13% and also exceeds the 20% growth seen in the previous decade.
Despite this rising demand, Africa’s average fish consumption per person remains low at around 10 kilograms annually, compared to the global average of 21 kilograms. Demographic expansion, rising incomes, and stronger nutritional needs will primarily drive this growth. In several West African countries like Gambia, Ghana, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, fish already provides over 50% of animal protein intake, well above the global average of 20%.
To meet the rising demand, Africa will rely on substantial growth in aquaculture alongside capture fishing. The report forecasts a 46% increase in fish supply from aquaculture by 2034, more than twice the global average growth rate of 20%. Egypt and Nigeria, Africa’s leading aquaculture producers, will drive much of this expansion.
However, even with this growth, Africa’s share of global farmed fish production will stay small at just 3%, supplying 3.6 million tonnes out of a projected 117.6 million tonnes globally.
