Food imports in United States of America
United States of America: Food imports was 6.9% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Food imports in United States of America, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
United States of America recorded 6.9% for food imports in 2024.
That represents a change of up 2.2% on the previous year and up 25.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in United States of America peaked at 23.6% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 3.9%, in 2000.
That places United States of America 180th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Food imports in United States of America, 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% |
United States of America compared with similar countries
- United States of America's 6.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 12.8%, 54% 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% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More private sector data for United States of America
- Merchandise trade 18.5% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 78.4% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 3.51 trillion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 9.5% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 55.7% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 2.19 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)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 5.99 % change on previous year (2025)
- Merchandise imports (current US$), per capita 10,260 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in United States of America?
- Food imports in United States of America was 6.9% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 23.6% in 1962.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 3.9% in 2000.
- How does United States of America rank for food imports?
- United States of America ranks 180th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is food imports rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 25.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United States of America 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 62 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.