Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — North America

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in North America in 2024 — 7.29%. Since 1962, the indicator has fallen by 14.4 pp.

2024 7.29% +0.24 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 21.77%1963
Period minimum 4.11%2000

Trend over time

1962–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — North America, 1962–2024010203019621969197619831990199720042011201820241962: 21.69%1964: 20.61%1966: 17.22%1968: 15.5%1970: 14.95%1972: 12.77%1974: 10.79%1976: 9.87%1978: 9.39%1980: 8.1%1982: 7.84%1984: 7.08%1986: 7%1989: 5.72%1991: 5.99%1993: 5.47%1995: 4.93%1997: 5.08%1999: 4.7%2001: 4.49%2003: 4.91%2005: 4.43%2007: 4.64%2009: 5.83%2011: 5.37%2013: 5.62%2015: 6.2%2017: 6.42%2019: 6.5%2021: 6.94%2023: 7.05%2024: 7.29%
Change over the period: −14.4 pp Annual average: -0.23 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

North America 7.29%
World 8.89%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — North America, by year North America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 7.29 +0.24 pp
2023 7.05 +0.14 pp
2022 6.92 −0.03 pp
2021 6.94 −0.24 pp
2020 7.19 +0.69 pp
2019 6.5 +0.23 pp
2018 6.27 −0.15 pp
2017 6.42 −0.07 pp
2016 6.49 +0.29 pp
2015 6.2 +0.33 pp
2014 5.87 +0.25 pp
2013 5.62 +0.25 pp
2012 5.37 +0.01 pp
2011 5.37 +0.07 pp
2010 5.3 −0.53 pp
2009 5.83 +1.1 pp
2008 4.72 +0.08 pp
2007 4.64 +0.2 pp
2006 4.44 +0 pp
2005 4.43 −0.17 pp
2004 4.6 −0.31 pp
2003 4.91 +0.08 pp
2002 4.83 +0.33 pp
2001 4.49 +0.38 pp
2000 4.11 −0.59 pp
1999 4.7 −0.28 pp
1998 4.99 −0.09 pp
1997 5.08 +0.01 pp
1996 5.06 +0.13 pp
1995 4.93 −0.26 pp
1994 5.19 −0.28 pp
1993 5.47 −0.35 pp
1992 5.82 −0.17 pp
1991 5.99 +0.13 pp
1990 5.86 +0.14 pp
1989 5.72
1987 6.41 −0.58 pp
1986 7 +0.13 pp
1985 6.87 −0.21 pp
1984 7.08 −0.64 pp
1983 7.72 −0.12 pp
1982 7.84 +0.23 pp
1981 7.61 −0.5 pp
1980 8.1 −0.78 pp
1979 8.89 −0.5 pp
1978 9.39 −0.3 pp
1977 9.69 −0.18 pp
1976 9.87 −0.58 pp
1975 10.44 −0.34 pp
1974 10.79 −2.22 pp
1973 13.01 +0.24 pp
1972 12.77 −0.73 pp
1971 13.51 −1.45 pp
1970 14.95 +0.82 pp
1969 14.13 −1.37 pp
1968 15.5 −1.21 pp
1967 16.7 −0.51 pp
1966 17.22 −0.86 pp
1965 18.08 −2.54 pp
1964 20.61 −1.16 pp
1963 21.77 +0.08 pp
1962 21.69

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.