Food exports (% of merchandise exports) in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Food exports (% of merchandise exports) was 15.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Food exports in Africa Western and Central, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2024, food exports in Africa Western and Central stood at 15.1%.
The figure is up 24.5% on the previous year and up 20.0% 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 12th out of 46 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food exports (% of merchandise 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 | 16.3% | +5.4% |
| 2017 | 14.1% | -13.4% |
| 2018 | 14.2% | +0.9% |
| 2019 | 12.9% | -9.6% |
| 2020 | 12.6% | -2.2% |
| 2021 | 13.6% | +7.9% |
| 2022 | 11.5% | -15.2% |
| 2023 | 12.1% | +5.2% |
| 2024 | 15.1% | +24.5% |
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% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.0% | 11.5% | 15.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Africa Western and Central
- 9 Faroe Islands 91.9% compare
- 10 Gambia 90.7% compare
- 11 Palau 88.7% compare
- 12 Comoros 88.5% compare
- 13 Cape Verde 86.4% compare
- 14 Seychelles 85.9% compare
- 15 Vanuatu 85.3% compare
More private sector data for Africa Western and Central
- Merchandise trade 43.1% (2025)
- Food imports 15.2% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 48.7% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 163.34 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 64.22 billion current US$ (2024)
- Manufactures exports 5.8% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 204.10 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 23.98 billion current US$ (2024)
- 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)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food exports in Africa Western and Central?
- Food exports in Africa Western and Central was 15.1% in 2024, 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 12th out of 46 groups with data for 2024.
- Is food exports rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.0%. 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.