Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Kuwait

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Kuwait in 2024 — 17.49%. Ranked 35 in the world out of 131. Since 1970, the indicator has fallen by 2.3 pp.

2024 17.49% +0.38 pp vs 2023
World rank 35of 131
Period maximum 20.76%1971
Period minimum 10.73%1991

Trend over time

1970–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Kuwait, 1970–20241015202519701976198219881994200020062012201820241970: 19.79%1971: 20.76%1972: 20.5%1973: 20%1974: 17.79%1975: 17.07%1976: 14.28%1977: 11.98%1978: 14.61%1979: 15.56%1980: 14.8%1981: 14.62%1982: 13.61%1983: 14%1984: 17.42%1986: 18.03%1987: 19.64%1988: 18.14%1989: 19.35%1990: 16.74%1991: 10.73%1992: 13.36%1993: 15.06%1994: 16.97%1995: 15.53%1996: 15.66%1997: 15.3%1998: 15.1%1999: 16.82%2000: 13.84%2001: 12.6%2002: 12.01%2003: 11.86%2004: 10.99%2006: 14.43%2007: 12.9%2008: 14.61%2010: 15.32%2011: 16.8%2013: 14.96%2014: 15.62%2015: 15.84%2016: 15%2017: 15.05%2018: 15.03%2019: 16.49%2020: 20.05%2021: 16.63%2022: 17.7%2023: 17.11%2024: 17.49%
Change over the period: −2.3 pp Annual average: -0.04 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Kuwait 17.49%
World 8.89%
Western Asia computed 10.66%
High-income countries computed 8.94%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Kuwait, by year Kuwait All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 17.49 +0.38 pp
2023 17.11 −0.59 pp
2022 17.7 +1.07 pp
2021 16.63 −3.42 pp
2020 20.05 +3.57 pp
2019 16.49 +1.46 pp
2018 15.03 −0.03 pp
2017 15.05 +0.05 pp
2016 15 −0.84 pp
2015 15.84 +0.23 pp
2014 15.62 +0.66 pp
2013 14.96
2011 16.8 +1.48 pp
2010 15.32
2008 14.61 +1.71 pp
2007 12.9 −1.52 pp
2006 14.43
2004 10.99 −0.87 pp
2003 11.86 −0.15 pp
2002 12.01 −0.58 pp
2001 12.6 −1.25 pp
2000 13.84 −2.98 pp
1999 16.82 +1.72 pp
1998 15.1 −0.21 pp
1997 15.3 −0.36 pp
1996 15.66 +0.14 pp
1995 15.53 −1.44 pp
1994 16.97 +1.91 pp
1993 15.06 +1.7 pp
1992 13.36 +2.63 pp
1991 10.73 −6.01 pp
1990 16.74 −2.62 pp
1989 19.35 +1.22 pp
1988 18.14 −1.51 pp
1987 19.64 +1.61 pp
1986 18.03
1984 17.42 +3.42 pp
1983 14 +0.39 pp
1982 13.61 −1.01 pp
1981 14.62 −0.18 pp
1980 14.8 −0.75 pp
1979 15.56 +0.94 pp
1978 14.61 +2.63 pp
1977 11.98 −2.3 pp
1976 14.28 −2.79 pp
1975 17.07 −0.72 pp
1974 17.79 −2.21 pp
1973 20 −0.5 pp
1972 20.5 −0.26 pp
1971 20.76 +0.97 pp
1970 19.79

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.