Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Eswatini

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Eswatini in 2023 — 19.58%. Ranked 35 in the world out of 160. Since 2000, the indicator has risen by 0.85 pp.

2023 19.58% +0.37 pp vs 2022
World rank 35of 160
Period maximum 20.56%2007
Period minimum 15.42%2013

Trend over time

2000–2023 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Eswatini, 2000–202314161820222000200320062009201220152018202120232000: 18.73%2001: 17.31%2002: 17.65%2003: 16.41%2004: 16.44%2005: 16.81%2006: 15.55%2007: 20.56%2008: 19.57%2009: 19.14%2010: 19.74%2011: 17.06%2012: 19.08%2013: 15.42%2014: 17.19%2015: 17.73%2016: 18.7%2017: 18.48%2018: 18.82%2019: 18.29%2020: 20.39%2021: 18.62%2022: 19.21%2023: 19.58%
Change over the period: +0.85 pp Annual average: 0.04 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

Eswatini 19.58%
World 8.68%
Southern Africa computed 7.48%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Eswatini, by year Eswatini All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 19.58 +0.37 pp
2022 19.21 +0.6 pp
2021 18.62 −1.78 pp
2020 20.39 +2.1 pp
2019 18.29 −0.53 pp
2018 18.82 +0.34 pp
2017 18.48 −0.22 pp
2016 18.7 +0.96 pp
2015 17.73 +0.54 pp
2014 17.19 +1.77 pp
2013 15.42 −3.65 pp
2012 19.08 +2.02 pp
2011 17.06 −2.68 pp
2010 19.74 +0.6 pp
2009 19.14 −0.43 pp
2008 19.57 −0.99 pp
2007 20.56 +5.01 pp
2006 15.55 −1.25 pp
2005 16.81 +0.37 pp
2004 16.44 +0.03 pp
2003 16.41 −1.24 pp
2002 17.65 +0.34 pp
2001 17.31 −1.43 pp
2000 18.73

Southern Africa, 2023

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.