Food exports (% of merchandise exports) in Iran
Iran: Food exports (% of merchandise exports) was 5.6% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Food exports in Iran, 1963–2023
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
Iran recorded 5.6% for food exports in 2023.
That represents a change of down 4.8% on the previous year and up 3.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food exports in Iran peaked at 17.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1977.
Iran ranks 155th of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food exports (% of merchandise exports) in Iran, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 3.4% | — |
| 1964 | 2.7% | -19.2% |
| 1965 | 3.4% | +25.5% |
| 1966 | 3.3% | -4.1% |
| 1967 | 2.6% | -21.2% |
| 1968 | 3.0% | +14.1% |
| 1969 | 2.8% | -4.5% |
| 1970 | 2.6% | -8.8% |
| 1971 | 2.5% | -2.2% |
| 1972 | 2.5% | -1.5% |
| 1973 | 2.4% | -1.3% |
| 1974 | 0.5% | -79.4% |
| 1975 | 0.6% | +9.3% |
| 1976 | 0.4% | -21.8% |
| 1977 | 0.2% | -44.8% |
| 1997 | 3.6% | +1405.4% |
| 1998 | 6.6% | +84.3% |
| 1999 | 4.1% | -37.7% |
| 2000 | 2.9% | -29.7% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | +31.5% |
| 2002 | 3.7% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 4.2% | +13.3% |
| 2004 | 3.1% | -27.6% |
| 2005 | 3.5% | +15.0% |
| 2006 | 4.3% | +21.1% |
| 2010 | 6.2% | +45.3% |
| 2011 | 3.7% | -40.6% |
| 2013 | 5.5% | +48.6% |
| 2014 | 7.3% | +33.7% |
| 2015 | 9.7% | +32.6% |
| 2016 | 7.3% | -24.1% |
| 2017 | 5.9% | -20.1% |
| 2018 | 6.3% | +7.9% |
| 2019 | 13.6% | +114.0% |
| 2020 | 17.5% | +29.2% |
| 2021 | 7.7% | -56.3% |
| 2022 | 5.9% | -22.5% |
| 2023 | 5.6% | -4.8% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 5.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.9%, 28% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Iran's 5.6% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.9%, 57% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Food exports (% of merchandise exports) in Iran changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +1405.4% | 0.2% | 3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.4% | 7 |
| 1970s | 1.5% | 0.2% | 2.6% | 8 |
| 1990s | 4.8% | 3.6% | 6.6% | 3 |
| 2000s | 3.6% | 2.9% | 4.3% | 7 |
| 2010s | 7.3% | 3.7% | 13.6% | 9 |
| 2020s | 9.2% | 5.6% | 17.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More private sector data for Iran
- Merchandise trade 49.3% (2025)
- Food imports 26.1% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 57.5% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 65.63 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 1.58 billion current US$ (2000)
- Manufactures exports 21.4% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 113.22 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 1.36 billion current US$ (2000)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,225 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3122 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food exports in Iran?
- Food exports in Iran was 5.6% in 2023, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food exports recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 17.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest food exports recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1977.
- How does Iran rank for food exports?
- Iran ranks 155th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is food exports rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran 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.