Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Belgium

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Belgium in 2024 — 11.81%. Ranked 77 in the world out of 131. Since 1962, the indicator has fallen by 1.97 pp.

2024 11.81% +2.21 pp vs 2023
World rank 77of 131
Period maximum 14.95%1967
Period minimum 7.36%2006

Trend over time

1962–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Belgium, 1962–2024681012141619621969197619831990199720042011201820241962: 13.78%1963: 13.22%1964: 13.45%1965: 14.32%1966: 13.72%1967: 14.95%1968: 13.32%1969: 12.61%1970: 13.08%1971: 13.25%1972: 13.27%1973: 13.33%1974: 11.61%1975: 12.95%1976: 12.83%1977: 13.19%1978: 12.84%1979: 12.22%1980: 11.12%1981: 11.83%1982: 12.47%1983: 12.13%1984: 12.34%1985: 11.73%1986: 11.72%1987: 11.32%1999: 9.92%2000: 8.43%2001: 8.67%2002: 8.57%2003: 8.75%2004: 8.17%2005: 7.67%2006: 7.36%2007: 7.69%2008: 8.15%2009: 9.25%2010: 9.78%2011: 9.61%2012: 10%2013: 10.24%2014: 10.38%2015: 10.99%2016: 10.74%2017: 10.36%2018: 9.71%2019: 9.7%2020: 10.87%2021: 9.33%2022: 8.48%2023: 9.6%2024: 11.81%
Change over the period: −1.97 pp Annual average: -0.03 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Belgium 11.81%
World 8.89%
Western Europe computed 10.22%
High-income countries computed 8.94%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Belgium, by year Belgium All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 11.81 +2.21 pp
2023 9.6 +1.12 pp
2022 8.48 −0.85 pp
2021 9.33 −1.54 pp
2020 10.87 +1.17 pp
2019 9.7 −0.01 pp
2018 9.71 −0.65 pp
2017 10.36 −0.38 pp
2016 10.74 −0.25 pp
2015 10.99 +0.61 pp
2014 10.38 +0.14 pp
2013 10.24 +0.24 pp
2012 10 +0.4 pp
2011 9.61 −0.18 pp
2010 9.78 +0.53 pp
2009 9.25 +1.1 pp
2008 8.15 +0.45 pp
2007 7.69 +0.34 pp
2006 7.36 −0.31 pp
2005 7.67 −0.5 pp
2004 8.17 −0.58 pp
2003 8.75 +0.18 pp
2002 8.57 −0.1 pp
2001 8.67 +0.24 pp
2000 8.43 −1.48 pp
1999 9.92
1987 11.32 −0.4 pp
1986 11.72 −0.01 pp
1985 11.73 −0.61 pp
1984 12.34 +0.2 pp
1983 12.13 −0.34 pp
1982 12.47 +0.64 pp
1981 11.83 +0.71 pp
1980 11.12 −1.1 pp
1979 12.22 −0.62 pp
1978 12.84 −0.34 pp
1977 13.19 +0.36 pp
1976 12.83 −0.13 pp
1975 12.95 +1.34 pp
1974 11.61 −1.72 pp
1973 13.33 +0.06 pp
1972 13.27 +0.02 pp
1971 13.25 +0.18 pp
1970 13.08 +0.47 pp
1969 12.61 −0.71 pp
1968 13.32 −1.63 pp
1967 14.95 +1.24 pp
1966 13.72 −0.6 pp
1965 14.32 +0.87 pp
1964 13.45 +0.22 pp
1963 13.22 −0.56 pp
1962 13.78

Western Europe, 2024

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.