Food imports in Spain
Spain: Food imports was 12.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Food imports in Spain, 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 Spain is 12.5%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.7% on the previous year and up 14.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Spain peaked at 22.4% in 1963 and was at its lowest, 8.4%, in 2006.
Spain ranks 124th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 63 years of available data.
Food imports in Spain, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 19.8% | — |
| 1963 | 22.4% | +12.9% |
| 1964 | 18.3% | -18.2% |
| 1965 | 20.3% | +10.9% |
| 1966 | 19.7% | -2.7% |
| 1967 | 19.6% | -0.6% |
| 1968 | 17.9% | -8.8% |
| 1969 | 16.9% | -5.3% |
| 1970 | 15.6% | -7.6% |
| 1971 | 17.6% | +12.2% |
| 1972 | 16.3% | -7.1% |
| 1973 | 16.9% | +3.6% |
| 1974 | 15.3% | -9.3% |
| 1975 | 16.6% | +8.0% |
| 1976 | 13.2% | -20.4% |
| 1977 | 15.5% | +17.9% |
| 1978 | 16.3% | +5.2% |
| 1979 | 14.7% | -10.1% |
| 1980 | 12.5% | -14.9% |
| 1981 | 11.9% | -4.9% |
| 1982 | 12.2% | +2.5% |
| 1983 | 12.7% | +4.4% |
| 1984 | 12.0% | -5.6% |
| 1985 | 10.6% | -11.4% |
| 1986 | 12.9% | +21.4% |
| 1987 | 11.4% | -11.9% |
| 1988 | 11.3% | -0.5% |
| 1989 | 10.6% | -6.1% |
| 1990 | 10.8% | +1.4% |
| 1991 | 11.8% | +9.3% |
| 1992 | 12.1% | +2.9% |
| 1993 | 13.6% | +12.0% |
| 1994 | 13.6% | +0.3% |
| 1995 | 13.6% | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 12.3% | -9.5% |
| 1997 | 11.8% | -4.4% |
| 1998 | 11.4% | -2.9% |
| 1999 | 10.4% | -8.6% |
| 2000 | 9.1% | -12.4% |
| 2001 | 10.0% | +9.2% |
| 2002 | 10.3% | +3.1% |
| 2003 | 10.0% | -3.1% |
| 2004 | 9.5% | -4.4% |
| 2005 | 9.2% | -3.3% |
| 2006 | 8.4% | -8.8% |
| 2007 | 8.8% | +4.1% |
| 2008 | 9.3% | +6.1% |
| 2009 | 11.3% | +21.7% |
| 2010 | 10.5% | -7.2% |
| 2011 | 10.5% | +0.5% |
| 2012 | 11.1% | +5.2% |
| 2013 | 11.2% | +0.6% |
| 2014 | 10.9% | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 11.5% | +5.2% |
| 2016 | 11.9% | +3.9% |
| 2017 | 11.7% | -1.8% |
| 2018 | 10.8% | -8.1% |
| 2019 | 10.8% | +0.2% |
| 2020 | 11.9% | +10.5% |
| 2021 | 11.1% | -6.5% |
| 2022 | 10.9% | -1.8% |
| 2023 | 12.3% | +11.9% |
| 2024 | 12.5% | +1.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 19.4% | 16.9% | 22.4% | 8 |
| 1970s | 15.8% | 13.2% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 1980s | 11.8% | 10.6% | 12.9% | 10 |
| 1990s | 12.1% | 10.4% | 13.6% | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.6% | 8.4% | 11.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 11.1% | 10.5% | 11.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 11.7% | 10.9% | 12.5% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Spain
- 121 New Zealand 12.8% compare
- 122 Lao People's Democratic Republic 12.7% compare
- 123 Kyrgyzstan 12.6% compare
- 125 Georgia 12.5% compare
- 126 Uzbekistan 12.4% compare
- 127 Azerbaijan 12.4% compare
More private sector data for Spain
- Merchandise trade 50.3% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 65.3% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 513.32 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 18.6% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 65.2% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 445.11 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 9,018 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2335 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 3.87 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 10,400 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Spain?
- Food imports in Spain was 12.5% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Spain?
- The highest recorded value was 22.4% in 1963.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Spain?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.4% in 2006.
- How does Spain rank for food imports?
- Spain ranks 124th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Spain?
- Over the last ten years it is up 14.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Spain 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.