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Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Northern Africa

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Northern Africa in 2018 — 16.17%. Since 1965, the indicator has fallen by 10.01 pp.

2018 16.17% −1.6 pp vs 2017
World rank —
Period maximum 31.1%1967
Period minimum 14.33%2009

Trend over time

1965–2018 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Northern Africa, 1965–201810152025303519651971197719831989199520012007201320181965: 26.19%1966: 25.73%1967: 31.1%1968: 23.03%1969: 18.46%1970: 19.5%1971: 22.3%1972: 21.98%1973: 21.32%1974: 25.29%1975: 24.68%1976: 19.28%1977: 18.2%1978: 19.2%1979: 18.99%1980: 21.63%1981: 22.87%1982: 20.93%1983: 21.08%1984: 21.01%1985: 22.86%1986: 23.22%1987: 23.1%1995: 23.31%1996: 23.19%1997: 21.8%1998: 19.18%1999: 18.78%2000: 19.61%2001: 19.29%2002: 19.86%2003: 16.83%2004: 16.32%2005: 15.08%2006: 14.35%2007: 15.72%2008: 15.78%2009: 14.33%2010: 15.3%2011: 18.91%2012: 17.85%2013: 15.69%2014: 17.56%2015: 16.8%2016: 18.67%2017: 17.78%2018: 16.17%
Change over the period: −10.01 pp Annual average: -0.19 pp

Comparison, 2018

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

Northern Africa 16.17%
World 8.11%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Northern Africa, by year Northern Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2018 16.17 −1.6 pp
2017 17.78 −0.9 pp
2016 18.67 +1.87 pp
2015 16.8 −0.76 pp
2014 17.56 +1.88 pp
2013 15.69 −2.17 pp
2012 17.85 −1.06 pp
2011 18.91 +3.61 pp
2010 15.3 +0.97 pp
2009 14.33 −1.44 pp
2008 15.78 +0.06 pp
2007 15.72 +1.37 pp
2006 14.35 −0.73 pp
2005 15.08 −1.24 pp
2004 16.32 −0.51 pp
2003 16.83 −3.04 pp
2002 19.86 +0.58 pp
2001 19.29 −0.32 pp
2000 19.61 +0.83 pp
1999 18.78 −0.4 pp
1998 19.18 −2.62 pp
1997 21.8 −1.39 pp
1996 23.19 −0.11 pp
1995 23.31 —
1987 23.1 −0.13 pp
1986 23.22 +0.36 pp
1985 22.86 +1.85 pp
1984 21.01 −0.07 pp
1983 21.08 +0.15 pp
1982 20.93 −1.94 pp
1981 22.87 +1.24 pp
1980 21.63 +2.65 pp
1979 18.99 −0.22 pp
1978 19.2 +1 pp
1977 18.2 −1.08 pp
1976 19.28 −5.4 pp
1975 24.68 −0.62 pp
1974 25.29 +3.97 pp
1973 21.32 −0.67 pp
1972 21.98 −0.31 pp
1971 22.3 +2.8 pp
1970 19.5 +1.04 pp
1969 18.46 −4.57 pp
1968 23.03 −8.07 pp
1967 31.1 +5.37 pp
1966 25.73 −0.46 pp
1965 26.19 —

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 Northern Africa

Trade Food exports (% of merchandise exports)

What part of merchandise exports is food and farm produce.

Northern Africa by year Trade Fuel imports (% of merchandise imports)

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

Northern Africa by year Trade Merchandise imports

Imports of goods only, without services — WTO data.

Northern Africa by year
All indicators for Northern Africa