Food imports in Early-demographic dividend

Early-demographic dividend: Food imports was 9.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
9.3%
Change on year
down 2.2%
Rank
26th
of 47 groups
All-time high
16.7%
in 1975
All-time low
7.4%
in 2006
Years of data
59
1963–2024

Food imports in Early-demographic dividend, 1963–2024

051015196319932024

Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.

Analysis

In 2024, food imports in Early-demographic dividend stood at 9.3%.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.2% on the previous year and up 2.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, food imports in Early-demographic dividend peaked at 16.7% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 7.4%, in 2006.

That places Early-demographic dividend 26th out of 47 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 59 years of available data.

Food imports in Early-demographic dividend, year by year

Annual values for Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Early-demographic dividend, 1963 to 2024.
Year % of merchandise imports Change
1963 12.8%
1964 12.2% -4.8%
1965 13.7% +12.4%
1966 16.3% +18.9%
1967 15.2% -7.1%
1968 15.7% +3.3%
1969 13.8% -11.7%
1970 13.5% -2.2%
1971 11.2% -17.1%
1972 10.8% -4.0%
1973 13.9% +28.8%
1974 16.2% +17.0%
1975 16.7% +3.0%
1976 13.6% -18.6%
1977 12.3% -9.8%
1978 11.8% -4.2%
1979 10.8% -8.3%
1980 12.2% +12.9%
1981 11.4% -6.2%
1982 11.0% -4.1%
1983 13.0% +18.4%
1984 12.6% -3.0%
1985 11.4% -9.3%
1986 10.9% -5.1%
1987 11.2% +3.5%
1991 8.1% -27.8%
1992 8.7% +6.7%
1993 8.1% -7.0%
1994 9.4% +16.2%
1995 9.6% +2.6%
1996 10.2% +6.0%
1997 9.2% -9.8%
1998 10.1% +9.6%
1999 10.1% +0.2%
2000 9.2% -9.4%
2001 9.4% +2.5%
2002 9.5% +1.2%
2003 9.8% +3.1%
2004 8.9% -9.3%
2005 7.9% -11.4%
2006 7.4% -6.5%
2007 8.1% +10.3%
2008 8.4% +3.4%
2009 9.0% +7.5%
2010 8.8% -2.3%
2011 9.1% +3.9%
2012 8.5% -6.7%
2013 8.9% +4.3%
2014 9.1% +2.6%
2015 9.4% +2.6%
2016 10.2% +9.1%
2017 10.0% -2.1%
2018 9.3% -7.5%
2019 9.4% +1.0%
2020 10.7% +14.2%
2021 10.3% -4.0%
2022 9.9% -3.2%
2023 9.6% -3.7%
2024 9.3% -2.2%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 14.3% 12.2% 16.3% 7
1970s 13.1% 10.8% 16.7% 10
1980s 11.7% 10.9% 13.0% 8
1990s 9.3% 8.1% 10.2% 9
2000s 8.7% 7.4% 9.8% 10
2010s 9.3% 8.5% 10.2% 10
2020s 10.0% 9.3% 10.7% 5

Countries ranked near Early-demographic dividend

  1. 23 Afghanistan 26.9% compare
  2. 24 Guinea 26.6% compare
  3. 25 Tajikistan 26.5% compare
  4. 26 Seychelles 26.1% compare
  5. 27 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 26.0% compare
  6. 28 Saint Kitts and Nevis 25.4% compare
  7. 29 Turks and Caicos Islands 25.3% compare

See the full ranking of 243 places →

More private sector data for Early-demographic dividend

All data for Early-demographic dividend →

Frequently asked questions

What is food imports in Early-demographic dividend?
Food imports in Early-demographic dividend was 9.3% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
What is the highest food imports recorded in Early-demographic dividend?
The highest recorded value was 16.7% in 1975.
What is the lowest food imports recorded in Early-demographic dividend?
The lowest recorded value was 7.4% in 2006.
How does Early-demographic dividend rank for food imports?
Early-demographic dividend ranks 26th out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
Is food imports rising or falling in Early-demographic dividend?
Over the last ten years it is up 2.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Early-demographic dividend 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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Food imports in Early-demographic dividend. Statizoid, drawing on Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Retrieved 16 September 2026, from https://private-sector.statizoid.com/stat/food-imports-percent-of-merchandise-imports/early-demographic-dividend/

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About this data

Indicator
Food imports (% of merchandise imports)
Unit
% of merchandise imports
Source
Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
243 places, 9,994 data points, 1962–2025
Last refreshed

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.