Food imports in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia: Food imports was 13.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Food imports in Saudi Arabia, 1968–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2024, food imports in Saudi Arabia stood at 13.0%.
The figure is down 3.4% on the previous year and down 9.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Saudi Arabia peaked at 31.3% in 1968 and was at its lowest, 10.5%, in 1992.
That places Saudi Arabia 120th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 49 years of available data.
Food imports in Saudi Arabia, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 31.3% | — |
| 1969 | 27.8% | -11.3% |
| 1974 | 19.9% | -28.5% |
| 1975 | 15.6% | -21.2% |
| 1976 | 11.8% | -24.4% |
| 1977 | 10.6% | -10.6% |
| 1978 | 11.3% | +7.2% |
| 1979 | 12.7% | +12.2% |
| 1980 | 14.1% | +11.1% |
| 1981 | 14.4% | +2.2% |
| 1982 | 12.9% | -10.4% |
| 1983 | 12.2% | -5.8% |
| 1984 | 15.6% | +28.0% |
| 1985 | 14.9% | -4.1% |
| 1986 | 16.5% | +10.2% |
| 1987 | 16.1% | -2.5% |
| 1991 | 12.8% | -20.0% |
| 1992 | 10.5% | -18.6% |
| 1993 | 10.7% | +2.0% |
| 1994 | 11.6% | +8.4% |
| 1995 | 16.1% | +39.6% |
| 1996 | 17.1% | +5.8% |
| 1998 | 15.5% | -9.2% |
| 1999 | 17.1% | +10.2% |
| 2000 | 18.4% | +7.7% |
| 2001 | 15.7% | -14.5% |
| 2002 | 16.6% | +5.4% |
| 2003 | 16.8% | +1.3% |
| 2004 | 16.0% | -4.9% |
| 2005 | 15.0% | -6.5% |
| 2006 | 13.6% | -8.8% |
| 2007 | 13.3% | -2.6% |
| 2008 | 14.5% | +8.9% |
| 2009 | 15.0% | +3.9% |
| 2010 | 15.9% | +6.0% |
| 2011 | 15.3% | -3.9% |
| 2012 | 14.1% | -8.3% |
| 2013 | 14.5% | +3.4% |
| 2014 | 14.3% | -1.8% |
| 2015 | 13.7% | -3.9% |
| 2016 | 15.8% | +14.9% |
| 2017 | 16.0% | +1.2% |
| 2018 | 15.4% | -3.6% |
| 2019 | 13.9% | -9.6% |
| 2020 | 16.2% | +16.7% |
| 2021 | 15.1% | -7.2% |
| 2022 | 15.5% | +3.0% |
| 2023 | 13.4% | -13.7% |
| 2024 | 13.0% | -3.4% |
Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries
- Saudi Arabia's 13.0% is above the median for high income countries, which is 12.8%, 1.0× the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Saudi Arabia's 13.0% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 17.5%, 74% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 29.6% | 27.8% | 31.3% | 2 |
| 1970s | 13.7% | 10.6% | 19.9% | 6 |
| 1980s | 14.6% | 12.2% | 16.5% | 8 |
| 1990s | 13.9% | 10.5% | 17.1% | 8 |
| 2000s | 15.5% | 13.3% | 18.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 14.9% | 13.7% | 16.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 14.6% | 13.0% | 16.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia
- 117 Lithuania 13.1% compare
- 118 Greece 13.1% compare
- 119 Bangladesh 13.0% compare
- 121 New Zealand 12.8% compare
- 122 Lao People's Democratic Republic 12.7% compare
- 123 Kyrgyzstan 12.6% compare
More private sector data for Saudi Arabia
- Merchandise trade 44.2% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 70.5% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 254.06 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 1.9% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 15.9% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 310.67 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 8,403 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2433 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 1.69 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 6,871 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Saudi Arabia?
- Food imports in Saudi Arabia was 13.0% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The highest recorded value was 31.3% in 1968.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Saudi Arabia?
- The lowest recorded value was 10.5% in 1992.
- How does Saudi Arabia rank for food imports?
- Saudi Arabia ranks 120th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Saudi Arabia 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.