Food exports in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea: Food exports was 19.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Food exports in Papua New Guinea, 1971–2023
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2023, food exports in Papua New Guinea stood at 19.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 27.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food exports in Papua New Guinea peaked at 81.4% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 10.0%, in 2001.
Papua New Guinea ranks 88th of 196 countries on this measure, 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 Papua New Guinea, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 81.4% | — |
| 1972 | 61.5% | -24.4% |
| 1973 | 29.3% | -52.4% |
| 1974 | 24.7% | -15.5% |
| 1975 | 35.2% | +42.4% |
| 1976 | 33.5% | -5.0% |
| 1981 | 33.1% | -1.2% |
| 1982 | 30.0% | -9.5% |
| 1983 | 33.0% | +10.2% |
| 1984 | 48.8% | +47.9% |
| 1985 | 45.9% | -6.0% |
| 1986 | 43.0% | -6.4% |
| 1987 | 28.7% | -33.2% |
| 1998 | 32.3% | +12.6% |
| 2000 | 15.3% | -52.6% |
| 2001 | 10.0% | -34.9% |
| 2002 | 19.9% | +98.8% |
| 2003 | 19.3% | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 15.7% | -18.6% |
| 2011 | 28.6% | +82.4% |
| 2012 | 27.1% | -5.5% |
| 2019 | 11.4% | -58.0% |
| 2020 | 17.0% | +49.6% |
| 2021 | 19.0% | +11.4% |
| 2022 | 20.3% | +6.9% |
| 2023 | 19.7% | -2.7% |
Papua New Guinea compared with similar countries
- Papua New Guinea's 19.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 21.6%, 91% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Papua New Guinea's 19.7% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 15.2%, 1.3× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 44.3% | 24.7% | 81.4% | 6 |
| 1980s | 37.5% | 28.7% | 48.8% | 7 |
| 1990s | 32.3% | 32.3% | 32.3% | 1 |
| 2000s | 16.0% | 10.0% | 19.9% | 5 |
| 2010s | 22.4% | 11.4% | 28.6% | 3 |
| 2020s | 19.0% | 17.0% | 20.3% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Papua New Guinea
More private sector data for Papua New Guinea
- Merchandise trade 62.0% (2025)
- Food imports 16.5% (2023)
- Manufactures imports 64.7% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 4.62 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 1.8% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 15.54 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,444 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.4782 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 11.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 429.26 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food exports in Papua New Guinea?
- Food exports in Papua New Guinea was 19.7% in 2023, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food exports recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The highest recorded value was 81.4% in 1971.
- What is the lowest food exports recorded in Papua New Guinea?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.0% in 2001.
- How does Papua New Guinea rank for food exports?
- Papua New Guinea ranks 88th out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is food exports rising or falling in Papua New Guinea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Papua New Guinea 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.