Food imports in Lao People's Democratic Republic
Lao People's Democratic Republic: Food imports was 12.7% in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Food imports in Lao People's Democratic Republic, 1962–2023
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
Lao People's Democratic Republic recorded 12.7% for food imports in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 26.4% on the previous year and up 204.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Lao People's Democratic Republic peaked at 40.9% in 1966 and was at its lowest, 4.2%, in 2014.
That places Lao People's Democratic Republic 122nd out of 196 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food imports in Lao People's Democratic Republic, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 37.1% | — |
| 1963 | 30.5% | -18.0% |
| 1964 | 30.9% | +1.6% |
| 1965 | 32.0% | +3.4% |
| 1966 | 40.9% | +27.8% |
| 1967 | 38.1% | -6.8% |
| 1968 | 38.5% | +1.0% |
| 1969 | 31.4% | -18.5% |
| 1970 | 23.9% | -23.9% |
| 1971 | 25.4% | +6.3% |
| 1972 | 33.8% | +33.5% |
| 1973 | 33.2% | -1.8% |
| 1974 | 31.7% | -4.7% |
| 2010 | 11.3% | -64.2% |
| 2011 | 7.1% | -37.2% |
| 2012 | 6.2% | -13.4% |
| 2013 | 4.2% | -32.6% |
| 2014 | 4.2% | -0.0% |
| 2015 | 5.3% | +26.3% |
| 2016 | 13.3% | +151.9% |
| 2017 | 12.1% | -8.9% |
| 2018 | 12.4% | +2.5% |
| 2019 | 15.7% | +26.7% |
| 2020 | 19.1% | +22.0% |
| 2021 | 16.1% | -15.7% |
| 2022 | 17.2% | +6.8% |
| 2023 | 12.7% | -26.4% |
Lao People's Democratic Republic compared with similar countries
- Lao People's Democratic Republic's 12.7% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 18.4%, 69% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Lao People's Democratic Republic's 12.7% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 12.8%, 99% of the median. (31 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Food imports in Lao People's Democratic Republic changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | +151.9% | 5.3% | 13.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 34.9% | 30.5% | 40.9% | 8 |
| 1970s | 29.6% | 23.9% | 33.8% | 5 |
| 2010s | 9.2% | 4.2% | 15.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 16.3% | 12.7% | 19.1% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Lao People's Democratic Republic
- 119 Bangladesh 13.0% compare
- 120 Saudi Arabia 13.0% compare
- 121 New Zealand 12.8% compare
- 123 Kyrgyzstan 12.6% compare
- 124 Spain 12.5% compare
- 125 Georgia 12.5% compare
More private sector data for Lao People's Democratic Republic
- Merchandise trade 124.1% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 61.7% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 10.34 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 23.2% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 32.8% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 12.38 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 1,572 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.6762 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 31.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 1,314 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
- Food imports in Lao People's Democratic Republic was 12.7% in 2023, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
- The highest recorded value was 40.9% in 1966.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.2% in 2014.
- How does Lao People's Democratic Republic rank for food imports?
- Lao People's Democratic Republic ranks 122nd out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Lao People's Democratic Republic?
- Over the last ten years it is up 204.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Lao People's Democratic Republic 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.