Food exports (% of merchandise exports) — all countries

Food exports (% of merchandise exports) — Sub-Saharan Africa

Food exports (% of merchandise exports) in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024 — 14.66%. Since 1974, the indicator has fallen by 13.21 pp.

2024 14.66% +1.1 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 28.15%1975
Period minimum 11.7%2011

Trend over time

1974–2024 · % of merchandise exports

Food exports (% of merchandise exports) — Sub-Saharan Africa, 1974–20241015202530197419791984198919941999200420092014201920241974: 27.87%1975: 28.15%1976: 27.43%1977: 27.21%1978: 26.38%1979: 23.46%1981: 18.58%1996: 19.14%1997: 19.64%1998: 20.21%1999: 19.98%2000: 16.79%2001: 17.24%2002: 16.21%2003: 17.11%2004: 18.22%2005: 16.44%2006: 13.96%2007: 11.71%2008: 11.99%2009: 14.28%2010: 13.42%2011: 11.7%2012: 12.27%2013: 13.04%2014: 13.07%2015: 15%2016: 15.55%2017: 14.87%2018: 14.77%2019: 13.39%2020: 13.74%2021: 13.43%2022: 12.87%2023: 13.56%2024: 14.66%
Change over the period: −13.21 pp Annual average: -0.26 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa 14.66%
World 9.14%
Food exports (% of merchandise exports) — Sub-Saharan Africa, by year Sub-Saharan Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 14.66 +1.1 pp
2023 13.56 +0.69 pp
2022 12.87 −0.56 pp
2021 13.43 −0.31 pp
2020 13.74 +0.35 pp
2019 13.39 −1.38 pp
2018 14.77 −0.1 pp
2017 14.87 −0.68 pp
2016 15.55 +0.55 pp
2015 15 +1.93 pp
2014 13.07 +0.03 pp
2013 13.04 +0.77 pp
2012 12.27 +0.57 pp
2011 11.7 −1.72 pp
2010 13.42 −0.87 pp
2009 14.28 +2.29 pp
2008 11.99 +0.28 pp
2007 11.71 −2.25 pp
2006 13.96 −2.48 pp
2005 16.44 −1.78 pp
2004 18.22 +1.11 pp
2003 17.11 +0.91 pp
2002 16.21 −1.03 pp
2001 17.24 +0.45 pp
2000 16.79 −3.19 pp
1999 19.98 −0.23 pp
1998 20.21 +0.56 pp
1997 19.64 +0.5 pp
1996 19.14
1981 18.58
1979 23.46 −2.92 pp
1978 26.38 −0.82 pp
1977 27.21 −0.23 pp
1976 27.43 −0.72 pp
1975 28.15 +0.28 pp
1974 27.87

About the indicator

The share of food in merchandise exports: grain, meat, dairy products, fish, fruit, beverages, oils. Unlike dependence on fuel and metals, a food specialization is not considered a vulnerability of the same kind — demand for food grows with population and is not subject to technological substitution. The largest shares come not from the biggest producers but from small countries with a single export crop: coffee, cocoa, bananas.

Important: It includes beverages and vegetable oils but not agricultural raw materials such as cotton, rubber and hides — those have a separate indicator.

Source: UNCTADstat (UNCTAD), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.