Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in India
India: Food imports (% of merchandise imports) was 5.0% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Food imports in India, 1962–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
India recorded 5.0% for food imports in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 1.4% on the previous year and down 4.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in India peaked at 34.1% in 1966 and was at its lowest, 2.3%, in 2008.
India ranks 193rd of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in India, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 17.1% | — |
| 1963 | 15.2% | -11.0% |
| 1964 | 16.9% | +11.0% |
| 1965 | 22.0% | +30.5% |
| 1966 | 34.1% | +55.2% |
| 1967 | 32.1% | -6.0% |
| 1968 | 25.0% | -21.9% |
| 1969 | 23.3% | -7.0% |
| 1970 | 20.9% | -10.2% |
| 1971 | 14.6% | -30.3% |
| 1972 | 9.6% | -34.2% |
| 1973 | 20.1% | +109.2% |
| 1974 | 19.7% | -1.9% |
| 1975 | 31.8% | +61.8% |
| 1976 | 27.5% | -13.7% |
| 1977 | 16.4% | -40.2% |
| 1978 | 13.8% | -15.7% |
| 1979 | 8.9% | -35.6% |
| 1980 | 9.0% | +0.8% |
| 1981 | 8.5% | -5.0% |
| 1983 | 11.7% | +36.5% |
| 1984 | 10.2% | -12.7% |
| 1985 | 8.4% | -17.3% |
| 1986 | 7.0% | -16.3% |
| 1987 | 8.4% | +19.9% |
| 1988 | 8.1% | -4.6% |
| 1989 | 3.5% | -56.4% |
| 1990 | 3.2% | -7.7% |
| 1991 | 2.7% | -16.7% |
| 1992 | 3.8% | +39.9% |
| 1993 | 3.1% | -18.1% |
| 1994 | 5.9% | +91.8% |
| 1995 | 4.2% | -28.5% |
| 1996 | 4.6% | +9.1% |
| 1997 | 5.2% | +13.3% |
| 1998 | 8.0% | +52.1% |
| 1999 | 6.6% | -17.0% |
| 2000 | 4.3% | -34.9% |
| 2001 | 5.3% | +22.0% |
| 2002 | 5.5% | +4.9% |
| 2003 | 5.5% | -0.9% |
| 2004 | 4.3% | -21.2% |
| 2005 | 3.4% | -21.9% |
| 2006 | 2.8% | -16.4% |
| 2007 | 3.2% | +11.9% |
| 2008 | 2.3% | -25.9% |
| 2009 | 3.8% | +64.5% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | -8.4% |
| 2011 | 3.3% | -6.0% |
| 2012 | 3.6% | +9.3% |
| 2013 | 3.6% | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 4.2% | +16.1% |
| 2015 | 5.2% | +26.1% |
| 2016 | 6.1% | +16.1% |
| 2017 | 5.6% | -7.4% |
| 2018 | 3.9% | -31.7% |
| 2019 | 4.0% | +3.1% |
| 2020 | 5.5% | +38.1% |
| 2021 | 5.1% | -7.9% |
| 2022 | 4.7% | -7.2% |
| 2023 | 4.7% | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 5.1% | +7.7% |
| 2025 | 5.0% | -1.4% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 5.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 18.5%, 27% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- India's 5.0% is below the median for South Asia, which is 14.0%, 36% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 23.2% | 15.2% | 34.1% | 8 |
| 1970s | 18.3% | 8.9% | 31.8% | 10 |
| 1980s | 8.3% | 3.5% | 11.7% | 9 |
| 1990s | 4.7% | 2.7% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.0% | 2.3% | 5.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.3% | 3.3% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.0% | 4.7% | 5.5% | 6 |
Countries ranked near India
More private sector data for India
- Merchandise trade 30.3% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 49.6% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 753.48 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 201.38 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 11.9% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 70.1% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 445.28 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 411.63 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 304.18 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1126 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in India?
- Food imports in India was 5.0% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 34.1% in 1966.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.3% in 2008.
- How does India rank for food imports?
- India ranks 193rd out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is food imports rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this India 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.