Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Latin America & Caribbean

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Latin America & Caribbean in 2024 — 9.06%. Since 1962, the indicator has fallen by 1.65 pp.

2024 9.06% −0.03 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 15.4%1983
Period minimum 6.47%2006

Trend over time

1962–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Latin America & Caribbean, 1962–202457.51012.51517.519621969197619831990199720042011201820241962: 10.71%1963: 11.55%1964: 12.05%1965: 10.82%1966: 10.46%1967: 10.21%1968: 9.53%1969: 9.02%1970: 9.75%1971: 9.21%1972: 10.01%1973: 12.45%1974: 14.05%1975: 11.27%1976: 9.84%1977: 11.06%1978: 11.31%1979: 10.81%1980: 13.37%1981: 11.74%1982: 10.94%1983: 15.4%1984: 13.24%1985: 11.08%1986: 10.64%1987: 9.81%1991: 10.26%1992: 9.44%1993: 9.02%1994: 9.7%1995: 8.74%1996: 9.85%1997: 8.45%1998: 8.69%1999: 8.37%2000: 7.49%2001: 7.96%2002: 8.37%2003: 8.69%2004: 7.87%2005: 7.06%2006: 6.47%2007: 7.06%2008: 7.62%2009: 8.26%2010: 7.48%2011: 7.68%2012: 7.37%2013: 7.54%2014: 7.51%2015: 7.45%2016: 8.63%2017: 8.24%2018: 8%2019: 8.17%2020: 9.78%2021: 9.12%2022: 8.65%2023: 9.1%2024: 9.06%
Change over the period: −1.65 pp Annual average: -0.03 pp

Comparison, 2024

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Latin America & Caribbean

Latin America & Caribbean 9.06%
World 8.89%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Latin America & Caribbean, by year Latin America & Caribbean All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 9.06 −0.03 pp
2023 9.1 +0.45 pp
2022 8.65 −0.47 pp
2021 9.12 −0.66 pp
2020 9.78 +1.61 pp
2019 8.17 +0.16 pp
2018 8 −0.23 pp
2017 8.24 −0.4 pp
2016 8.63 +1.18 pp
2015 7.45 −0.06 pp
2014 7.51 −0.03 pp
2013 7.54 +0.18 pp
2012 7.37 −0.32 pp
2011 7.68 +0.2 pp
2010 7.48 −0.78 pp
2009 8.26 +0.64 pp
2008 7.62 +0.57 pp
2007 7.06 +0.58 pp
2006 6.47 −0.58 pp
2005 7.06 −0.81 pp
2004 7.87 −0.82 pp
2003 8.69 +0.31 pp
2002 8.37 +0.41 pp
2001 7.96 +0.47 pp
2000 7.49 −0.89 pp
1999 8.37 −0.32 pp
1998 8.69 +0.24 pp
1997 8.45 −1.39 pp
1996 9.85 +1.1 pp
1995 8.74 −0.96 pp
1994 9.7 +0.68 pp
1993 9.02 −0.42 pp
1992 9.44 −0.82 pp
1991 10.26
1987 9.81 −0.83 pp
1986 10.64 −0.44 pp
1985 11.08 −2.16 pp
1984 13.24 −2.15 pp
1983 15.4 +4.46 pp
1982 10.94 −0.79 pp
1981 11.74 −1.63 pp
1980 13.37 +2.56 pp
1979 10.81 −0.5 pp
1978 11.31 +0.25 pp
1977 11.06 +1.22 pp
1976 9.84 −1.43 pp
1975 11.27 −2.78 pp
1974 14.05 +1.6 pp
1973 12.45 +2.44 pp
1972 10.01 +0.8 pp
1971 9.21 −0.54 pp
1970 9.75 +0.73 pp
1969 9.02 −0.51 pp
1968 9.53 −0.69 pp
1967 10.21 −0.25 pp
1966 10.46 −0.36 pp
1965 10.82 −1.23 pp
1964 12.05 +0.49 pp
1963 11.55 +0.84 pp
1962 10.71

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.