Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Ghana
Ghana: Food imports (% of merchandise imports) was 13.0% in 2025. ▬ Flat
Food imports in Ghana, 1962–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2025, food imports in Ghana stood at 13.0%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 7.0% on the previous year and down 13.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Ghana peaked at 23.4% in 1973 and was at its lowest, 5.8%, in 1997.
Ghana ranks 122nd of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Ghana, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 20.8% | — |
| 1963 | 15.7% | -24.5% |
| 1964 | 18.3% | +16.3% |
| 1965 | 12.8% | -30.1% |
| 1966 | 17.7% | +38.2% |
| 1967 | 19.3% | +9.4% |
| 1968 | 19.1% | -1.1% |
| 1969 | 17.7% | -7.5% |
| 1970 | 20.9% | +18.0% |
| 1971 | 16.4% | -21.5% |
| 1972 | 20.3% | +24.1% |
| 1973 | 23.4% | +15.3% |
| 1974 | 17.3% | -26.2% |
| 1975 | 13.4% | -22.4% |
| 1976 | 14.4% | +7.1% |
| 1977 | 9.1% | -36.8% |
| 1978 | 11.7% | +28.4% |
| 1979 | 9.8% | -16.3% |
| 1980 | 10.1% | +3.4% |
| 1981 | 8.8% | -12.7% |
| 1982 | 11.2% | +26.6% |
| 1983 | 14.7% | +31.4% |
| 1984 | 7.7% | -47.4% |
| 1992 | 11.2% | +45.0% |
| 1996 | 7.9% | -29.3% |
| 1997 | 5.8% | -26.1% |
| 1998 | 10.2% | +75.0% |
| 1999 | 11.7% | +14.7% |
| 2000 | 12.8% | +8.8% |
| 2001 | 18.2% | +42.6% |
| 2002 | 19.6% | +7.5% |
| 2003 | 16.1% | -17.7% |
| 2004 | 20.8% | +29.1% |
| 2005 | 13.9% | -33.1% |
| 2006 | 13.4% | -3.2% |
| 2007 | 14.4% | +7.1% |
| 2008 | 14.8% | +2.5% |
| 2009 | 16.3% | +10.7% |
| 2010 | 15.3% | -6.2% |
| 2011 | 15.4% | +0.4% |
| 2012 | 13.9% | -10.0% |
| 2013 | 16.8% | +21.3% |
| 2014 | 20.7% | +23.1% |
| 2015 | 15.2% | -26.8% |
| 2016 | 17.4% | +15.0% |
| 2017 | 18.3% | +4.7% |
| 2018 | 20.1% | +10.0% |
| 2019 | 17.4% | -13.3% |
| 2021 | 17.4% | -0.1% |
| 2022 | 14.8% | -14.6% |
| 2023 | 13.7% | -8.0% |
| 2024 | 14.0% | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 13.0% | -7.0% |
Ghana compared with similar countries
- Ghana's 13.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 18.5%, 70% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Ghana's 13.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 21.1%, 62% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 17.7% | 12.8% | 20.8% | 8 |
| 1970s | 15.7% | 9.1% | 23.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.5% | 7.7% | 14.7% | 5 |
| 1990s | 9.4% | 5.8% | 11.7% | 5 |
| 2000s | 16.0% | 12.8% | 20.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 17.0% | 13.9% | 20.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.6% | 13.0% | 17.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Ghana
More private sector data for Ghana
- Merchandise trade 42.5% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 58.0% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 17.45 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 14.40 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 19.7% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 5.8% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 31.11 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 10.06 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 887.14 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2724 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Ghana?
- Food imports in Ghana was 13.0% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Ghana?
- The highest recorded value was 23.4% in 1973.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Ghana?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.8% in 1997.
- How does Ghana rank for food imports?
- Ghana ranks 122nd out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Ghana?
- Over the last ten years it is down 13.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Ghana 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.