Food imports in Korea
Korea: Food imports was 6.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Food imports in Korea, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2024, food imports in Korea stood at 6.3%.
That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and up 22.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Korea peaked at 22.5% in 1963 and was at its lowest, 4.2%, in 2006.
Korea ranks 186th 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 Korea, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 13.9% | — |
| 1963 | 22.5% | +62.0% |
| 1964 | 18.2% | -19.4% |
| 1965 | 15.1% | -17.0% |
| 1966 | 13.5% | -10.2% |
| 1967 | 10.7% | -21.2% |
| 1968 | 12.2% | +14.3% |
| 1969 | 17.6% | +44.3% |
| 1970 | 17.2% | -2.0% |
| 1971 | 18.2% | +5.9% |
| 1972 | 15.6% | -14.6% |
| 1973 | 15.0% | -3.6% |
| 1974 | 13.2% | -11.9% |
| 1975 | 14.2% | +7.0% |
| 1976 | 8.7% | -38.3% |
| 1977 | 8.2% | -6.1% |
| 1978 | 7.8% | -5.1% |
| 1979 | 9.0% | +15.0% |
| 1980 | 9.8% | +10.0% |
| 1981 | 12.0% | +22.3% |
| 1982 | 7.8% | -35.5% |
| 1983 | 7.9% | +1.9% |
| 1984 | 6.8% | -14.7% |
| 1985 | 5.8% | -14.6% |
| 1986 | 5.7% | -0.5% |
| 1987 | 5.0% | -12.8% |
| 1988 | 5.6% | +11.0% |
| 1989 | 6.2% | +10.7% |
| 1990 | 5.6% | -9.0% |
| 1991 | 5.8% | +3.9% |
| 1992 | 6.1% | +5.1% |
| 1993 | 5.8% | -5.0% |
| 1994 | 5.7% | -1.1% |
| 1995 | 5.4% | -5.5% |
| 1996 | 5.9% | +8.7% |
| 1997 | 5.6% | -4.8% |
| 1998 | 6.1% | +7.8% |
| 1999 | 5.6% | -8.0% |
| 2000 | 4.8% | -13.7% |
| 2001 | 5.7% | +17.7% |
| 2002 | 6.0% | +5.1% |
| 2003 | 5.5% | -7.3% |
| 2004 | 4.9% | -11.3% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | -9.2% |
| 2006 | 4.2% | -5.1% |
| 2007 | 4.4% | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 4.5% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 4.9% | +10.3% |
| 2010 | 4.5% | -8.7% |
| 2011 | 4.8% | +7.3% |
| 2012 | 4.8% | -1.0% |
| 2013 | 4.9% | +2.4% |
| 2014 | 5.1% | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 5.9% | +15.6% |
| 2016 | 6.4% | +8.0% |
| 2017 | 5.9% | -7.8% |
| 2018 | 5.8% | -1.6% |
| 2019 | 6.2% | +6.1% |
| 2020 | 6.7% | +9.0% |
| 2021 | 6.2% | -8.0% |
| 2022 | 6.1% | -2.1% |
| 2023 | 6.3% | +4.5% |
| 2024 | 6.3% | -0.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.5% | 10.7% | 22.5% | 8 |
| 1970s | 12.7% | 7.8% | 18.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.3% | 5.0% | 12.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 5.8% | 5.4% | 6.1% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.9% | 4.2% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.4% | 4.5% | 6.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.3% | 6.1% | 6.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Korea
More private sector data for Korea
- Merchandise trade 71.6% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 60.1% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 631.89 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 1.6% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 87.3% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 709.33 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 13,724 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.3788 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 3.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 12,226 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Korea?
- Food imports in Korea was 6.3% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 22.5% in 1963.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.2% in 2006.
- How does Korea rank for food imports?
- Korea ranks 186th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is up 22.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Korea 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 63 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.