Food imports in European Union
European Union: Food imports was 10.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Food imports in European Union, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2024, food imports in European Union stood at 10.7%.
The figure is up 8.1% on the previous year and up 11.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in European Union peaked at 21.9% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 7.3%, in 2006.
European Union ranks 22nd of 47 groups on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 63 years of available data.
Food imports in European Union, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 21.9% | — |
| 1963 | 19.0% | -13.3% |
| 1964 | 17.8% | -6.6% |
| 1965 | 18.5% | +3.8% |
| 1966 | 18.6% | +0.5% |
| 1967 | 17.6% | -5.3% |
| 1968 | 16.5% | -6.3% |
| 1969 | 15.8% | -4.3% |
| 1970 | 15.0% | -5.0% |
| 1971 | 16.3% | +8.7% |
| 1972 | 15.5% | -4.8% |
| 1973 | 15.7% | +1.2% |
| 1974 | 13.2% | -15.7% |
| 1975 | 14.3% | +7.9% |
| 1976 | 13.4% | -6.0% |
| 1977 | 14.8% | +10.3% |
| 1978 | 14.4% | -3.0% |
| 1979 | 12.9% | -9.9% |
| 1980 | 11.7% | -9.6% |
| 1981 | 11.9% | +1.7% |
| 1982 | 12.2% | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 12.3% | +0.8% |
| 1984 | 12.0% | -2.0% |
| 1985 | 11.8% | -2.2% |
| 1986 | 12.4% | +5.1% |
| 1987 | 11.9% | -4.2% |
| 1988 | 11.8% | -0.6% |
| 1989 | 10.7% | -9.5% |
| 1990 | 10.4% | -2.3% |
| 1991 | 10.7% | +2.8% |
| 1992 | 11.0% | +2.7% |
| 1993 | 11.2% | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 11.2% | -0.1% |
| 1995 | 10.5% | -5.7% |
| 1996 | 10.4% | -1.3% |
| 1997 | 9.6% | -7.5% |
| 1998 | 9.4% | -2.6% |
| 1999 | 9.0% | -4.2% |
| 2000 | 7.5% | -16.1% |
| 2001 | 8.0% | +6.3% |
| 2002 | 8.3% | +4.0% |
| 2003 | 8.3% | -0.4% |
| 2004 | 7.8% | -5.5% |
| 2005 | 7.7% | -1.6% |
| 2006 | 7.3% | -4.8% |
| 2007 | 7.6% | +3.5% |
| 2008 | 8.1% | +7.1% |
| 2009 | 9.5% | +17.2% |
| 2010 | 8.8% | -7.6% |
| 2011 | 8.9% | +1.6% |
| 2012 | 9.2% | +3.5% |
| 2013 | 9.7% | +4.7% |
| 2014 | 9.7% | -0.1% |
| 2015 | 10.0% | +3.2% |
| 2016 | 10.2% | +2.2% |
| 2017 | 9.9% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 9.4% | -5.3% |
| 2019 | 9.5% | +1.1% |
| 2020 | 10.4% | +9.8% |
| 2021 | 9.3% | -10.4% |
| 2022 | 8.9% | -4.8% |
| 2023 | 9.9% | +11.9% |
| 2024 | 10.7% | +8.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18.2% | 15.8% | 21.9% | 8 |
| 1970s | 14.5% | 12.9% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.9% | 10.7% | 12.4% | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.3% | 9.0% | 11.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 8.0% | 7.3% | 9.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.5% | 8.8% | 10.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.9% | 8.9% | 10.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near European Union
- 19 Micronesia, Federated States of 27.8% compare
- 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
More private sector data for European Union
- Merchandise trade 70.9% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 70.7% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 7.41 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 11.0% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 76.6% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 7.66 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 16,988 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3608 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 6.82 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 16,418 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in European Union?
- Food imports in European Union was 10.7% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in European Union?
- The highest recorded value was 21.9% in 1962.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in European Union?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.3% in 2006.
- How does European Union rank for food imports?
- European Union ranks 22nd out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is food imports rising or falling in European Union?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this European Union 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.