Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Switzerland
Switzerland: Food imports (% of merchandise imports) was 4.1% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Food imports in Switzerland, 1962–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for food imports in Switzerland is 4.1%, measured in 2025.
That represents a change of down 11.9% on the previous year and down 10.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Switzerland peaked at 17.1% in 1965 and was at its lowest, 3.8%, in 2013.
That places Switzerland 194th out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 64 years of available data.
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 16.6% | — |
| 1963 | 16.5% | -0.6% |
| 1964 | 16.9% | +2.6% |
| 1965 | 17.1% | +1.4% |
| 1966 | 16.5% | -3.5% |
| 1967 | 16.0% | -3.3% |
| 1968 | 14.1% | -11.8% |
| 1969 | 13.6% | -3.2% |
| 1970 | 13.2% | -3.5% |
| 1971 | 13.1% | -0.7% |
| 1972 | 12.7% | -3.3% |
| 1973 | 13.1% | +3.8% |
| 1974 | 12.1% | -7.6% |
| 1975 | 13.0% | +7.4% |
| 1976 | 12.0% | -7.9% |
| 1977 | 11.5% | -4.5% |
| 1978 | 10.3% | -10.1% |
| 1979 | 8.8% | -14.7% |
| 1980 | 8.0% | -8.4% |
| 1981 | 8.9% | +11.3% |
| 1982 | 9.0% | +0.9% |
| 1983 | 8.4% | -6.6% |
| 1984 | 8.1% | -3.5% |
| 1985 | 8.0% | -1.5% |
| 1986 | 7.7% | -3.8% |
| 1987 | 7.3% | -4.7% |
| 1988 | 6.9% | -6.8% |
| 1989 | 6.3% | -7.3% |
| 1990 | 6.3% | -1.2% |
| 1991 | 6.6% | +5.3% |
| 1992 | 6.7% | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 6.8% | +1.3% |
| 1994 | 6.9% | +1.4% |
| 1995 | 6.4% | -7.0% |
| 1996 | 6.6% | +2.3% |
| 1997 | 6.3% | -5.1% |
| 1998 | 6.2% | -1.5% |
| 1999 | 6.1% | -0.3% |
| 2000 | 5.5% | -10.2% |
| 2001 | 5.5% | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 5.7% | +4.7% |
| 2003 | 6.0% | +5.0% |
| 2004 | 5.7% | -5.8% |
| 2005 | 5.4% | -4.3% |
| 2006 | 5.2% | -3.9% |
| 2007 | 4.6% | -10.8% |
| 2008 | 4.6% | -1.4% |
| 2009 | 4.8% | +4.3% |
| 2010 | 5.8% | +21.2% |
| 2011 | 5.7% | -1.2% |
| 2012 | 3.9% | -32.6% |
| 2013 | 3.8% | -1.2% |
| 2014 | 4.6% | +19.8% |
| 2015 | 4.6% | +0.1% |
| 2016 | 4.3% | -6.5% |
| 2017 | 4.5% | +6.3% |
| 2018 | 4.5% | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 4.5% | -1.1% |
| 2020 | 4.6% | +2.7% |
| 2021 | 4.6% | +0.6% |
| 2022 | 4.2% | -9.3% |
| 2023 | 4.3% | +1.4% |
| 2024 | 4.6% | +8.9% |
| 2025 | 4.1% | -11.9% |
Switzerland compared with similar countries
- Switzerland's 4.1% is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.9%, 32% of the median. (71 countries reporting)
- Switzerland's 4.1% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 12.4%, 33% of the median. (50 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.9% | 13.6% | 17.1% | 8 |
| 1970s | 12.0% | 8.8% | 13.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.9% | 6.3% | 9.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.5% | 6.1% | 6.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 5.3% | 4.6% | 6.0% | 10 |
| 2010s | 4.6% | 3.8% | 5.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 4.4% | 4.1% | 4.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More private sector data for Switzerland
- Merchandise trade 101.7% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 50.9% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 507.43 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 215.23 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 2.2% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 59.5% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 554.16 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 192.54 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 60,947 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.531 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Switzerland?
- Food imports in Switzerland was 4.1% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 17.1% in 1965.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.8% in 2013.
- How does Switzerland rank for food imports?
- Switzerland ranks 194th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Switzerland 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.