Food exports in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries): Food exports was 14.7% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Food exports in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries), 1974–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for food exports in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) is 14.7%, measured in 2024.
The figure is up 8.1% on the previous year and up 12.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food exports in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) peaked at 28.2% in 1975 and was at its lowest, 11.7%, in 2011.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 26.7% | 23.5% | 28.2% | 6 |
| 1980s | 18.6% | 18.6% | 18.6% | 1 |
| 1990s | 19.7% | 19.1% | 20.2% | 4 |
| 2000s | 14.9% | 11.7% | 17.2% | 8 |
| 2010s | 13.7% | 11.7% | 15.5% | 10 |
| 2020s | 13.7% | 12.9% | 14.7% | 5 |
More private sector data for Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)
- Food imports 12.1% (2024)
- Manufactures imports 56.8% (2024)
- Merchandise imports 501.15 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise trade 44.5% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 19.4% (2024)
- Merchandise exports 486.80 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 82.17 billion current US$ (2024)
- Transport services 39.4% (2024)
- Computer, communications and other services 38.6% (2024)
- Commercial service imports 134.60 billion current US$ (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food exports in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Food exports in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) was 14.7% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food exports recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The highest recorded value was 28.2% in 1975.
- What is the lowest food exports recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.7% in 2011.
- Is food exports rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries)?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa (IDA & IBRD countries) data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Food exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 34 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 exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-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.