Food exports in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Food exports was 15.1% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Food exports in Least developed countries, 1978–2023
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2023, food exports in Least developed countries stood at 15.1%.
That represents a change of up 1.3% on the previous year and up 20.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food exports in Least developed countries peaked at 26.4% in 1978 and was at its lowest, 10.4%, in 2008.
Least developed countries ranks 12th of 46 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 18 years of available data.
Food exports in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 26.4% | — |
| 2007 | 11.1% | -57.9% |
| 2008 | 10.4% | -6.3% |
| 2009 | 11.1% | +6.9% |
| 2010 | 11.6% | +4.6% |
| 2011 | 12.0% | +2.9% |
| 2012 | 12.6% | +5.5% |
| 2013 | 12.5% | -0.7% |
| 2014 | 17.0% | +35.8% |
| 2015 | 15.3% | -10.0% |
| 2016 | 15.5% | +0.9% |
| 2017 | 15.0% | -3.0% |
| 2018 | 15.3% | +2.0% |
| 2019 | 16.5% | +7.9% |
| 2020 | 15.4% | -6.8% |
| 2021 | 15.7% | +1.6% |
| 2022 | 15.0% | -4.6% |
| 2023 | 15.1% | +1.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 26.4% | 26.4% | 26.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 10.9% | 10.4% | 11.1% | 3 |
| 2010s | 14.4% | 11.6% | 17.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 15.3% | 15.0% | 15.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 9 Gambia 90.7% compare
- 10 Malawi 90.2% compare
- 11 Palau 88.7% compare
- 12 Comoros 88.5% compare
- 13 Faroe Islands 88.0% compare
- 14 Cape Verde 86.4% compare
- 15 Seychelles 85.9% compare
More private sector data for Least developed countries
- Merchandise trade 41.4% (2025)
- Food imports 15.6% (2019)
- Manufactures imports 62.6% (2019)
- Merchandise imports 376.94 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 20.1% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 311.48 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 256.54 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1884 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 10.88 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 310.45 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food exports in Least developed countries?
- Food exports in Least developed countries was 15.1% in 2023, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food exports recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 26.4% in 1978.
- What is the lowest food exports recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.4% in 2008.
- How does Least developed countries rank for food exports?
- Least developed countries ranks 12th out of 46 groups with data for 2023.
- Is food exports rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is up 20.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.