Food imports in Bhutan
Bhutan: Food imports was 11.4% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Food imports in Bhutan, 1993–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for food imports in Bhutan is 11.4%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 35.8% on the previous year and down 24.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Bhutan peaked at 21.5% in 2007 and was at its lowest, 10.9%, in 2011.
That places Bhutan 136th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 20 years of available data.
Food imports in Bhutan, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 19.4% | — |
| 1994 | 21.5% | +10.6% |
| 1998 | 18.8% | -12.6% |
| 1999 | 17.9% | -4.5% |
| 2005 | 14.5% | -19.2% |
| 2006 | 20.6% | +42.5% |
| 2007 | 21.5% | +4.2% |
| 2008 | 16.2% | -24.6% |
| 2009 | 14.6% | -10.1% |
| 2010 | 11.5% | -21.3% |
| 2011 | 10.9% | -4.6% |
| 2012 | 13.7% | +25.2% |
| 2016 | 15.2% | +11.0% |
| 2017 | 15.8% | +3.7% |
| 2018 | 14.9% | -5.6% |
| 2019 | 16.6% | +11.1% |
| 2020 | 18.9% | +13.8% |
| 2022 | 16.5% | -12.3% |
| 2023 | 17.8% | +7.8% |
| 2025 | 11.4% | -35.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 19.4% | 17.9% | 21.5% | 4 |
| 2000s | 17.5% | 14.5% | 21.5% | 5 |
| 2010s | 14.1% | 10.9% | 16.6% | 7 |
| 2020s | 16.2% | 11.4% | 18.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Bhutan
- 133 North Macedonia 11.7% compare
- 134 Chile 11.6% compare
- 135 Tunisia 11.5% compare
- 137 United States Virgin Islands 11.3%
- 138 Italy 11.2% compare
- 139 Burkina Faso 11.2% compare
More private sector data for Bhutan
- Merchandise trade 83.3% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 70.4% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 2.18 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 5.9% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 58.7% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 800.00 million current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,004 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2235 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 7.1 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 2,738 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Bhutan?
- Food imports in Bhutan was 11.4% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Bhutan?
- The highest recorded value was 21.5% in 2007.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Bhutan?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.9% in 2011.
- How does Bhutan rank for food imports?
- Bhutan ranks 136th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Bhutan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Bhutan data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Food imports (% of merchandise imports). 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 imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a 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.