Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Western Europe

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Western Europe in 2024 — 10.22%. Since 1963, the indicator has fallen by 9.41 pp.

2024 10.22% +1.03 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 19.63%1963
Period minimum 7.1%2006

Trend over time

1963–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Western Europe, 1963–2024510152019631970197719841991199820052012201920241963: 19.63%1965: 19.01%1967: 17.91%1969: 16.31%1971: 16.67%1973: 15.55%1975: 14.06%1977: 14.94%1979: 12.64%1981: 11.74%1983: 12.01%1985: 11.62%1987: 11.43%1989: 10.19%1991: 9.98%1993: 10.5%1995: 10.25%1997: 9.38%1999: 8.94%2001: 7.82%2003: 8.23%2005: 7.46%2007: 7.27%2009: 8.86%2011: 8.56%2013: 8.9%2015: 9.38%2017: 9.32%2019: 8.9%2021: 8.86%2023: 9.19%2024: 10.22%
Change over the period: −9.41 pp Annual average: -0.15 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

Western Europe 10.22%
World 8.89%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Western Europe, by year Western Europe All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 10.22 +1.03 pp
2023 9.19 +0.88 pp
2022 8.32 −0.54 pp
2021 8.86 −0.9 pp
2020 9.76 +0.87 pp
2019 8.9 +0 pp
2018 8.89 −0.42 pp
2017 9.32 −0.14 pp
2016 9.46 +0.08 pp
2015 9.38 +0.3 pp
2014 9.08 +0.18 pp
2013 8.9 +0.34 pp
2012 8.56 +0 pp
2011 8.56 +0.17 pp
2010 8.4 −0.47 pp
2009 8.86 +1.02 pp
2008 7.84 +0.57 pp
2007 7.27 +0.18 pp
2006 7.1 −0.37 pp
2005 7.46 −0.2 pp
2004 7.66 −0.57 pp
2003 8.23 −0.04 pp
2002 8.27 +0.45 pp
2001 7.82 +0.46 pp
2000 7.36 −1.58 pp
1999 8.94 −0.24 pp
1998 9.19 −0.19 pp
1997 9.38 −0.79 pp
1996 10.17 −0.08 pp
1995 10.25 −0.52 pp
1994 10.77 +0.27 pp
1993 10.5 +0.19 pp
1992 10.32 +0.34 pp
1991 9.98 +0.18 pp
1990 9.8 −0.39 pp
1989 10.19 −1.01 pp
1988 11.2 −0.23 pp
1987 11.43 −0.52 pp
1986 11.95 +0.33 pp
1985 11.62 −0.24 pp
1984 11.86 −0.14 pp
1983 12.01 +0.04 pp
1982 11.97 +0.23 pp
1981 11.74 +0.28 pp
1980 11.46 −1.19 pp
1979 12.64 −1.65 pp
1978 14.3 −0.65 pp
1977 14.94 +1.68 pp
1976 13.27 −0.8 pp
1975 14.06 +1.07 pp
1974 12.99 −2.55 pp
1973 15.55 +0.19 pp
1972 15.36 −1.32 pp
1971 16.67 +1.33 pp
1970 15.34 −0.97 pp
1969 16.31 −0.47 pp
1968 16.78 −1.12 pp
1967 17.91 −1.04 pp
1966 18.95 −0.06 pp
1965 19.01 +0.15 pp
1964 18.86 −0.77 pp
1963 19.63

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.