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Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Afghanistan

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Afghanistan in 2019 — 26.92%. Ranked 14 in the world out of 168. Since 1962, the indicator has risen by 19.08 pp.

2019 26.92% −7.12 pp vs 2018
World rank 14of 168
Period maximum 36.79%2017
Period minimum 4.28%2012

Trend over time

1962–2019 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Afghanistan, 1962–2019010203040196219681974198019861992199820042010201620191962: 7.84%1963: 13.12%1964: 17.34%1965: 17.1%1966: 20.8%1967: 20.88%1968: 16.01%1969: 20.58%1970: 20.54%1971: 25.43%1972: 28.46%1973: 23.87%1974: 22.88%1975: 24.42%1976: 16.32%1977: 15.35%2008: 18.85%2009: 18.29%2010: 13.69%2011: 14.03%2012: 4.28%2013: 7.55%2014: 9.51%2015: 19.23%2016: 23.56%2017: 36.79%2018: 34.03%2019: 26.92%
Change over the period: +19.08 pp Annual average: 0.33 pp

Comparison, 2019

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Afghanistan

Afghanistan 26.92%
World 8.28%
South Asia 4.62%
Southern Asia computed 6.99%
Low-income countries computed 16.4%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Afghanistan, by year Afghanistan All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2019 26.92 −7.12 pp
2018 34.03 −2.76 pp
2017 36.79 +13.23 pp
2016 23.56 +4.33 pp
2015 19.23 +9.71 pp
2014 9.51 +1.97 pp
2013 7.55 +3.27 pp
2012 4.28 −9.75 pp
2011 14.03 +0.34 pp
2010 13.69 −4.6 pp
2009 18.29 −0.56 pp
2008 18.85 —
1977 15.35 −0.97 pp
1976 16.32 −8.1 pp
1975 24.42 +1.54 pp
1974 22.88 −0.98 pp
1973 23.87 −4.6 pp
1972 28.46 +3.03 pp
1971 25.43 +4.89 pp
1970 20.54 −0.04 pp
1969 20.58 +4.57 pp
1968 16.01 −4.87 pp
1967 20.88 +0.08 pp
1966 20.8 +3.7 pp
1965 17.1 −0.24 pp
1964 17.34 +4.22 pp
1963 13.12 +5.28 pp
1962 7.84 —

Southern Asia, 2019

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

IR Iran 28.05 AF Afghanistan 26.92 MV Maldives 19.46 NP Nepal 16.86 BT Bhutan 16.56 LK Sri Lanka 11.64 PK Pakistan 10.74 IN India 3.97
Full table for all countries

About the indicator

The share of food in merchandise imports. The indicator reads as a measure of food dependence, but with a caveat: a high share occurs both in rich countries with little agriculture, where food is simply a large item of consumption, and in the poorest ones, where it means vulnerability to world grain prices. Comparing it with food insecurity and with the share of agriculture in the economy helps tell the two cases apart.

Important: A high value is not in itself a sign of trouble: in Singapore and Japan the share is high while the food supply is entirely secure. It is worth looking at together with food insecurity.

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

Other indicators for Afghanistan

Trade Food exports (% of merchandise exports)

What part of merchandise exports is food and farm produce.

Afghanistan by year Trade Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports)

What part of merchandise imports a country spends on oil, gas and coal.

Afghanistan by year Nutrition Food insecurity

The share of people who at least once during the year lacked money or access to food.

Afghanistan by year Trade Merchandise imports

Imports of goods only, without services — WTO data.

Afghanistan by year
All indicators for Afghanistan