Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Malawi

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Malawi in 2024 — 11.8%. Ranked 78 in the world out of 131. Since 1966, the indicator has fallen by 7.63 pp.

2024 11.8% +2.85 pp vs 2023
World rank 78of 131
Period maximum 23.52%2002
Period minimum 5.1%1978

Trend over time

1966–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Malawi, 1966–20240102030196619721978198419901996200220082014202020241966: 19.42%1967: 16.91%1968: 13.6%1969: 12.29%1970: 18.11%1971: 12.3%1972: 12.05%1973: 14.33%1974: 12.25%1975: 9.41%1976: 10.39%1977: 8.12%1978: 5.1%1979: 6.37%1980: 7.51%1981: 10.95%1982: 7.59%1983: 8.19%1984: 7.56%1985: 7.64%1986: 6.6%1987: 7.63%1990: 8.68%1991: 8.16%1994: 16.69%1995: 13.93%1999: 12.16%2000: 9.84%2001: 11.63%2002: 23.52%2003: 17.36%2004: 17.37%2005: 18.23%2006: 15.15%2007: 11.11%2008: 13.07%2009: 12.67%2010: 14.4%2011: 13.03%2012: 6.4%2013: 11.43%2014: 11.32%2015: 13.26%2016: 17.56%2017: 12.54%2018: 10.33%2019: 10.99%2020: 14.71%2021: 10.42%2022: 9.58%2023: 8.94%2024: 11.8%
Change over the period: −7.63 pp Annual average: -0.13 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Malawi 11.8%
World 8.89%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Malawi, by year Malawi All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 11.8 +2.85 pp
2023 8.94 −0.63 pp
2022 9.58 −0.84 pp
2021 10.42 −4.29 pp
2020 14.71 +3.72 pp
2019 10.99 +0.66 pp
2018 10.33 −2.21 pp
2017 12.54 −5.02 pp
2016 17.56 +4.3 pp
2015 13.26 +1.94 pp
2014 11.32 −0.11 pp
2013 11.43 +5.03 pp
2012 6.4 −6.64 pp
2011 13.03 −1.37 pp
2010 14.4 +1.74 pp
2009 12.67 −0.41 pp
2008 13.07 +1.97 pp
2007 11.11 −4.04 pp
2006 15.15 −3.08 pp
2005 18.23 +0.86 pp
2004 17.37 +0.01 pp
2003 17.36 −6.16 pp
2002 23.52 +11.88 pp
2001 11.63 +1.8 pp
2000 9.84 −2.33 pp
1999 12.16
1995 13.93 −2.77 pp
1994 16.69
1991 8.16 −0.52 pp
1990 8.68
1987 7.63 +1.03 pp
1986 6.6 −1.04 pp
1985 7.64 +0.08 pp
1984 7.56 −0.63 pp
1983 8.19 +0.6 pp
1982 7.59 −3.36 pp
1981 10.95 +3.44 pp
1980 7.51 +1.15 pp
1979 6.37 +1.26 pp
1978 5.1 −3.01 pp
1977 8.12 −2.27 pp
1976 10.39 +0.98 pp
1975 9.41 −2.85 pp
1974 12.25 −2.08 pp
1973 14.33 +2.28 pp
1972 12.05 −0.26 pp
1971 12.3 −5.81 pp
1970 18.11 +5.82 pp
1969 12.29 −1.31 pp
1968 13.6 −3.31 pp
1967 16.91 −2.51 pp
1966 19.42

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.