Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — all countries

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — World

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in the world in 2024 — 8.89%. Since 1962, the indicator has fallen by 11.67 pp.

2024 8.89% +0.2 pp vs 2023
World rank
Period maximum 20.55%1962
Period minimum 6.18%2006

Trend over time

1962–2024 · % of merchandise imports

Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — World, 1962–2024010203019621969197619831990199720042011201820241962: 20.55%1964: 19.14%1966: 18.55%1968: 16.55%1970: 15.35%1972: 14.57%1974: 13.81%1976: 12.74%1978: 12.38%1980: 10.8%1982: 10.58%1984: 10.5%1986: 9.88%1990: 8.65%1992: 8.62%1994: 8.47%1996: 8.6%1998: 8.16%2000: 6.97%2002: 7.41%2004: 6.88%2006: 6.18%2008: 6.82%2010: 7.39%2012: 7.52%2014: 7.96%2016: 8.7%2018: 8.11%2020: 9.21%2022: 8.29%2024: 8.89%
Change over the period: −11.67 pp Annual average: -0.19 pp

Comparison, 2024

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

World 8.89%
World 8.89%
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) — World, by year World All countries CSV XLSX
Year % Change, pp
2024 8.89 +0.2 pp
2023 8.68 +0.4 pp
2022 8.29 −0.28 pp
2021 8.57 −0.65 pp
2020 9.21 +0.94 pp
2019 8.28 +0.16 pp
2018 8.11 −0.41 pp
2017 8.52 −0.18 pp
2016 8.7 +0.33 pp
2015 8.37 +0.41 pp
2014 7.96 +0.18 pp
2013 7.78 +0.26 pp
2012 7.52 −0.02 pp
2011 7.55 +0.16 pp
2010 7.39 −0.41 pp
2009 7.8 +0.97 pp
2008 6.82 +0.3 pp
2007 6.53 +0.35 pp
2006 6.18 −0.31 pp
2005 6.49 −0.39 pp
2004 6.88 −0.5 pp
2003 7.39 −0.02 pp
2002 7.41 +0.13 pp
2001 7.28 +0.31 pp
2000 6.97 −0.94 pp
1999 7.91 −0.25 pp
1998 8.16 +0.13 pp
1997 8.03 −0.58 pp
1996 8.6 +0.16 pp
1995 8.44 −0.02 pp
1994 8.47 +0.23 pp
1993 8.23 −0.38 pp
1992 8.62 −0.35 pp
1991 8.97 +0.33 pp
1990 8.65
1987 9.7 −0.18 pp
1986 9.88 +0.34 pp
1985 9.53 −0.97 pp
1984 10.5 −0.54 pp
1983 11.04 +0.46 pp
1982 10.58 −0.13 pp
1981 10.72 −0.08 pp
1980 10.8 −0.61 pp
1979 11.41 −0.97 pp
1978 12.38 −0.47 pp
1977 12.85 +0.1 pp
1976 12.74 −1.43 pp
1975 14.17 +0.35 pp
1974 13.81 −1.24 pp
1973 15.06 +0.48 pp
1972 14.57 −0.54 pp
1971 15.11 −0.24 pp
1970 15.35 −0.3 pp
1969 15.65 −0.9 pp
1968 16.55 −1.03 pp
1967 17.58 −0.97 pp
1966 18.55 +0 pp
1965 18.54 −0.6 pp
1964 19.14 −0.79 pp
1963 19.93 −0.63 pp
1962 20.55

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.