Food imports in North America
North America: Food imports was 7.3% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Food imports in North America, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2024, food imports in North America stood at 7.3%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.4% on the previous year and up 24.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in North America peaked at 21.8% in 1963 and was at its lowest, 4.1%, in 2000.
North America ranks 45th of 47 groups 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 North America, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 21.7% | — |
| 1963 | 21.8% | +0.4% |
| 1964 | 20.6% | -5.3% |
| 1965 | 18.1% | -12.3% |
| 1966 | 17.2% | -4.7% |
| 1967 | 16.7% | -3.0% |
| 1968 | 15.5% | -7.2% |
| 1969 | 14.1% | -8.8% |
| 1970 | 15.0% | +5.8% |
| 1971 | 13.5% | -9.7% |
| 1972 | 12.8% | -5.4% |
| 1973 | 13.0% | +1.9% |
| 1974 | 10.8% | -17.1% |
| 1975 | 10.4% | -3.2% |
| 1976 | 9.9% | -5.5% |
| 1977 | 9.7% | -1.8% |
| 1978 | 9.4% | -3.1% |
| 1979 | 8.9% | -5.3% |
| 1980 | 8.1% | -8.8% |
| 1981 | 7.6% | -6.1% |
| 1982 | 7.8% | +3.1% |
| 1983 | 7.7% | -1.6% |
| 1984 | 7.1% | -8.3% |
| 1985 | 6.9% | -3.0% |
| 1986 | 7.0% | +1.9% |
| 1987 | 6.4% | -8.3% |
| 1989 | 5.7% | -10.9% |
| 1990 | 5.9% | +2.5% |
| 1991 | 6.0% | +2.2% |
| 1992 | 5.8% | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 5.5% | -5.9% |
| 1994 | 5.2% | -5.2% |
| 1995 | 4.9% | -5.0% |
| 1996 | 5.1% | +2.7% |
| 1997 | 5.1% | +0.2% |
| 1998 | 5.0% | -1.7% |
| 1999 | 4.7% | -5.7% |
| 2000 | 4.1% | -12.6% |
| 2001 | 4.5% | +9.3% |
| 2002 | 4.8% | +7.4% |
| 2003 | 4.9% | +1.7% |
| 2004 | 4.6% | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 4.4% | -3.6% |
| 2006 | 4.4% | +0.1% |
| 2007 | 4.6% | +4.5% |
| 2008 | 4.7% | +1.8% |
| 2009 | 5.8% | +23.4% |
| 2010 | 5.3% | -9.0% |
| 2011 | 5.4% | +1.3% |
| 2012 | 5.4% | +0.1% |
| 2013 | 5.6% | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 5.9% | +4.5% |
| 2015 | 6.2% | +5.7% |
| 2016 | 6.5% | +4.6% |
| 2017 | 6.4% | -1.0% |
| 2018 | 6.3% | -2.4% |
| 2019 | 6.5% | +3.6% |
| 2020 | 7.2% | +10.6% |
| 2021 | 6.9% | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 6.9% | -0.4% |
| 2023 | 7.1% | +2.0% |
| 2024 | 7.3% | +3.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 18.2% | 14.1% | 21.8% | 8 |
| 1970s | 11.3% | 8.9% | 15.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.1% | 5.7% | 8.1% | 9 |
| 1990s | 5.3% | 4.7% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.7% | 4.1% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.9% | 5.3% | 6.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 7.1% | 6.9% | 7.3% | 5 |
Countries ranked near North America
More private sector data for North America
- Merchandise trade 20.6% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 77.9% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 4.09 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 10.3% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 52.8% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 2.74 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 7,145 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0828 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 4.2 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 10,652 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in North America?
- Food imports in North America was 7.3% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in North America?
- The highest recorded value was 21.8% in 1963.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in North America?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.1% in 2000.
- How does North America rank for food imports?
- North America ranks 45th out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is food imports rising or falling in North America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 24.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this North America 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.