Food imports in Africa Western and Central
Africa Western and Central: Food imports was 15.3% in 2023. ▲ Rising
Food imports in Africa Western and Central, 1962–2023
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
Africa Western and Central recorded 15.3% for food imports in 2023.
That represents a change of down 5.8% on the previous year and down 11.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Africa Western and Central peaked at 22.9% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 12.7%, in 1976.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 46 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 15.6% | 14.1% | 18.0% | 8 |
| 1970s | 15.5% | 12.7% | 17.2% | 10 |
| 1980s | 18.8% | 17.1% | 20.4% | 2 |
| 1990s | 19.4% | 17.5% | 22.9% | 4 |
| 2000s | 18.4% | 14.8% | 21.1% | 8 |
| 2010s | 17.5% | 14.0% | 22.8% | 10 |
| 2020s | 17.7% | 15.3% | 19.8% | 4 |
More private sector data for Africa Western and Central
- Merchandise exports 204.10 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 7.0% (2023)
- Food exports 12.1% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 163.34 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures imports 54.3% (2023)
- Merchandise trade 43.1% (2025)
- Commercial service exports 23.98 billion current US$ (2024)
- Transport services 39.8% (2024)
- Computer, communications and other services 35.9% (2024)
- Commercial service imports 64.22 billion current US$ (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Africa Western and Central?
- Food imports in Africa Western and Central was 15.3% in 2023, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The highest recorded value was 22.9% in 1999.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Africa Western and Central?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.7% in 1976.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Africa Western and Central?
- Over the last ten years it is down 11.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Africa Western and Central 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 — 46 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.