Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Bangladesh

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Bangladesh in 2018 — 13%. Ranked 87 in the world out of 174. Since 1977, the indicator has fallen by 4.6 pp.

2018 13% −5.93 pp vs 2017
World rank 87of 174
Period maximum 28.99%1984
Period minimum 13%2018

Trend over time

1977–2018 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Bangladesh, 1977–201810152025301977198219871992199720022007201220171977: 17.61%1978: 20.59%1979: 25.31%1980: 23.63%1981: 20.19%1982: 25.97%1983: 19.96%1984: 28.99%1985: 24.25%1986: 20.87%1987: 24.19%1989: 24.14%1990: 18.96%1991: 17.34%1992: 18.27%1993: 15.93%1995: 17.3%1996: 17.03%1997: 16.86%1998: 15.29%2000: 16.48%2001: 17.39%2002: 14.6%2003: 19.19%2004: 15.61%2005: 13.9%2006: 16.7%2007: 22.46%2008: 18.32%2009: 18.68%2010: 17.42%2011: 19.49%2012: 14.47%2013: 16.87%2015: 16.56%2016: 15.24%2017: 18.93%2018: 13%
Change over the period: −4.6 pp Annual average: -0.11 pp

Comparison, 2018

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

Bangladesh 13%
World 8.11%
South Asia 4.97%
Southern Asia computed 7.26%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Bangladesh, by year Bangladesh All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2018 13 −5.93 pp
2017 18.93 +3.69 pp
2016 15.24 −1.32 pp
2015 16.56
2013 16.87 +2.4 pp
2012 14.47 −5.02 pp
2011 19.49 +2.07 pp
2010 17.42 −1.25 pp
2009 18.68 +0.36 pp
2008 18.32 −4.14 pp
2007 22.46 +5.76 pp
2006 16.7 +2.8 pp
2005 13.9 −1.71 pp
2004 15.61 −3.58 pp
2003 19.19 +4.59 pp
2002 14.6 −2.79 pp
2001 17.39 +0.91 pp
2000 16.48
1998 15.29 −1.58 pp
1997 16.86 −0.17 pp
1996 17.03 −0.27 pp
1995 17.3
1993 15.93 −2.34 pp
1992 18.27 +0.93 pp
1991 17.34 −1.61 pp
1990 18.96 −5.18 pp
1989 24.14
1987 24.19 +3.32 pp
1986 20.87 −3.38 pp
1985 24.25 −4.74 pp
1984 28.99 +9.02 pp
1983 19.96 −6.01 pp
1982 25.97 +5.78 pp
1981 20.19 −3.44 pp
1980 23.63 −1.68 pp
1979 25.31 +4.72 pp
1978 20.59 +2.98 pp
1977 17.61

Southern Asia, 2018

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

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.