Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Food imports (% of merchandise imports) was 10.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Food imports in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 10.5% for food imports in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 120.3% on the previous year and down 25.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 25.7% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 4.8%, in 2023.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 154th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 22 years of available data.
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Democratic Republic of Congo, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 25.7% | — |
| 1965 | 19.4% | -24.5% |
| 1970 | 15.7% | -19.1% |
| 1972 | 15.7% | +0.4% |
| 1973 | 18.2% | +15.7% |
| 1974 | 21.5% | +17.8% |
| 1975 | 17.0% | -21.0% |
| 1976 | 21.2% | +24.7% |
| 1977 | 16.9% | -20.0% |
| 1978 | 20.7% | +22.1% |
| 1985 | 20.6% | -0.1% |
| 1986 | 20.6% | -0.4% |
| 2015 | 14.1% | -31.2% |
| 2016 | 15.2% | +7.6% |
| 2017 | 13.4% | -11.9% |
| 2018 | 8.6% | -36.2% |
| 2019 | 7.7% | -10.5% |
| 2020 | 9.3% | +21.9% |
| 2021 | 10.9% | +16.5% |
| 2022 | 7.9% | -27.4% |
| 2023 | 4.8% | -39.6% |
| 2024 | 10.5% | +120.3% |
Democratic Republic of Congo compared with similar countries
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 10.5% is below the median for low income countries, which is 22.1%, 48% of the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Democratic Republic of Congo's 10.5% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 21.1%, 50% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 22.5% | 19.4% | 25.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 18.4% | 15.7% | 21.5% | 8 |
| 1980s | 20.6% | 20.6% | 20.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 11.8% | 7.7% | 15.2% | 5 |
| 2020s | 8.7% | 4.8% | 10.9% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More private sector data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Merchandise trade 66.1% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 62.6% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 28.10 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 4.59 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 1.3% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 15.4% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 32.10 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 529.41 million current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 284.49 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3526 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Food imports in Democratic Republic of Congo was 10.5% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 25.7% in 1962.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.8% in 2023.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for food imports?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 154th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 25.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.