Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Western Asia

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Western Asia in 2024 — 10.66%. Since 1975, the indicator has fallen by 4.42 pp.

2024 10.66% +2.02 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 15.07%1975
Period minimum 7.59%2006

Trend over time

1975–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Western Asia, 1975–20246810121416197519801985199019952000200520102015202020241975: 15.07%1976: 12.19%1977: 10.51%1978: 11.28%1979: 12.15%1980: 12.61%1981: 12.7%1982: 11.7%1983: 11.83%1998: 10.75%1999: 11.25%2000: 9.76%2001: 9.8%2002: 9.45%2003: 9.33%2004: 8.35%2005: 8.02%2006: 7.59%2007: 8.03%2008: 8.31%2009: 9.25%2010: 9.21%2011: 8.92%2012: 8.59%2013: 8.67%2014: 9.25%2015: 9.46%2016: 9.57%2017: 9.73%2018: 9.92%2019: 9.71%2020: 10.5%2021: 9.19%2022: 9.24%2023: 8.64%2024: 10.66%
Change over the period: −4.42 pp Annual average: -0.09 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Western Asia 10.66%
World 8.89%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Western Asia, by year Western Asia All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 10.66 +2.02 pp
2023 8.64 −0.6 pp
2022 9.24 +0.04 pp
2021 9.19 −1.31 pp
2020 10.5 +0.79 pp
2019 9.71 −0.21 pp
2018 9.92 +0.19 pp
2017 9.73 +0.16 pp
2016 9.57 +0.11 pp
2015 9.46 +0.21 pp
2014 9.25 +0.58 pp
2013 8.67 +0.09 pp
2012 8.59 −0.33 pp
2011 8.92 −0.29 pp
2010 9.21 −0.04 pp
2009 9.25 +0.94 pp
2008 8.31 +0.28 pp
2007 8.03 +0.44 pp
2006 7.59 −0.43 pp
2005 8.02 −0.33 pp
2004 8.35 −0.98 pp
2003 9.33 −0.12 pp
2002 9.45 −0.35 pp
2001 9.8 +0.04 pp
2000 9.76 −1.49 pp
1999 11.25 +0.5 pp
1998 10.75
1983 11.83 +0.14 pp
1982 11.7 −1.01 pp
1981 12.7 +0.09 pp
1980 12.61 +0.46 pp
1979 12.15 +0.87 pp
1978 11.28 +0.77 pp
1977 10.51 −1.68 pp
1976 12.19 −2.88 pp
1975 15.07

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.