Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — G20

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in the G20 in 2024 — 8.15%. Since 1962, the indicator has fallen by 14.93 pp.

2024 8.15% +0.06 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 23.08%1962
Period minimum 5.93%2006

Trend over time

1962–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — G20, 1962–2024010203019621969197619831990199720042011201820241962: 23.08%1964: 21.49%1966: 20.39%1968: 17.39%1970: 16.26%1972: 15.55%1974: 13.04%1976: 12.68%1978: 12.9%1980: 10.6%1982: 10.49%1984: 10.11%1986: 10.48%1989: 9.31%1991: 9.49%1993: 8.88%1995: 8.66%1997: 8.15%1999: 7.55%2001: 6.88%2003: 7.11%2005: 6.29%2007: 6.16%2009: 7.44%2011: 6.65%2013: 7%2015: 7.54%2017: 7.6%2019: 7.52%2021: 7.86%2023: 8.09%2024: 8.15%
Change over the period: −14.93 pp Annual average: -0.24 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: G20

G20 8.15%
World 8.89%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — G20, by year G20 All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 8.15 +0.06 pp
2023 8.09 +0.49 pp
2022 7.6 −0.26 pp
2021 7.86 −0.56 pp
2020 8.42 +0.9 pp
2019 7.52 +0.27 pp
2018 7.25 −0.35 pp
2017 7.6 −0.23 pp
2016 7.83 +0.29 pp
2015 7.54 +0.37 pp
2014 7.17 +0.17 pp
2013 7 +0.28 pp
2012 6.73 +0.08 pp
2011 6.65 −0.02 pp
2010 6.67 −0.77 pp
2009 7.44 +1.01 pp
2008 6.43 +0.27 pp
2007 6.16 +0.22 pp
2006 5.93 −0.36 pp
2005 6.29 −0.34 pp
2004 6.62 −0.48 pp
2003 7.11 −0.02 pp
2002 7.13 +0.25 pp
2001 6.88 +0.44 pp
2000 6.44 −1.11 pp
1999 7.55 −0.6 pp
1998 8.15 +0 pp
1997 8.15 −0.63 pp
1996 8.78 +0.12 pp
1995 8.66 −0.27 pp
1994 8.93 +0.05 pp
1993 8.88 −0.44 pp
1992 9.31 −0.18 pp
1991 9.49 +0.33 pp
1990 9.16 −0.15 pp
1989 9.31
1987 10.04 −0.44 pp
1986 10.48 +0.77 pp
1985 9.7 −0.41 pp
1984 10.11 −0.56 pp
1983 10.67 +0.18 pp
1982 10.49 +0.02 pp
1981 10.46 −0.14 pp
1980 10.6 −1.25 pp
1979 11.85 −1.05 pp
1978 12.9 −0.4 pp
1977 13.3 +0.62 pp
1976 12.68 −1.16 pp
1975 13.84 +0.81 pp
1974 13.04 −2.84 pp
1973 15.88 +0.33 pp
1972 15.55 −0.9 pp
1971 16.45 +0.19 pp
1970 16.26 −0.23 pp
1969 16.49 −0.9 pp
1968 17.39 −1.57 pp
1967 18.96 −1.43 pp
1966 20.39 −0.2 pp
1965 20.59 −0.9 pp
1964 21.49 −0.96 pp
1963 22.45 −0.63 pp
1962 23.08

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.