Food imports in India
India: Food imports was 5.1% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Food imports in India, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
India recorded 5.1% for food imports in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 7.7% on the previous year and up 21.7% 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 191st 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 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% |
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% | 5 |
Countries ranked near India
- 188 Serbia 5.8% compare
- 189 Brazil 5.5% compare
- 190 Slovenia 5.3% compare
- 192 United Arab Emirates 5.0% compare
- 193 Congo, Democratic Republic of the 4.8% compare
- 194 Switzerland 4.6% compare
More private sector data for India
- Merchandise trade 30.3% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 46.5% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 753.48 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 11.1% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 67.1% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 445.28 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)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 0.5401 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 514.72 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in India?
- Food imports in India was 5.1% in 2024, 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 191st out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is food imports rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.7%. 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.