Food imports in Least developed countries
Least developed countries: Food imports was 15.6% in 2019. ▬ Flat
Food imports in Least developed countries, 2001–2019
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
Least developed countries recorded 15.6% for food imports in 2019.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 6.2% on the previous year and down 0.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Least developed countries peaked at 18.6% in 2003 and was at its lowest, 14.4%, in 2013.
Least developed countries ranks 8th of 47 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
Food imports in Least developed countries, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 16.3% | — |
| 2002 | 16.2% | -0.2% |
| 2003 | 18.6% | +14.6% |
| 2007 | 15.9% | -14.3% |
| 2008 | 15.3% | -3.9% |
| 2009 | 15.6% | +2.0% |
| 2010 | 14.6% | -6.4% |
| 2011 | 15.4% | +5.6% |
| 2012 | 14.6% | -5.8% |
| 2013 | 14.4% | -1.3% |
| 2014 | 15.0% | +4.3% |
| 2015 | 14.9% | -0.5% |
| 2016 | 17.0% | +13.9% |
| 2017 | 17.2% | +1.3% |
| 2018 | 16.6% | -3.5% |
| 2019 | 15.6% | -6.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 16.3% | 15.3% | 18.6% | 6 |
| 2010s | 15.5% | 14.4% | 17.2% | 10 |
Countries ranked near Least developed countries
- 5 Djibouti 38.6% compare
- 6 Niger 37.9% compare
- 7 Haiti 37.3% compare
- 8 Benin 33.3% compare
- 9 Cape Verde 32.6% compare
- 10 Sierra Leone 32.3% compare
- 11 Sao Tome and Principe 31.8% compare
More private sector data for Least developed countries
- Merchandise trade 41.4% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 62.6% (2019)
- Merchandise imports 376.94 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 15.1% (2023)
- Manufactures exports 20.1% (2023)
- Merchandise exports 311.48 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 256.54 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1884 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 10.88 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 310.45 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Least developed countries?
- Food imports in Least developed countries was 15.6% in 2019, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Least developed countries?
- The highest recorded value was 18.6% in 2003.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Least developed countries?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.4% in 2013.
- How does Least developed countries rank for food imports?
- Least developed countries ranks 8th out of 47 groups with data for 2019.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Least developed countries?
- Over the last ten years it is down 0.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this Least developed countries 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.