Food exports in Nigeria
Nigeria: Food exports was 6.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Food exports in Nigeria, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for food exports in Nigeria is 6.0%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 58.5% on the previous year and up 220.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food exports in Nigeria peaked at 64.5% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2001.
That places Nigeria 154th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food exports in Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 64.5% | — |
| 1963 | 62.3% | -3.4% |
| 1964 | 61.0% | -2.1% |
| 1965 | 54.4% | -10.9% |
| 1966 | 46.9% | -13.8% |
| 1967 | 51.1% | +9.1% |
| 1968 | 63.3% | +23.8% |
| 1969 | 42.1% | -33.5% |
| 1970 | 31.3% | -25.5% |
| 1971 | 19.4% | -38.0% |
| 1972 | 12.8% | -34.2% |
| 1973 | 11.8% | -8.1% |
| 1974 | 5.1% | -56.9% |
| 1975 | 5.2% | +2.0% |
| 1976 | 4.5% | -13.4% |
| 1977 | 5.7% | +26.6% |
| 1978 | 7.5% | +33.0% |
| 1979 | 3.6% | -52.4% |
| 1981 | 2.2% | -39.2% |
| 1983 | 3.8% | +73.1% |
| 1984 | 2.7% | -27.6% |
| 1985 | 2.2% | -20.3% |
| 1986 | 5.1% | +134.9% |
| 1987 | 3.1% | -38.7% |
| 1996 | 1.7% | -47.3% |
| 1997 | 0.2% | -90.8% |
| 1998 | 0.4% | +172.7% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | -27.2% |
| 2000 | 0.1% | -54.2% |
| 2001 | 0.0% | -88.7% |
| 2002 | 0.6% | +3974.5% |
| 2003 | 0.0% | -96.3% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | +134.9% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | +2830.8% |
| 2008 | 1.3% | -20.6% |
| 2009 | 4.5% | +252.0% |
| 2010 | 3.3% | -26.4% |
| 2011 | 1.8% | -46.2% |
| 2012 | 5.4% | +198.2% |
| 2013 | 5.1% | -5.7% |
| 2014 | 1.9% | -62.9% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | +54.6% |
| 2016 | 2.0% | -32.1% |
| 2017 | 1.8% | -6.8% |
| 2018 | 2.0% | +8.3% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | -9.3% |
| 2020 | 3.0% | +65.9% |
| 2021 | 3.3% | +10.0% |
| 2022 | 2.8% | -16.0% |
| 2023 | 3.8% | +37.4% |
| 2024 | 6.0% | +58.5% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 6.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 21.6%, 28% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 6.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.6%, 22% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Food exports in Nigeria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +3974.5% | 0.0% | 0.6% |
| 2007 | +2830.8% | 0.1% | 1.6% |
| 2009 | +252.0% | 1.3% | 4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 55.7% | 42.1% | 64.5% | 8 |
| 1970s | 10.7% | 3.6% | 31.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.2% | 2.2% | 5.1% | 6 |
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.2% | 1.7% | 4 |
| 2000s | 1.0% | 0.0% | 4.5% | 8 |
| 2010s | 2.8% | 1.8% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.8% | 2.8% | 6.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More private sector data for Nigeria
- Merchandise trade 33.3% (2025)
- Food imports 11.0% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 46.0% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 41.45 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 3.5% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 55.47 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 233.52 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1907 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 4.03 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 174.51 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food exports in Nigeria?
- Food exports in Nigeria was 6.0% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food exports recorded in Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 64.5% in 1962.
- What is the lowest food exports recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2001.
- How does Nigeria rank for food exports?
- Nigeria ranks 154th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is food exports rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 220.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.