Food imports in Rwanda

Rwanda: Food imports was 22.4% in 2022. ▬ Flat

Latest (2022)
22.4%
Change on year
up 13.3%
World rank
42nd
of 196 countries
All-time high
25.3%
in 1998
All-time low
11.7%
in 2003
Years of data
26
1996–2022

Food imports in Rwanda, 1996–2022

01020301996200920221996: 18.9 % of merchandise imports1997: 18.6 % of merchandise imports1998: 25.3 % of merchandise imports1999: 20.7 % of merchandise imports2001: 20.7 % of merchandise imports2002: 16.3 % of merchandise imports2003: 11.7 % of merchandise imports2004: 15.8 % of merchandise imports2005: 14 % of merchandise imports2006: 13.1 % of merchandise imports2007: 16.6 % of merchandise imports2008: 11.7 % of merchandise imports2009: 13.2 % of merchandise imports2010: 14.9 % of merchandise imports2011: 15.7 % of merchandise imports2012: 15.7 % of merchandise imports2013: 17.5 % of merchandise imports2014: 17.1 % of merchandise imports2015: 15.4 % of merchandise imports2016: 17.1 % of merchandise imports2017: 22.6 % of merchandise imports2018: 20.6 % of merchandise imports2019: 16.9 % of merchandise imports2020: 16.7 % of merchandise imports2021: 19.8 % of merchandise imports2022: 22.4 % of merchandise imports

Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.

Analysis

In 2022, food imports in Rwanda stood at 22.4%.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 13.3% on the previous year and up 43.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, food imports in Rwanda peaked at 25.3% in 1998 and was at its lowest, 11.7%, in 2003.

Rwanda ranks 42nd of 196 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

Food imports in Rwanda, year by year

Annual values for Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Rwanda, 1996 to 2022.
Year % of merchandise imports Change
1996 18.9%
1997 18.6% -1.6%
1998 25.3% +36.1%
1999 20.7% -18.4%
2001 20.7% +0.2%
2002 16.3% -21.0%
2003 11.7% -28.4%
2004 15.8% +35.5%
2005 14.0% -11.8%
2006 13.1% -6.3%
2007 16.6% +26.6%
2008 11.7% -29.1%
2009 13.2% +12.2%
2010 14.9% +13.3%
2011 15.7% +5.5%
2012 15.7% -0.5%
2013 17.5% +11.6%
2014 17.1% -2.2%
2015 15.4% -9.7%
2016 17.1% +10.8%
2017 22.6% +32.3%
2018 20.6% -8.8%
2019 16.9% -17.9%
2020 16.7% -1.7%
2021 19.8% +18.9%
2022 22.4% +13.3%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 20.9% 18.6% 25.3% 4
2000s 14.8% 11.7% 20.7% 9
2010s 17.4% 14.9% 22.6% 10
2020s 19.6% 16.7% 22.4% 3

Countries ranked near Rwanda

  1. 39 Lesotho 23.0% compare
  2. 40 Barbados 22.7% compare
  3. 41 Somalia 22.4%
  4. 43 Solomon Islands 22.2% compare
  5. 44 Gambia 22.0% compare
  6. 45 Cameroon 21.7% compare

See the full ranking of 243 places →

More private sector data for Rwanda

All data for Rwanda →

Frequently asked questions

What is food imports in Rwanda?
Food imports in Rwanda was 22.4% in 2022, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
What is the highest food imports recorded in Rwanda?
The highest recorded value was 25.3% in 1998.
What is the lowest food imports recorded in Rwanda?
The lowest recorded value was 11.7% in 2003.
How does Rwanda rank for food imports?
Rwanda ranks 42nd out of 196 countries with data for 2022.
Is food imports rising or falling in Rwanda?
Over the last ten years it is up 43.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this Rwanda 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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Food imports in Rwanda. Statizoid, drawing on Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://private-sector.statizoid.com/stat/food-imports-percent-of-merchandise-imports/rwanda/

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About this data

Indicator
Food imports (% of merchandise imports)
Unit
% of merchandise imports
Source
Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
243 places, 9,994 data points, 1962–2025
Last refreshed

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.