Food imports in OECD members
OECD members: Food imports was 9.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Food imports in OECD members, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for food imports in OECD members is 9.1%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 5.3% on the previous year and up 13.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in OECD members peaked at 20.9% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 6.3%, in 2006.
That places OECD members 29th out of 47 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 62 years of available data.
Food imports in OECD members, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 20.9% | — |
| 1963 | 20.2% | -3.5% |
| 1964 | 18.7% | -7.3% |
| 1965 | 18.0% | -3.8% |
| 1966 | 17.6% | -2.2% |
| 1967 | 16.5% | -6.3% |
| 1968 | 15.4% | -6.8% |
| 1969 | 14.9% | -3.3% |
| 1970 | 14.9% | +0.3% |
| 1971 | 15.0% | +0.5% |
| 1972 | 14.4% | -4.1% |
| 1973 | 14.6% | +1.6% |
| 1974 | 12.9% | -11.7% |
| 1975 | 13.2% | +2.4% |
| 1976 | 12.0% | -9.4% |
| 1977 | 12.6% | +5.5% |
| 1978 | 12.1% | -3.8% |
| 1979 | 11.1% | -8.5% |
| 1980 | 10.4% | -6.0% |
| 1981 | 10.5% | +0.4% |
| 1982 | 10.4% | -1.2% |
| 1983 | 10.8% | +3.9% |
| 1984 | 10.3% | -4.4% |
| 1985 | 9.8% | -4.7% |
| 1986 | 10.2% | +4.2% |
| 1987 | 9.8% | -4.2% |
| 1989 | 9.2% | -6.0% |
| 1990 | 8.9% | -3.2% |
| 1991 | 9.0% | +1.1% |
| 1992 | 9.2% | +1.7% |
| 1993 | 9.1% | -0.9% |
| 1994 | 9.1% | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 8.5% | -5.9% |
| 1996 | 8.6% | +0.6% |
| 1997 | 8.0% | -6.3% |
| 1998 | 8.0% | -0.8% |
| 1999 | 7.7% | -3.6% |
| 2000 | 6.6% | -14.8% |
| 2001 | 7.0% | +6.7% |
| 2002 | 7.3% | +4.5% |
| 2003 | 7.3% | -0.2% |
| 2004 | 6.9% | -5.8% |
| 2005 | 6.6% | -3.5% |
| 2006 | 6.3% | -4.9% |
| 2007 | 6.5% | +3.8% |
| 2008 | 6.9% | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 8.0% | +16.3% |
| 2010 | 7.4% | -7.7% |
| 2011 | 7.5% | +1.7% |
| 2012 | 7.5% | +0.4% |
| 2013 | 7.9% | +4.6% |
| 2014 | 8.0% | +1.3% |
| 2015 | 8.3% | +4.5% |
| 2016 | 8.5% | +2.6% |
| 2017 | 8.4% | -2.2% |
| 2018 | 8.0% | -3.9% |
| 2019 | 8.2% | +1.8% |
| 2020 | 9.0% | +9.9% |
| 2021 | 8.3% | -8.1% |
| 2022 | 8.0% | -3.8% |
| 2023 | 8.6% | +8.1% |
| 2024 | 9.1% | +5.3% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 17.8% | 14.9% | 20.9% | 8 |
| 1970s | 13.3% | 11.1% | 15.0% | 10 |
| 1980s | 10.2% | 9.2% | 10.8% | 9 |
| 1990s | 8.6% | 7.7% | 9.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.9% | 6.3% | 8.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.0% | 7.4% | 8.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 8.6% | 8.0% | 9.1% | 5 |
Countries ranked near OECD members
- 26 Seychelles 26.1% compare
- 27 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 26.0% compare
- 28 Saint Kitts and Nevis 25.4% compare
- 29 Turks and Caicos Islands 25.3% compare
- 30 Cuba 25.2% compare
- 31 Dominica 25.2% compare
- 32 Vanuatu 25.0% compare
More private sector data for OECD members
- Merchandise trade 41.9% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 70.6% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 15.86 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 9.5% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 69.2% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 14.51 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 10,347 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 6.28 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 11,313 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in OECD members?
- Food imports in OECD members was 9.1% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in OECD members?
- The highest recorded value was 20.9% in 1962.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in OECD members?
- The lowest recorded value was 6.3% in 2006.
- How does OECD members rank for food imports?
- OECD members ranks 29th out of 47 groups with data for 2024.
- Is food imports rising or falling in OECD members?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this OECD members 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.