Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Central Asia

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Central Asia in 2024 — 11.23%. Since 1998, the indicator has risen by 0.85 pp.

2024 11.23% +0.17 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 17.06%2022
Period minimum 4.88%2000

Trend over time

1998–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Central Asia, 1998–20240510152019982001200420072010201320162019202220241998: 10.37%1999: 12.72%2000: 4.88%2014: 11.65%2015: 12.29%2016: 12.66%2017: 12.11%2018: 10.78%2019: 10.48%2020: 16.15%2021: 16.11%2022: 17.06%2023: 11.06%2024: 11.23%
Change over the period: +0.85 pp Annual average: 0.03 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Central Asia 11.23%
World 8.89%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Central Asia, by year Central Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 11.23 +0.17 pp
2023 11.06 −6.01 pp
2022 17.06 +0.96 pp
2021 16.11 −0.04 pp
2020 16.15 +5.67 pp
2019 10.48 −0.29 pp
2018 10.78 −1.33 pp
2017 12.11 −0.55 pp
2016 12.66 +0.37 pp
2015 12.29 +0.64 pp
2014 11.65
2000 4.88 −7.85 pp
1999 12.72 +2.35 pp
1998 10.37

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.