Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in United States
United States: Food imports (% of merchandise imports) was 6.7% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Food imports in United States, 1962–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
United States recorded 6.7% for food imports in 2025.
That represents a change of down 3.3% on the previous year and up 15.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in United States peaked at 23.6% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2000.
That places United States 183rd out of 196 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in United States, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 23.6% | — |
| 1963 | 23.4% | -0.6% |
| 1964 | 22.3% | -4.8% |
| 1965 | 19.6% | -12.0% |
| 1966 | 18.7% | -4.4% |
| 1967 | 18.2% | -2.9% |
| 1968 | 16.9% | -7.1% |
| 1969 | 15.3% | -9.7% |
| 1970 | 16.1% | +5.6% |
| 1971 | 14.5% | -9.8% |
| 1972 | 13.7% | -5.9% |
| 1973 | 13.8% | +0.6% |
| 1974 | 11.2% | -18.7% |
| 1975 | 10.8% | -3.1% |
| 1976 | 10.2% | -6.0% |
| 1977 | 9.9% | -2.5% |
| 1978 | 9.6% | -3.1% |
| 1979 | 9.2% | -4.6% |
| 1980 | 8.2% | -10.5% |
| 1981 | 7.7% | -6.2% |
| 1982 | 7.9% | +2.0% |
| 1983 | 7.8% | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 7.2% | -8.6% |
| 1985 | 7.0% | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 7.1% | +1.6% |
| 1987 | 6.5% | -9.3% |
| 1989 | 5.7% | -11.9% |
| 1990 | 5.8% | +1.7% |
| 1991 | 5.9% | +1.8% |
| 1992 | 5.7% | -3.3% |
| 1993 | 5.3% | -6.9% |
| 1994 | 5.0% | -5.5% |
| 1995 | 4.8% | -5.1% |
| 1996 | 4.9% | +3.0% |
| 1997 | 5.0% | +1.2% |
| 1998 | 4.9% | -2.1% |
| 1999 | 4.6% | -5.9% |
| 2000 | 3.9% | -14.5% |
| 2001 | 4.2% | +8.2% |
| 2002 | 4.6% | +8.3% |
| 2003 | 4.7% | +1.5% |
| 2004 | 4.4% | -6.3% |
| 2005 | 4.2% | -3.9% |
| 2006 | 4.2% | -0.4% |
| 2007 | 4.3% | +3.9% |
| 2008 | 4.4% | +1.2% |
| 2009 | 5.4% | +23.6% |
| 2010 | 4.9% | -8.9% |
| 2011 | 5.0% | +1.8% |
| 2012 | 5.0% | -0.4% |
| 2013 | 5.3% | +5.0% |
| 2014 | 5.5% | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 5.8% | +5.6% |
| 2016 | 6.1% | +4.9% |
| 2017 | 6.1% | -0.5% |
| 2018 | 6.0% | -2.2% |
| 2019 | 6.2% | +3.8% |
| 2020 | 6.8% | +9.6% |
| 2021 | 6.6% | -2.4% |
| 2022 | 6.6% | +0.3% |
| 2023 | 6.8% | +2.2% |
| 2024 | 6.9% | +2.2% |
| 2025 | 6.7% | -3.3% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 6.7% is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.9%, 52% of the median. (71 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 19.7% | 15.3% | 23.6% | 8 |
| 1970s | 11.9% | 9.2% | 16.1% | 10 |
| 1980s | 7.2% | 5.7% | 8.2% | 9 |
| 1990s | 5.2% | 4.6% | 5.9% | 10 |
| 2000s | 4.4% | 3.9% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.6% | 4.9% | 6.2% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.7% | 6.6% | 6.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United States
More private sector data for United States
- Merchandise trade 18.5% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 78.8% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 3.51 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 884.71 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 9.0% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 54.9% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 2.19 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 1.21 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 6,394 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.071 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in United States?
- Food imports in United States was 6.7% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 23.6% in 1962.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2000.
- How does United States rank for food imports?
- United States ranks 183rd out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is food imports rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 15.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States 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.