Protein in Shrimps: How Much per 100g and per Portion
Boiled shrimps provide 23.8g of protein per 100g. With 81% of their energy coming from protein, they are a very protein-dense food choice. For every 100 calories of shrimps you eat, you get over 20g of protein, making them an efficient option for hitting protein targets within a calorie budget.
CoFID 16-245 · Shrimps, boiled
What the numbers say
- Protein per calorie. Shrimps provide 20.3g of protein for every 100 kcal. Protein accounts for 81% of their total energy content, which is a very high proportion.
- Low in fat and sugar. According to UK front-of-pack labelling, boiled shrimps are low in fat (2.4g per 100g), low in saturated fat (0.4g per 100g), and low in sugars (0.0g per 100g).
- High in salt. The salt content is 9.6g per 100g, which receives a red ‘high’ rating on the UK front-of-pack traffic light system. This is a significant consideration for daily salt intake.
- Carbohydrate and fibre. Boiled shrimps contain no carbohydrate or sugars. The official UK data source does not determine the amount of fibre in this food.
Shrimps macros per 100g
| Per 100g | Amount | % RI | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | 117 kcal 493 kJ |
6% | – |
| Protein | 23.8g | 48% | – |
| Fat | 2.4g | 3% | low |
| of which saturates | 0.4g | 2% | low |
| Carbohydrate | trace | 0% | – |
| of which sugars | trace | 0% | low |
| Fibre | n/a | – | – |
| Salt | 9.6g | 160% | high |
% RI is the share of the adult reference intake used on UK food labels (protein 50g, energy 2,000 kcal). Label colour applies the FSA front-of-pack bands for fat, saturates, sugars and salt per 100g. “Trace” means CoFID reports only a trace amount.
Protein in shrimps by amount
| Amount | Protein | kcal | Carbs | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100g | 23.8g | 117 | 0g | 2.4g |
| 150g | 35.7g | 176 | 0g | 3.6g |
| 200g | 47.6g | 234 | 0g | 4.8g |
Example amounts for comparison, not recommended portions. Weigh your own serving.
Amount of shrimps for 20g or 30g of protein
- To get 30g of protein from this source, you would need to eat 126g of boiled shrimps, which contains 147 kcal.
- Be mindful of the high salt content; a 126g amount contains 12.1g of salt.
- The nutritional data is for boiled shrimps, so remember to weigh them after cooking to accurately track your intake.
How it compares with other fish and seafood
Within the fish and seafood category, boiled shrimps rank 5th out of 23 foods on this site for protein content per 100g. Their protein-per-calorie score is also high, ranking 10th in the group and 16th out of all 137 foods listed. The protein content of 23.8g per 100g is slightly higher than that of scallops (23.2g) and lobster (22.1g), and comparable to tuna, which has around 24.9g. Shrimps offer more protein per calorie than scallops but slightly less than lobster and tuna.
| Per 100g | Protein | kcal | Protein per 100 kcal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shrimps | 23.8g | 117 | 20.3g |
| Scallops | 23.2g | 118 | 19.7g |
| Lobster | 22.1g | 103 | 21.5g |
| Tilapia | 17.8g | 85 | 20.9g |
| Tuna | 24.9g | 109 | 22.8g |
Quick answers
How much protein is in 150g of shrimps?
A 150g amount of boiled shrimps contains 35.7g of protein, 176 calories, and 3.6g of fat.
Are shrimps a good source of protein for the calories?
Yes, they are very protein-dense. Shrimps provide 20.3g of protein for every 100 calories consumed, with 81% of their energy coming from protein.
How much fat is in boiled shrimps?
Boiled shrimps contain 2.4g of fat and 0.4g of saturated fat per 100g. Both of these values are rated ‘low’ on the UK front-of-pack traffic light system.
When to speak to a GP or dietitian
- This food contains crustaceans, one of the 14 allergens that UK food law requires to be declared. If you have a shellfish (crustacean) allergy, follow the plan from your GP or allergy clinic and check labels on the products you buy.
- If you have chronic kidney disease, you may have been given a protein target. Check with your renal team or GP before raising your protein intake.
- At 9.6g of salt per 100g, this counts as high in salt on UK front-of-pack labels. If you have high blood pressure or have been told to cut salt, ask your GP how it fits.
- If you are pregnant or trying for a baby, the NHS has specific advice on how much oily fish and which types of fish to eat.
- If tracking protein or calories starts to feel stressful or takes over your day, talk to your GP. Our safety note lists support services.