Food imports in Europe & Central Asia
Europe & Central Asia: Food imports was 10.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Food imports in Europe & Central Asia, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for food imports in Europe & Central Asia is 10.3%, measured in 2024.
That represents a change of up 7.0% on the previous year and up 8.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Europe & Central Asia peaked at 23.1% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 7.4%, in 2006.
That places Europe & Central Asia 23rd 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 63 years of available data.
Food imports in Europe & Central Asia, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 23.1% | — |
| 1963 | 20.8% | -9.9% |
| 1964 | 19.2% | -7.8% |
| 1965 | 19.4% | +0.9% |
| 1966 | 19.2% | -0.8% |
| 1967 | 18.1% | -5.8% |
| 1968 | 16.7% | -7.7% |
| 1969 | 16.1% | -3.6% |
| 1970 | 15.6% | -3.1% |
| 1971 | 16.3% | +4.3% |
| 1972 | 15.5% | -4.6% |
| 1973 | 15.5% | +0.0% |
| 1974 | 13.5% | -13.0% |
| 1975 | 14.4% | +6.7% |
| 1976 | 13.3% | -7.9% |
| 1977 | 14.3% | +7.9% |
| 1978 | 13.8% | -3.9% |
| 1979 | 12.4% | -9.8% |
| 1980 | 11.3% | -9.0% |
| 1981 | 11.6% | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 11.7% | +1.6% |
| 1983 | 11.7% | -0.7% |
| 1984 | 11.6% | -0.9% |
| 1985 | 11.3% | -2.6% |
| 1986 | 11.8% | +5.3% |
| 1987 | 11.3% | -4.3% |
| 1988 | 11.2% | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 10.2% | -9.7% |
| 1990 | 10.0% | -1.3% |
| 1991 | 10.3% | +2.7% |
| 1992 | 10.6% | +2.5% |
| 1993 | 10.6% | +0.7% |
| 1994 | 10.6% | -0.7% |
| 1995 | 10.1% | -4.3% |
| 1996 | 10.4% | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 9.7% | -6.7% |
| 1998 | 9.5% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 9.1% | -4.7% |
| 2000 | 7.8% | -14.3% |
| 2001 | 8.2% | +5.5% |
| 2002 | 8.5% | +3.6% |
| 2003 | 8.5% | +0.0% |
| 2004 | 8.0% | -6.0% |
| 2005 | 7.8% | -1.8% |
| 2006 | 7.4% | -5.4% |
| 2007 | 7.6% | +2.3% |
| 2008 | 8.1% | +6.5% |
| 2009 | 9.4% | +16.3% |
| 2010 | 8.7% | -6.9% |
| 2011 | 8.8% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 8.9% | +1.8% |
| 2013 | 9.4% | +5.6% |
| 2014 | 9.5% | +0.7% |
| 2015 | 9.8% | +2.8% |
| 2016 | 9.8% | +0.6% |
| 2017 | 9.6% | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 9.2% | -4.0% |
| 2019 | 9.3% | +0.5% |
| 2020 | 10.2% | +9.8% |
| 2021 | 9.2% | -9.4% |
| 2022 | 8.7% | -5.1% |
| 2023 | 9.6% | +10.1% |
| 2024 | 10.3% | +7.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 19.1% | 16.1% | 23.1% | 8 |
| 1970s | 14.5% | 12.4% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.4% | 10.2% | 11.8% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.1% | 9.1% | 10.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.1% | 7.4% | 9.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.3% | 8.7% | 9.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.6% | 8.7% | 10.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Europe & Central Asia
- 20 Antigua and Barbuda 27.7% compare
- 21 Saint Lucia 27.6% compare
- 22 Tonga 27.5% compare
- 23 Afghanistan 26.9% compare
- 24 Guinea 26.6% compare
- 25 Tajikistan 26.5% compare
- 26 Seychelles 26.1% compare
More private sector data for Europe & Central Asia
- Merchandise trade 62.2% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 68.9% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 10.09 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 10.6% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 72.8% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 9.97 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 10,690 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3089 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 6.75 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 10,816 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Europe & Central Asia?
- Food imports in Europe & Central Asia was 10.3% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The highest recorded value was 23.1% in 1962.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Europe & Central Asia?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.4% in 2006.
- How does Europe & Central Asia rank for food imports?
- Europe & Central Asia ranks 23rd out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Europe & Central Asia?
- Over the last ten years it is up 8.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Europe & Central Asia 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.