Food exports in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Food exports was 12.1% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Food exports in Africa Western and Central, 1962–2023
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2023, food exports in Africa Western and Central stood at 12.1%.
The figure is up 5.2% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food exports in Africa Western and Central peaked at 59.6% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 11.5%, in 2022.
That places Africa Western and Central 21st out of 46 groups with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food exports in Africa Western and Central, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 59.6% | — |
| 1963 | 57.5% | -3.5% |
| 1964 | 56.3% | -2.1% |
| 1965 | 52.3% | -7.1% |
| 1966 | 48.4% | -7.5% |
| 1967 | 50.8% | +5.0% |
| 1968 | 55.9% | +10.0% |
| 1969 | 48.3% | -13.5% |
| 1970 | 42.7% | -11.7% |
| 1971 | 35.4% | -17.1% |
| 1972 | 31.5% | -11.1% |
| 1973 | 27.8% | -11.5% |
| 1974 | 26.7% | -4.1% |
| 1975 | 25.8% | -3.3% |
| 1976 | 24.2% | -6.4% |
| 1977 | 27.6% | +14.0% |
| 1978 | 28.2% | +2.4% |
| 1979 | 28.3% | +0.3% |
| 1981 | 22.9% | -19.1% |
| 1983 | 21.0% | -8.1% |
| 1996 | 16.4% | -22.2% |
| 1997 | 14.0% | -14.3% |
| 1998 | 16.3% | +16.1% |
| 1999 | 15.1% | -7.1% |
| 2000 | 13.5% | -10.6% |
| 2001 | 14.4% | +6.4% |
| 2002 | 12.9% | -10.3% |
| 2003 | 15.4% | +19.2% |
| 2006 | 12.7% | -17.2% |
| 2007 | 12.2% | -3.9% |
| 2008 | 12.3% | +0.9% |
| 2009 | 15.1% | +22.4% |
| 2010 | 13.2% | -12.5% |
| 2011 | 12.4% | -6.4% |
| 2012 | 12.4% | +0.5% |
| 2013 | 11.9% | -4.4% |
| 2014 | 12.6% | +5.9% |
| 2015 | 15.5% | +22.8% |
| 2016 | 15.7% | +1.8% |
| 2017 | 14.1% | -10.2% |
| 2018 | 14.2% | +0.8% |
| 2019 | 12.9% | -9.6% |
| 2020 | 12.6% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 13.6% | +8.0% |
| 2022 | 11.5% | -15.3% |
| 2023 | 12.1% | +5.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 53.6% | 48.3% | 59.6% | 8 |
| 1970s | 29.8% | 24.2% | 42.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 22.0% | 21.0% | 22.9% | 2 |
| 1990s | 15.4% | 14.0% | 16.4% | 4 |
| 2000s | 13.6% | 12.2% | 15.4% | 8 |
| 2010s | 13.5% | 11.9% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.5% | 11.5% | 13.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 18 Ethiopia 80.4% compare
- 19 Panama 73.6% compare
- 20 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 72.5% compare
- 21 Grenada 69.1% compare
- 22 Paraguay 69.1% compare
- 23 New Zealand 69.0% compare
- 24 Guinea-Bissau 68.5% compare
More private sector data for Africa Western and Central
- Merchandise trade 43.1% (2025)
- Food imports 15.3% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 54.3% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 163.34 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 7.0% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 204.10 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 383.07 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2394 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 20.81 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 306.56 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food exports in Africa Western and Central?
- Food exports in Africa Western and Central was 12.1% in 2023, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food exports recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 59.6% in 1962.
- What is the lowest food exports recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.5% in 2022.
- How does Africa Western and Central rank for food exports?
- Africa Western and Central ranks 21st out of 46 groups with data for 2023.
- Is food exports rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Food exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
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 exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-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.