Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Southern Europe

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Southern Europe in 2024 — 11.96%. Since 2006, the indicator has risen by 3.26 pp.

2024 11.96% +0.34 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 11.96%2024
Period minimum 8.7%2006

Trend over time

2006–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Southern Europe, 2006–20248910111220062008201020122014201620182020202220242006: 8.7%2007: 9.01%2008: 9.39%2009: 11.33%2010: 10.25%2011: 10.39%2012: 10.8%2013: 11.31%2014: 11.34%2015: 11.67%2016: 11.96%2017: 11.6%2018: 10.77%2019: 10.88%2020: 11.89%2021: 10.71%2022: 10.09%2023: 11.61%2024: 11.96%
Change over the period: +3.26 pp Annual average: 0.18 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Southern Europe 11.96%
World 8.89%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Southern Europe, by year Southern Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 11.96 +0.34 pp
2023 11.61 +1.52 pp
2022 10.09 −0.62 pp
2021 10.71 −1.18 pp
2020 11.89 +1 pp
2019 10.88 +0.11 pp
2018 10.77 −0.83 pp
2017 11.6 −0.36 pp
2016 11.96 +0.29 pp
2015 11.67 +0.32 pp
2014 11.34 +0.03 pp
2013 11.31 +0.51 pp
2012 10.8 +0.42 pp
2011 10.39 +0.14 pp
2010 10.25 −1.08 pp
2009 11.33 +1.94 pp
2008 9.39 +0.38 pp
2007 9.01 +0.31 pp
2006 8.7

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.