Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Western Africa

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Western Africa in 2023 — 14.94%. Since 1963, the indicator has fallen by 2.61 pp.

2023 14.94% −0.34 pp vs 2022
World rank
Period maximum 25.31%2011
Period minimum 11.52%1976

Trend over time

1963–2023 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Western Africa, 1963–20231015202530196319691975198119871993199920052011201720231963: 17.55%1964: 16.8%1967: 17.44%1970: 15.53%1971: 14.61%1972: 16.16%1973: 18.27%1974: 17.14%1975: 12.51%1976: 11.52%1978: 14.82%1979: 16.77%1997: 18.56%1998: 20.52%1999: 22.85%2000: 19.17%2001: 21.66%2002: 21.72%2003: 19.52%2004: 20.71%2005: 18.98%2006: 18.66%2007: 19.65%2008: 14.26%2009: 16.13%2010: 14.05%2011: 25.31%2012: 20.6%2013: 18.23%2014: 18.93%2015: 18.03%2016: 18.07%2017: 20.41%2018: 17.63%2019: 15.08%2020: 18.87%2021: 18.25%2022: 15.28%2023: 14.94%
Change over the period: −2.61 pp Annual average: -0.04 pp

Comparison, 2023

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

Western Africa 14.94%
World 8.68%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Western Africa, by year Western Africa All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2023 14.94 −0.34 pp
2022 15.28 −2.97 pp
2021 18.25 −0.62 pp
2020 18.87 +3.79 pp
2019 15.08 −2.54 pp
2018 17.63 −2.78 pp
2017 20.41 +2.34 pp
2016 18.07 +0.05 pp
2015 18.03 −0.91 pp
2014 18.93 +0.71 pp
2013 18.23 −2.38 pp
2012 20.6 −4.7 pp
2011 25.31 +11.26 pp
2010 14.05 −2.09 pp
2009 16.13 +1.87 pp
2008 14.26 −5.39 pp
2007 19.65 +0.99 pp
2006 18.66 −0.32 pp
2005 18.98 −1.74 pp
2004 20.71 +1.19 pp
2003 19.52 −2.2 pp
2002 21.72 +0.06 pp
2001 21.66 +2.49 pp
2000 19.17 −3.68 pp
1999 22.85 +2.33 pp
1998 20.52 +1.95 pp
1997 18.56
1979 16.77 +1.96 pp
1978 14.82
1976 11.52 −0.99 pp
1975 12.51 −4.63 pp
1974 17.14 −1.13 pp
1973 18.27 +2.11 pp
1972 16.16 +1.54 pp
1971 14.61 −0.92 pp
1970 15.53
1967 17.44
1964 16.8 −0.76 pp
1963 17.55

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.