Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Melanesia

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Melanesia in 2015 — 17.77%. Since 1970, the indicator has fallen by 5.52 pp.

2015 17.77% +1.67 pp vs 2014
World rank
Period maximum 25.65%1974
Period minimum 13.34%2007

Trend over time

1970–2015 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Melanesia, 1970–2015101520253019701975198019851990199520002005201020151970: 23.3%1971: 20.07%1972: 21.12%1973: 23.47%1974: 25.65%1975: 20.69%1976: 22%1977: 21.68%1978: 22.75%1979: 19.51%1980: 17.97%1981: 18.95%1982: 19.6%1983: 19.15%1984: 19.81%1985: 18.83%1986: 19.08%1987: 18.28%2000: 16.45%2001: 16.84%2002: 17.41%2003: 15.59%2004: 16.08%2005: 14.64%2006: 13.87%2007: 13.34%2008: 14.07%2009: 16.33%2010: 14.98%2011: 14.23%2012: 14.24%2013: 15.09%2014: 16.11%2015: 17.77%
Change over the period: −5.52 pp Annual average: -0.12 pp

Comparison, 2015

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

Melanesia 17.77%
World 8.37%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Melanesia, by year Melanesia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2015 17.77 +1.67 pp
2014 16.11 +1.01 pp
2013 15.09 +0.86 pp
2012 14.24 +0 pp
2011 14.23 −0.75 pp
2010 14.98 −1.35 pp
2009 16.33 +2.25 pp
2008 14.07 +0.74 pp
2007 13.34 −0.53 pp
2006 13.87 −0.77 pp
2005 14.64 −1.45 pp
2004 16.08 +0.5 pp
2003 15.59 −1.83 pp
2002 17.41 +0.57 pp
2001 16.84 +0.39 pp
2000 16.45
1987 18.28 −0.8 pp
1986 19.08 +0.25 pp
1985 18.83 −0.98 pp
1984 19.81 +0.66 pp
1983 19.15 −0.45 pp
1982 19.6 +0.65 pp
1981 18.95 +0.98 pp
1980 17.97 −1.54 pp
1979 19.51 −3.24 pp
1978 22.75 +1.07 pp
1977 21.68 −0.31 pp
1976 22 +1.31 pp
1975 20.69 −4.96 pp
1974 25.65 +2.18 pp
1973 23.47 +2.35 pp
1972 21.12 +1.05 pp
1971 20.07 −3.23 pp
1970 23.3

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.