Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — United Kingdom

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in the United Kingdom in 2025 — 9.81%. Ranked 15 in the world out of 24. Since 1962, the indicator has fallen by 27.3 pp.

2025 9.81% −0.54 pp vs 2024
World rank 15of 24
Period maximum 37.11%1962
Period minimum 7.77%2000

Trend over time

1962–2025 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — United Kingdom, 1962–202501020304019621969197619831990199720042011201820251962: 37.11%1964: 34%1966: 30.61%1968: 25.48%1970: 24.24%1972: 22.41%1974: 17.9%1976: 17.31%1978: 16.34%1980: 13.18%1982: 13.82%1984: 12.32%1986: 12.49%1988: 10.52%1990: 10.28%1992: 11.18%1994: 10.26%1996: 10.07%1998: 9.34%2000: 7.77%2002: 8.5%2004: 8.81%2006: 8.14%2008: 8.97%2010: 9.02%2012: 8.8%2014: 9.71%2016: 9.27%2018: 9.66%2020: 10.11%2022: 9.06%2024: 10.34%2025: 9.81%
Change over the period: −27.3 pp Annual average: -0.43 pp
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — United Kingdom, by year United Kingdom All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2025 9.81 −0.54 pp
2024 10.34 +0.4 pp
2023 9.94 +0.88 pp
2022 9.06 −0.35 pp
2021 9.41 −0.7 pp
2020 10.11 +0.95 pp
2019 9.15 −0.51 pp
2018 9.66 +0.06 pp
2017 9.61 +0.34 pp
2016 9.27 −0.51 pp
2015 9.78 +0.07 pp
2014 9.71 −0.16 pp
2013 9.87 +1.07 pp
2012 8.8 −0.23 pp
2011 9.03 +0.01 pp
2010 9.02 −0.69 pp
2009 9.7 +0.74 pp
2008 8.97 +0.43 pp
2007 8.54 +0.4 pp
2006 8.14 −0.66 pp
2005 8.8 −0.01 pp
2004 8.81 −0.15 pp
2003 8.96 +0.46 pp
2002 8.5 +0.31 pp
2001 8.19 +0.42 pp
2000 7.77 −1.18 pp
1999 8.96 −0.38 pp
1998 9.34 −0.11 pp
1997 9.45 −0.62 pp
1996 10.07 +0.01 pp
1995 10.06 −0.2 pp
1994 10.26 −0.52 pp
1993 10.78 −0.4 pp
1992 11.18 +0.03 pp
1991 11.15 +0.87 pp
1990 10.28 +0.38 pp
1989 9.9 −0.62 pp
1988 10.52 −1 pp
1987 11.53 −0.97 pp
1986 12.49 +0.59 pp
1985 11.9 −0.41 pp
1984 12.32 −0.64 pp
1983 12.96 −0.87 pp
1982 13.82 −0.28 pp
1981 14.1 +0.92 pp
1980 13.18 −1.53 pp
1979 14.71 −1.63 pp
1978 16.34 −1.53 pp
1977 17.87 +0.56 pp
1976 17.31 −1.97 pp
1975 19.29 +1.39 pp
1974 17.9 −3.11 pp
1973 21.01 −1.4 pp
1972 22.41 −1.23 pp
1971 23.65 −0.6 pp
1970 24.24 −0.36 pp
1969 24.6 −0.88 pp
1968 25.48 −3.47 pp
1967 28.95 −1.66 pp
1966 30.61 −1.04 pp
1965 31.65 −2.35 pp
1964 34 −2.81 pp
1963 36.81 −0.3 pp
1962 37.11

Northern Europe, 2025

The same indicator for neighboring countries — with links to their pages

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.