Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Yemen
Yemen: Food imports (% of merchandise imports) was 44.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Food imports in Yemen, 1975–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2024, food imports in Yemen stood at 44.0%.
That represents a change of up 5.3% on the previous year and up 10.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Yemen peaked at 45.9% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 24.7%, in 2008.
Yemen ranks 1st of 196 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 20 years of available data.
Food imports (% of merchandise imports) in Yemen, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 45.5% | — |
| 2001 | 33.1% | -27.1% |
| 2002 | 28.7% | -13.5% |
| 2003 | 27.7% | -3.4% |
| 2004 | 28.5% | +2.9% |
| 2005 | 28.2% | -1.1% |
| 2006 | 24.8% | -12.0% |
| 2007 | 25.0% | +0.7% |
| 2008 | 24.7% | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 27.8% | +12.7% |
| 2010 | 30.7% | +10.4% |
| 2011 | 31.5% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 32.5% | +3.0% |
| 2013 | 28.6% | -11.9% |
| 2014 | 39.7% | +38.8% |
| 2015 | 45.9% | +15.6% |
| 2018 | 40.2% | -12.5% |
| 2019 | 39.1% | -2.7% |
| 2023 | 41.7% | +6.8% |
| 2024 | 44.0% | +5.3% |
Yemen compared with similar countries
- Yemen's 44.0% is above the median for low income countries, which is 22.1%, 2.0× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Yemen's 44.0% is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 16.0%, 2.7× the median. (23 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 45.5% | 45.5% | 45.5% | 1 |
| 2000s | 27.6% | 24.7% | 33.1% | 9 |
| 2010s | 36.0% | 28.6% | 45.9% | 8 |
| 2020s | 42.8% | 41.7% | 44.0% | 2 |
Countries ranked near Yemen
More private sector data for Yemen
- Merchandise trade 24.7% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 40.8% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 4.65 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 1.45 billion current US$ (2016)
- Food exports 63.4% (2024)
- Manufactures exports 5.9% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 196.00 million current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 308.66 million current US$ (2016)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 4.69 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.0264 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Yemen?
- Food imports in Yemen was 44.0% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Yemen?
- The highest recorded value was 45.9% in 2015.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Yemen?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.7% in 2008.
- How does Yemen rank for food imports?
- Yemen ranks 1st out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Yemen?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Yemen 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.