Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Kiribati

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Kiribati in 2021 — 41.44%. Ranked 1 in the world out of 166. Since 1973, the indicator has risen by 4.41 pp.

2021 41.44% −2.25 pp vs 2020
World rank 1of 166
Period maximum 45.11%2011
Period minimum 26.29%1992

Trend over time

1973–2021 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Kiribati, 1973–2021253035404550197319781983198819931998200320082013201820211973: 37.04%1974: 44.63%1975: 39.19%1976: 36.13%1977: 34.11%1978: 33.62%1979: 40.04%1980: 39.46%1983: 32.15%1984: 32.54%1985: 32.63%1986: 32.4%1987: 37.2%1989: 36.04%1990: 31.43%1991: 37.09%1992: 26.29%1993: 35.93%1994: 40.69%1995: 39.4%1996: 40.88%1997: 32.29%1998: 41.36%1999: 36.79%2004: 28.75%2005: 36.43%2006: 37.69%2007: 38.38%2008: 40.52%2009: 42.29%2010: 40.7%2011: 45.11%2012: 33.71%2013: 36.2%2014: 37.96%2015: 32.97%2016: 36.58%2017: 39.39%2018: 37.48%2020: 43.69%2021: 41.44%
Change over the period: +4.41 pp Annual average: 0.09 pp

Comparison, 2021

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

Kiribati 41.44%
World 8.57%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Kiribati, by year Kiribati All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2021 41.44 −2.25 pp
2020 43.69
2018 37.48 −1.91 pp
2017 39.39 +2.81 pp
2016 36.58 +3.6 pp
2015 32.97 −4.99 pp
2014 37.96 +1.76 pp
2013 36.2 +2.5 pp
2012 33.71 −11.4 pp
2011 45.11 +4.4 pp
2010 40.7 −1.58 pp
2009 42.29 +1.76 pp
2008 40.52 +2.15 pp
2007 38.38 +0.69 pp
2006 37.69 +1.26 pp
2005 36.43 +7.68 pp
2004 28.75
1999 36.79 −4.57 pp
1998 41.36 +9.07 pp
1997 32.29 −8.59 pp
1996 40.88 +1.48 pp
1995 39.4 −1.29 pp
1994 40.69 +4.77 pp
1993 35.93 +9.64 pp
1992 26.29 −10.8 pp
1991 37.09 +5.65 pp
1990 31.43 −4.61 pp
1989 36.04
1987 37.2 +4.8 pp
1986 32.4 −0.23 pp
1985 32.63 +0.09 pp
1984 32.54 +0.39 pp
1983 32.15
1980 39.46 −0.58 pp
1979 40.04 +6.43 pp
1978 33.62 −0.5 pp
1977 34.11 −2.02 pp
1976 36.13 −3.07 pp
1975 39.19 −5.43 pp
1974 44.63 +7.59 pp
1973 37.04

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.