Food imports in Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands: Food imports was 22.2% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Food imports in Solomon Islands, 1970–2018
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for food imports in Solomon Islands is 22.2%, measured in 2018.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 9.7% on the previous year and down 4.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Solomon Islands peaked at 32.0% in 2002 and was at its lowest, 14.5%, in 1980.
That places Solomon Islands 43rd out of 196 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 35 years of available data.
Food imports in Solomon Islands, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 27.2% | — |
| 1971 | 21.0% | -22.8% |
| 1972 | 26.6% | +26.7% |
| 1973 | 27.4% | +3.2% |
| 1974 | 25.8% | -6.1% |
| 1975 | 18.9% | -26.7% |
| 1976 | 21.7% | +14.7% |
| 1977 | 21.7% | +0.0% |
| 1978 | 21.5% | -0.6% |
| 1979 | 17.5% | -18.8% |
| 1980 | 14.5% | -17.2% |
| 1981 | 14.8% | +2.0% |
| 1982 | 19.5% | +31.7% |
| 1983 | 16.7% | -14.2% |
| 1984 | 21.2% | +27.2% |
| 1985 | 21.0% | -0.9% |
| 1986 | 21.6% | +2.6% |
| 1987 | 18.9% | -12.4% |
| 2002 | 32.0% | +69.2% |
| 2003 | 23.7% | -25.7% |
| 2004 | 22.3% | -6.0% |
| 2005 | 28.2% | +26.3% |
| 2006 | 23.4% | -17.1% |
| 2007 | 20.0% | -14.3% |
| 2008 | 23.1% | +15.4% |
| 2009 | 30.1% | +30.2% |
| 2010 | 26.1% | -13.3% |
| 2011 | 21.1% | -19.2% |
| 2012 | 21.4% | +1.6% |
| 2013 | 20.2% | -5.7% |
| 2014 | 23.7% | +17.1% |
| 2015 | 24.1% | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 24.1% | -0.1% |
| 2017 | 24.6% | +1.9% |
| 2018 | 22.2% | -9.7% |
Solomon Islands compared with similar countries
- Solomon Islands's 22.2% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 18.4%, 1.2× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Solomon Islands's 22.2% is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 12.8%, 1.7× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 22.9% | 17.5% | 27.4% | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.5% | 14.5% | 21.6% | 8 |
| 2000s | 25.4% | 20.0% | 32.0% | 8 |
| 2010s | 23.1% | 20.2% | 26.1% | 9 |
Countries ranked near Solomon Islands
More private sector data for Solomon Islands
- Merchandise trade 83.8% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 59.9% (2018)
- Merchandise imports 790.00 million current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 20.1% (2018)
- Manufactures exports 2.2% (2018)
- Merchandise exports 677.00 million current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 807.25 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.387 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 33.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 942 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Solomon Islands?
- Food imports in Solomon Islands was 22.2% in 2018, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Solomon Islands?
- The highest recorded value was 32.0% in 2002.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Solomon Islands?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.5% in 1980.
- How does Solomon Islands rank for food imports?
- Solomon Islands ranks 43rd out of 196 countries with data for 2018.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Solomon Islands?
- Over the last ten years it is down 4.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Solomon Islands 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.