Food imports in Uganda
Uganda: Food imports was 10.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Food imports in Uganda, 1976–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2024, food imports in Uganda stood at 10.7%.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.8% on the previous year and down 20.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Uganda peaked at 21.2% in 1997 and was at its lowest, 7.9%, in 1976.
That places Uganda 149th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 32 years of available data.
Food imports in Uganda, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 7.9% | — |
| 1994 | 15.9% | +101.8% |
| 1995 | 15.8% | -0.6% |
| 1996 | 14.4% | -8.7% |
| 1997 | 21.2% | +46.7% |
| 1998 | 17.4% | -17.9% |
| 1999 | 14.0% | -19.3% |
| 2000 | 14.1% | +0.3% |
| 2001 | 12.2% | -13.0% |
| 2002 | 14.0% | +14.7% |
| 2003 | 16.2% | +15.6% |
| 2004 | 16.3% | +0.4% |
| 2005 | 15.9% | -2.1% |
| 2006 | 13.6% | -14.6% |
| 2007 | 12.5% | -8.2% |
| 2008 | 13.0% | +3.8% |
| 2009 | 12.4% | -4.1% |
| 2010 | 12.4% | -0.3% |
| 2011 | 13.5% | +8.5% |
| 2012 | 10.8% | -19.8% |
| 2013 | 11.5% | +6.1% |
| 2014 | 13.6% | +18.4% |
| 2015 | 12.1% | -10.5% |
| 2016 | 13.3% | +9.9% |
| 2017 | 14.9% | +12.0% |
| 2018 | 11.8% | -21.0% |
| 2019 | 10.7% | -9.1% |
| 2020 | 11.5% | +7.3% |
| 2021 | 14.2% | +23.3% |
| 2022 | 13.5% | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 10.7% | -21.0% |
| 2024 | 10.7% | +0.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7.9% | 7.9% | 7.9% | 1 |
| 1990s | 16.4% | 14.0% | 21.2% | 6 |
| 2000s | 14.0% | 12.2% | 16.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 12.5% | 10.7% | 14.9% | 10 |
| 2020s | 12.1% | 10.7% | 14.2% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Uganda
More private sector data for Uganda
- Merchandise trade 49.9% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 47.3% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 18.40 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 39.3% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 14.3% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 12.50 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 243.26 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.2017 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 55.49 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 358.08 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Uganda?
- Food imports in Uganda was 10.7% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Uganda?
- The highest recorded value was 21.2% in 1997.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Uganda?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.9% in 1976.
- How does Uganda rank for food imports?
- Uganda ranks 149th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Uganda?
- Over the last ten years it is down 20.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Uganda 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.