Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Central America

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Central America in 2024 — 8.25%. Since 1965, the indicator has risen by 0.22 pp.

2024 8.25% +0.17 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 17.59%1983
Period minimum 5.68%2000

Trend over time

1965–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Central America, 1965–202405101520196519711977198319891995200120072013201920241965: 8.03%1966: 7.82%1967: 7.42%1968: 7.24%1969: 6.56%1970: 8.82%1971: 8.56%1972: 8.87%1973: 11.11%1974: 13.89%1975: 12.03%1976: 8.15%1977: 10.91%1978: 10.44%1979: 9.31%1980: 14.86%1981: 13.26%1982: 11.25%1983: 17.59%1984: 14.54%1985: 12.06%1986: 9.7%1987: 10.82%1993: 8.5%1994: 8.97%1995: 7.42%1996: 8.71%1997: 7.18%1998: 6.89%1999: 6.44%2000: 5.68%2001: 6.72%2002: 6.98%2003: 7.44%2004: 7.24%2005: 6.93%2006: 6.5%2007: 7.27%2008: 7.71%2009: 8.33%2010: 7.48%2011: 7.87%2012: 7.24%2013: 7.41%2014: 7.57%2015: 7.19%2016: 7.42%2017: 7.16%2018: 6.88%2019: 7.07%2020: 8.22%2021: 8.11%2022: 7.65%2023: 8.08%2024: 8.25%
Change over the period: +0.22 pp Annual average: 0 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Central America 8.25%
World 8.89%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Central America, by year Central America All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 8.25 +0.17 pp
2023 8.08 +0.44 pp
2022 7.65 −0.46 pp
2021 8.11 −0.12 pp
2020 8.22 +1.16 pp
2019 7.07 +0.19 pp
2018 6.88 −0.28 pp
2017 7.16 −0.26 pp
2016 7.42 +0.22 pp
2015 7.19 −0.38 pp
2014 7.57 +0.16 pp
2013 7.41 +0.17 pp
2012 7.24 −0.63 pp
2011 7.87 +0.39 pp
2010 7.48 −0.85 pp
2009 8.33 +0.62 pp
2008 7.71 +0.44 pp
2007 7.27 +0.76 pp
2006 6.5 −0.43 pp
2005 6.93 −0.3 pp
2004 7.24 −0.2 pp
2003 7.44 +0.45 pp
2002 6.98 +0.26 pp
2001 6.72 +1.04 pp
2000 5.68 −0.76 pp
1999 6.44 −0.45 pp
1998 6.89 −0.28 pp
1997 7.18 −1.53 pp
1996 8.71 +1.29 pp
1995 7.42 −1.55 pp
1994 8.97 +0.47 pp
1993 8.5
1987 10.82 +1.12 pp
1986 9.7 −2.35 pp
1985 12.06 −2.49 pp
1984 14.54 −3.04 pp
1983 17.59 +6.34 pp
1982 11.25 −2.02 pp
1981 13.26 −1.6 pp
1980 14.86 +5.55 pp
1979 9.31 −1.13 pp
1978 10.44 −0.46 pp
1977 10.91 +2.76 pp
1976 8.15 −3.88 pp
1975 12.03 −1.86 pp
1974 13.89 +2.78 pp
1973 11.11 +2.24 pp
1972 8.87 +0.3 pp
1971 8.56 −0.26 pp
1970 8.82 +2.26 pp
1969 6.56 −0.68 pp
1968 7.24 −0.18 pp
1967 7.42 −0.39 pp
1966 7.82 −0.22 pp
1965 8.03

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.