Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — South Asia

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in South Asia in 2024 — 5.6%. Since 1962, the indicator has fallen by 12.47 pp.

2024 5.6% +0.32 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 34.78%1966
Period minimum 4.36%2008

Trend over time

1962–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — South Asia, 1962–202401020304019621969197619831990199720042011201820241962: 18.07%1964: 18.47%1966: 34.78%1968: 26.01%1970: 22.12%1972: 11.34%1974: 20.72%1976: 27.54%1978: 15.02%1980: 10.72%1983: 12.7%1985: 10.41%1987: 10.17%1989: 5.5%1991: 4.67%1993: 4.76%1995: 5.58%1997: 6.44%1999: 7.26%2001: 6.82%2003: 7.27%2005: 4.78%2007: 5.38%2009: 5.93%2011: 5.41%2013: 5.42%2015: 6.84%2017: 7.39%2019: 4.62%2021: 5.76%2023: 5.29%2024: 5.6%
Change over the period: −12.47 pp Annual average: -0.2 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

South Asia 5.6%
World 8.89%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — South Asia, by year South Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 5.6 +0.32 pp
2023 5.29 −0.12 pp
2022 5.41 −0.35 pp
2021 5.76 −0.56 pp
2020 6.32 +1.7 pp
2019 4.62 −0.35 pp
2018 4.97 −2.43 pp
2017 7.39 −0.02 pp
2016 7.41 +0.57 pp
2015 6.84 +1.98 pp
2014 4.86 −0.56 pp
2013 5.42 +0.22 pp
2012 5.2 −0.21 pp
2011 5.41 −0.09 pp
2010 5.49 −0.43 pp
2009 5.93 +1.56 pp
2008 4.36 −1.02 pp
2007 5.38 +0.81 pp
2006 4.58 −0.21 pp
2005 4.78 −0.95 pp
2004 5.73 −1.54 pp
2003 7.27 +0.49 pp
2002 6.78 −0.04 pp
2001 6.82 +0.86 pp
2000 5.96 −1.3 pp
1999 7.26 −1.51 pp
1998 8.77 +2.34 pp
1997 6.44 +0.53 pp
1996 5.91 +0.33 pp
1995 5.58 −0.91 pp
1994 6.49 +1.73 pp
1993 4.76 −0.87 pp
1992 5.63 +0.97 pp
1991 4.67 −0.68 pp
1990 5.35 −0.15 pp
1989 5.5 −2.56 pp
1988 8.05 −2.11 pp
1987 10.17 +1.33 pp
1986 8.84 −1.57 pp
1985 10.41 −1.76 pp
1984 12.17 −0.54 pp
1983 12.7
1981 10.06 −0.66 pp
1980 10.72 −0.21 pp
1979 10.93 −4.09 pp
1978 15.02 −2.29 pp
1977 17.32 −10.22 pp
1976 27.54 −4.69 pp
1975 32.23 +11.51 pp
1974 20.72 +0.64 pp
1973 20.07 +8.73 pp
1972 11.34 −4.72 pp
1971 16.06 −6.06 pp
1970 22.12 −1.85 pp
1969 23.97 −2.04 pp
1968 26.01 −6.7 pp
1967 32.71 −2.07 pp
1966 34.78 +11.88 pp
1965 22.9 +4.43 pp
1964 18.47 +1.98 pp
1963 16.48 −1.59 pp
1962 18.07

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.