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Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Saudi Arabia

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Saudi Arabia in 2024 — 12.95%. Ranked 66 in the world out of 131. Since 1968, the indicator has fallen by 18.38 pp.

2024 12.95% −0.45 pp vs 2023
World rank 66of 131
Period maximum 31.33%1968
Period minimum 10.45%1992

Trend over time

1968–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Saudi Arabia, 1968–202401020304019681974198019861992199820042010201620221968: 31.33%1969: 27.78%1974: 19.86%1975: 15.64%1976: 11.82%1977: 10.56%1978: 11.33%1979: 12.71%1980: 14.12%1981: 14.43%1982: 12.93%1983: 12.17%1984: 15.58%1985: 14.94%1986: 16.46%1987: 16.05%1991: 12.84%1992: 10.45%1993: 10.66%1994: 11.56%1995: 16.14%1996: 17.08%1998: 15.5%1999: 17.09%2000: 18.4%2001: 15.74%2002: 16.6%2003: 16.81%2004: 15.99%2005: 14.95%2006: 13.63%2007: 13.28%2008: 14.47%2009: 15.04%2010: 15.95%2011: 15.33%2012: 14.05%2013: 14.54%2014: 14.28%2015: 13.73%2016: 15.78%2017: 15.97%2018: 15.4%2019: 13.92%2020: 16.24%2021: 15.08%2022: 15.52%2023: 13.4%2024: 12.95%
Change over the period: −18.38 pp Annual average: -0.33 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Saudi Arabia 12.95%
World 8.89%
Western Asia computed 10.66%
High-income countries computed 8.94%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Saudi Arabia, by year Saudi Arabia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 12.95 −0.45 pp
2023 13.4 −2.12 pp
2022 15.52 +0.45 pp
2021 15.08 −1.16 pp
2020 16.24 +2.32 pp
2019 13.92 −1.48 pp
2018 15.4 −0.57 pp
2017 15.97 +0.2 pp
2016 15.78 +2.05 pp
2015 13.73 −0.55 pp
2014 14.28 −0.26 pp
2013 14.54 +0.48 pp
2012 14.05 −1.27 pp
2011 15.33 −0.62 pp
2010 15.95 +0.91 pp
2009 15.04 +0.57 pp
2008 14.47 +1.19 pp
2007 13.28 −0.35 pp
2006 13.63 −1.32 pp
2005 14.95 −1.03 pp
2004 15.99 −0.82 pp
2003 16.81 +0.21 pp
2002 16.6 +0.85 pp
2001 15.74 −2.66 pp
2000 18.4 +1.31 pp
1999 17.09 +1.59 pp
1998 15.5 —
1996 17.08 +0.94 pp
1995 16.14 +4.58 pp
1994 11.56 +0.9 pp
1993 10.66 +0.21 pp
1992 10.45 −2.39 pp
1991 12.84 —
1987 16.05 −0.41 pp
1986 16.46 +1.52 pp
1985 14.94 −0.64 pp
1984 15.58 +3.41 pp
1983 12.17 −0.76 pp
1982 12.93 −1.5 pp
1981 14.43 +0.31 pp
1980 14.12 +1.41 pp
1979 12.71 +1.38 pp
1978 11.33 +0.76 pp
1977 10.56 −1.25 pp
1976 11.82 −3.82 pp
1975 15.64 −4.22 pp
1974 19.86 —
1969 27.78 −3.55 pp
1968 31.33 —

Western Asia, 2024

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

JO Jordan 20.67 LB Lebanon 18.55 KW Kuwait 17.49 CY Cyprus 15.27 BH Bahrain 15.01 OM Oman 13.89 AZ Azerbaijan 13.38 SA Saudi Arabia 12.95 GE Georgia 12.46 QA Qatar 11.18 IL Israel 10.55 AM Armenia 8.36 TR Türkiye 6.21
Full table for all countries

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.

Other indicators for Saudi Arabia

Trade Food exports (% of merchandise exports)

What part of merchandise exports is food and farm produce.

Saudi Arabia by year Trade Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports)

What part of merchandise imports a country spends on oil, gas and coal.

Saudi Arabia by year Trade Merchandise imports

Imports of goods only, without services — WTO data.

Saudi Arabia by year
All indicators for Saudi Arabia