Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Middle East & North Africa

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Middle East & North Africa in 2023 — 11.75%. Since 1972, the indicator has fallen by 5.17 pp.

2023 11.75% −1.34 pp vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 23.14%1974
Period minimum 10.39%2006

Trend over time

1972–2023 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Middle East & North Africa, 1972–20231015202519721978198419901996200220082014202020231972: 16.91%1973: 17.19%1974: 23.14%1975: 19.77%1976: 15.86%1977: 14.48%1978: 14.1%1979: 14.65%1980: 15.27%1981: 15.44%1982: 13.84%1983: 14.57%1984: 17.42%1985: 17.83%1986: 18.57%1987: 18.08%1991: 14.56%1992: 14.63%1993: 14.24%1998: 15.34%1999: 15.62%2000: 14.56%2001: 13.62%2002: 13.04%2003: 12.72%2004: 11.9%2005: 11.17%2006: 10.39%2007: 11.44%2008: 11.07%2009: 11.51%2010: 11.97%2011: 12.74%2012: 11.55%2013: 11.77%2014: 12.06%2015: 12.41%2016: 13.14%2017: 13.46%2018: 13.14%2019: 12.87%2020: 14.05%2021: 12.94%2022: 13.09%2023: 11.75%
Change over the period: −5.17 pp Annual average: -0.1 pp

Comparison, 2023

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: Middle East & North Africa

Middle East & North Africa 11.75%
World 8.68%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Middle East & North Africa, by year Middle East & North Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 11.75 −1.34 pp
2022 13.09 +0.15 pp
2021 12.94 −1.11 pp
2020 14.05 +1.18 pp
2019 12.87 −0.27 pp
2018 13.14 −0.33 pp
2017 13.46 +0.32 pp
2016 13.14 +0.73 pp
2015 12.41 +0.34 pp
2014 12.06 +0.29 pp
2013 11.77 +0.23 pp
2012 11.55 −1.2 pp
2011 12.74 +0.78 pp
2010 11.97 +0.46 pp
2009 11.51 +0.44 pp
2008 11.07 −0.37 pp
2007 11.44 +1.04 pp
2006 10.39 −0.78 pp
2005 11.17 −0.73 pp
2004 11.9 −0.81 pp
2003 12.72 −0.33 pp
2002 13.04 −0.57 pp
2001 13.62 −0.94 pp
2000 14.56 −1.06 pp
1999 15.62 +0.28 pp
1998 15.34
1993 14.24 −0.39 pp
1992 14.63 +0.07 pp
1991 14.56
1987 18.08 −0.49 pp
1986 18.57 +0.74 pp
1985 17.83 +0.4 pp
1984 17.42 +2.85 pp
1983 14.57 +0.73 pp
1982 13.84 −1.6 pp
1981 15.44 +0.17 pp
1980 15.27 +0.63 pp
1979 14.65 +0.55 pp
1978 14.1 −0.38 pp
1977 14.48 −1.37 pp
1976 15.86 −3.91 pp
1975 19.77 −3.37 pp
1974 23.14 +5.95 pp
1973 17.19 +0.28 pp
1972 16.91

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.