Arab World vs Iran, Islamic Republic of: Food imports

Arab World
11.7%
in 2023
Iran, Islamic Republic of
29.5%
in 2022
Arab World rank
19th
Iran, Islamic Republic of rank
17th

Food imports over time

  • Arab World
  • Iran, Islamic Republic of
0102030196319932023

How they compare

Iran, Islamic Republic of currently reports 29.5% against 11.7% in Arab World, a difference of 17.8%.

That makes Iran, Islamic Republic of's figure about 2.5 times Arab World's.

The two have swapped places 2 times across 20 shared years of data; in 1999 it was Iran, Islamic Republic of ahead.

Arab World ranks 19th and Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 17th of 47 groups.

Across the 4 decades both report, Arab World averaged higher in 1 and Iran, Islamic Republic of in 3.

Head to head by decade

Decade Arab World Iran, Islamic Republic of Difference Ahead
1990s 16.1% 20.4% 4.3% Iran, Islamic Republic of
2000s 13.3% 10.6% 2.7% Arab World
2010s 12.6% 21.8% 9.2% Iran, Islamic Republic of
2020s 12.8% 29.1% 16.3% Iran, Islamic Republic of

Averages of every year both report within each decade.

Frequently asked questions

Which has higher food imports, Arab World or Iran, Islamic Republic of?
Iran, Islamic Republic of, at 29.5% against 11.7% in Arab World as of 2022.
What is the difference in food imports between Arab World and Iran, Islamic Republic of?
17.8%, with Iran, Islamic Republic of ahead.
How many years of comparable data are there for Arab World and Iran, Islamic Republic of?
20 years are reported by both, from 1999 to 2022.
How do Arab World and Iran, Islamic Republic of rank globally for food imports?
Arab World ranks 19th and Iran, Islamic Republic of ranks 17th of 47 groups.
Where does this data come from?
Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as Food imports (% of merchandise imports). Statizoid refreshes it automatically from the source and publishes the full history for both places.

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Arab World vs Iran, Islamic Republic of: Food imports. Statizoid, drawing on Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://private-sector.statizoid.com/compare/food-imports-percent-of-merchandise-imports/arab-world/iran-islamic-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Food imports (% of merchandise imports)
Unit
% of merchandise imports
Source
Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
243 places, 9,994 data points, 1962–2025
Last refreshed

Food comprises the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 0 (food and live animals), 1 (beverages and tobacco), and 4 (animal and vegetable oils and fats) and division 22 (oil seeds, oil nuts, and oil kernels). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.