Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Syria

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Syria in 2010 — 21.04%. Ranked 29 in the world out of 173. Since 1974, the indicator has fallen by 7.1 pp.

2010 21.04% −1.82 pp vs 2009
World rank 29of 173
Period maximum 28.14%1974
Period minimum 11.85%1977

Trend over time

1974–2010 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Syria, 1974–2010101520253019741978198219861990199419982002200620101974: 28.14%1975: 21.38%1976: 17.18%1977: 11.85%1978: 18.02%1979: 13.62%1980: 14.1%1981: 15.63%1982: 14.46%1983: 19.8%1984: 18.82%1985: 18.96%1986: 17.16%1987: 16.39%2000: 19.33%2001: 12.35%2002: 16.3%2003: 18.95%2004: 16.72%2005: 17.78%2006: 13.23%2007: 12.61%2008: 14.02%2009: 22.86%2010: 21.04%
Change over the period: −7.1 pp Annual average: -0.2 pp

Comparison, 2010

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

Syria 21.04%
World 7.39%
Western Asia computed 9.21%
Low-income countries computed 18.67%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — Syria, by year Syria All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2010 21.04 −1.82 pp
2009 22.86 +8.84 pp
2008 14.02 +1.41 pp
2007 12.61 −0.62 pp
2006 13.23 −4.55 pp
2005 17.78 +1.06 pp
2004 16.72 −2.23 pp
2003 18.95 +2.65 pp
2002 16.3 +3.95 pp
2001 12.35 −6.98 pp
2000 19.33
1987 16.39 −0.77 pp
1986 17.16 −1.8 pp
1985 18.96 +0.14 pp
1984 18.82 −0.98 pp
1983 19.8 +5.34 pp
1982 14.46 −1.16 pp
1981 15.63 +1.53 pp
1980 14.1 +0.48 pp
1979 13.62 −4.4 pp
1978 18.02 +6.17 pp
1977 11.85 −5.33 pp
1976 17.18 −4.2 pp
1975 21.38 −6.76 pp
1974 28.14

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.