Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — European Union

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in the European Union in 2024 — 10.74%. Since 1962, the indicator has fallen by 11.19 pp.

2024 10.74% +0.8 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 21.93%1962
Period minimum 7.32%2006

Trend over time

1962–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — European Union, 1962–2024010203019621969197619831990199720042011201820241962: 21.93%1964: 17.78%1966: 18.56%1968: 16.47%1970: 14.97%1972: 15.5%1974: 13.22%1976: 13.41%1978: 14.35%1980: 11.7%1982: 12.2%1984: 12.05%1986: 12.39%1988: 11.81%1990: 10.43%1992: 11.02%1994: 11.16%1996: 10.38%1998: 9.35%2000: 7.51%2002: 8.3%2004: 7.81%2006: 7.32%2008: 8.12%2010: 8.79%2012: 9.24%2014: 9.67%2016: 10.19%2018: 9.38%2020: 10.41%2022: 8.88%2024: 10.74%
Change over the period: −11.19 pp Annual average: -0.18 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

European Union 10.74%
World 8.89%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — European Union, by year European Union All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 10.74 +0.8 pp
2023 9.94 +1.06 pp
2022 8.88 −0.45 pp
2021 9.32 −1.08 pp
2020 10.41 +0.93 pp
2019 9.48 +0.1 pp
2018 9.38 −0.53 pp
2017 9.91 −0.28 pp
2016 10.19 +0.22 pp
2015 9.97 +0.31 pp
2014 9.67 −0.01 pp
2013 9.67 +0.43 pp
2012 9.24 +0.31 pp
2011 8.93 +0.14 pp
2010 8.79 −0.72 pp
2009 9.51 +1.39 pp
2008 8.12 +0.54 pp
2007 7.58 +0.26 pp
2006 7.32 −0.37 pp
2005 7.69 −0.13 pp
2004 7.81 −0.46 pp
2003 8.27 −0.03 pp
2002 8.3 +0.32 pp
2001 7.98 +0.47 pp
2000 7.51 −1.44 pp
1999 8.96 −0.4 pp
1998 9.35 −0.25 pp
1997 9.6 −0.78 pp
1996 10.38 −0.14 pp
1995 10.52 −0.63 pp
1994 11.16 −0.01 pp
1993 11.17 +0.15 pp
1992 11.02 +0.29 pp
1991 10.73 +0.3 pp
1990 10.43 −0.25 pp
1989 10.68 −1.12 pp
1988 11.81 −0.07 pp
1987 11.87 −0.51 pp
1986 12.39 +0.6 pp
1985 11.79 −0.26 pp
1984 12.05 −0.25 pp
1983 12.29 +0.1 pp
1982 12.2 +0.3 pp
1981 11.9 +0.2 pp
1980 11.7 −1.24 pp
1979 12.94 −1.42 pp
1978 14.35 −0.44 pp
1977 14.79 +1.38 pp
1976 13.41 −0.86 pp
1975 14.26 +1.05 pp
1974 13.22 −2.47 pp
1973 15.69 +0.19 pp
1972 15.5 −0.77 pp
1971 16.27 +1.3 pp
1970 14.97 −0.78 pp
1969 15.75 −0.71 pp
1968 16.47 −1.11 pp
1967 17.58 −0.98 pp
1966 18.56 +0.1 pp
1965 18.46 +0.68 pp
1964 17.78 −1.25 pp
1963 19.02 −2.91 pp
1962 21.93

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.