Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — United States

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in the United States in 2024 — 6.93%. Ranked 119 in the world out of 131. Since 1962, the indicator has fallen by 16.62 pp.

2024 6.93% +0.15 pp vs 2023
World rank 119of 131
Period maximum 23.55%1962
Period minimum 3.93%2000

Trend over time

1962–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — United States, 1962–2024010203019621969197619831990199720042011201820241962: 23.55%1964: 22.28%1966: 18.74%1968: 16.91%1970: 16.12%1972: 13.68%1974: 11.18%1976: 10.18%1978: 9.62%1980: 8.22%1982: 7.87%1984: 7.17%1986: 7.15%1989: 5.71%1991: 5.91%1993: 5.33%1995: 4.78%1997: 4.98%1999: 4.59%2001: 4.25%2003: 4.67%2005: 4.2%2007: 4.35%2009: 5.43%2011: 5.04%2013: 5.27%2015: 5.83%2017: 6.09%2019: 6.18%2021: 6.61%2023: 6.78%2024: 6.93%
Change over the period: −16.62 pp Annual average: -0.27 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

United States 6.93%
World 8.89%
Northern America computed 7.27%
High-income countries computed 8.94%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — United States, by year United States All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 6.93 +0.15 pp
2023 6.78 +0.15 pp
2022 6.63 +0.02 pp
2021 6.61 −0.16 pp
2020 6.77 +0.59 pp
2019 6.18 +0.22 pp
2018 5.96 −0.13 pp
2017 6.09 −0.03 pp
2016 6.12 +0.29 pp
2015 5.83 +0.31 pp
2014 5.52 +0.25 pp
2013 5.27 +0.25 pp
2012 5.02 −0.02 pp
2011 5.04 +0.09 pp
2010 4.95 −0.49 pp
2009 5.43 +1.04 pp
2008 4.4 +0.05 pp
2007 4.35 +0.16 pp
2006 4.18 −0.02 pp
2005 4.2 −0.17 pp
2004 4.37 −0.29 pp
2003 4.67 +0.07 pp
2002 4.6 +0.35 pp
2001 4.25 +0.32 pp
2000 3.93 −0.67 pp
1999 4.59 −0.29 pp
1998 4.88 −0.1 pp
1997 4.98 +0.06 pp
1996 4.92 +0.14 pp
1995 4.78 −0.26 pp
1994 5.04 −0.29 pp
1993 5.33 −0.39 pp
1992 5.72 −0.19 pp
1991 5.91 +0.11 pp
1990 5.81 +0.1 pp
1989 5.71
1987 6.48 −0.67 pp
1986 7.15 +0.11 pp
1985 7.03 −0.14 pp
1984 7.17 −0.67 pp
1983 7.85 −0.02 pp
1982 7.87 +0.16 pp
1981 7.71 −0.51 pp
1980 8.22 −0.96 pp
1979 9.18 −0.44 pp
1978 9.62 −0.31 pp
1977 9.93 −0.25 pp
1976 10.18 −0.65 pp
1975 10.84 −0.35 pp
1974 11.18 −2.57 pp
1973 13.76 +0.08 pp
1972 13.68 −0.86 pp
1971 14.54 −1.59 pp
1970 16.12 +0.85 pp
1969 15.27 −1.64 pp
1968 16.91 −1.29 pp
1967 18.2 −0.54 pp
1966 18.74 −0.87 pp
1965 19.61 −2.67 pp
1964 22.28 −1.13 pp
1963 23.42 −0.14 pp
1962 23.55

Northern America, 2024

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

BM Bermuda 21.51 CA Canada 9.2 US United States 6.93

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.