Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Kenya

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Kenya in 2024 — 16.26%. Ranked 42 in the world out of 131. Since 1976, the indicator has risen by 8.39 pp.

2024 16.26% −2.57 pp vs 2023
World rank 42of 131
Period maximum 19.79%1994
Period minimum 5.84%1977

Trend over time

1976–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Kenya, 1976–202405101520197619811986199119962001200620112016202120241976: 7.87%1977: 5.84%1978: 6.86%1979: 6.32%1980: 7.73%1981: 6.13%1982: 7.71%1983: 9.45%1984: 12.2%1985: 9.7%1986: 9.27%1987: 7.19%1990: 9.33%1991: 9.77%1992: 16.98%1993: 13.61%1994: 19.79%1995: 10.09%1996: 12.03%1997: 16.68%1998: 14.42%1999: 11.88%2000: 13.95%2001: 13.37%2002: 11.27%2003: 12.19%2004: 10.39%2005: 9.48%2006: 9.23%2007: 11.01%2008: 11.64%2009: 15.4%2010: 12.05%2013: 10.72%2015: 11.28%2016: 12.36%2017: 18.9%2018: 14.05%2019: 14.62%2020: 16.84%2021: 15.98%2022: 16.41%2023: 18.82%2024: 16.26%
Change over the period: +8.39 pp Annual average: 0.17 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Kenya 16.26%
World 8.89%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Kenya, by year Kenya All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 16.26 −2.57 pp
2023 18.82 +2.41 pp
2022 16.41 +0.44 pp
2021 15.98 −0.86 pp
2020 16.84 +2.22 pp
2019 14.62 +0.57 pp
2018 14.05 −4.85 pp
2017 18.9 +6.54 pp
2016 12.36 +1.08 pp
2015 11.28
2013 10.72
2010 12.05 −3.34 pp
2009 15.4 +3.76 pp
2008 11.64 +0.62 pp
2007 11.01 +1.78 pp
2006 9.23 −0.24 pp
2005 9.48 −0.92 pp
2004 10.39 −1.8 pp
2003 12.19 +0.92 pp
2002 11.27 −2.1 pp
2001 13.37 −0.58 pp
2000 13.95 +2.06 pp
1999 11.88 −2.54 pp
1998 14.42 −2.26 pp
1997 16.68 +4.65 pp
1996 12.03 +1.94 pp
1995 10.09 −9.7 pp
1994 19.79 +6.18 pp
1993 13.61 −3.37 pp
1992 16.98 +7.21 pp
1991 9.77 +0.44 pp
1990 9.33
1987 7.19 −2.08 pp
1986 9.27 −0.42 pp
1985 9.7 −2.51 pp
1984 12.2 +2.76 pp
1983 9.45 +1.74 pp
1982 7.71 +1.58 pp
1981 6.13 −1.61 pp
1980 7.73 +1.42 pp
1979 6.32 −0.55 pp
1978 6.86 +1.02 pp
1977 5.84 −2.03 pp
1976 7.87

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.