Food imports in Democratic Republic of Congo
Democratic Republic of Congo: Food imports was 4.8% in 2023. ▼ Falling
Food imports in Democratic Republic of Congo, 1962–2023
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
Democratic Republic of Congo recorded 4.8% for food imports in 2023. That is the lowest value across all 21 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 39.6% on the previous year and down 66.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Democratic Republic of Congo peaked at 25.7% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 4.8%, in 2023.
That places Democratic Republic of Congo 193rd out of 196 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 21 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 22.5% | 19.4% | 25.7% | 2 |
| 1970s | 18.4% | 15.7% | 21.5% | 8 |
| 1980s | 20.6% | 20.6% | 20.6% | 2 |
| 2010s | 11.8% | 7.7% | 15.2% | 5 |
| 2020s | 8.2% | 4.8% | 10.9% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Democratic Republic of Congo
More private sector data for Democratic Republic of Congo
- Merchandise exports 32.10 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 17.9% (2023)
- Food exports 0.6% (2023)
- Merchandise imports 28.10 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures imports 50.2% (2023)
- Merchandise trade 66.1% (2025)
- Commercial service exports 529.41 million current US$ (2025)
- Transport services 48.5% (2025)
- Computer, communications and other services 25.1% (2025)
- Commercial service imports 4.59 billion current US$ (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Food imports in Democratic Republic of Congo was 4.8% in 2023, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The highest recorded value was 25.7% in 1962.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- The lowest recorded value was 4.8% in 2023.
- How does Democratic Republic of Congo rank for food imports?
- Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 193rd out of 196 countries with data for 2023.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Democratic Republic of Congo?
- Over the last ten years it is down 66.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Democratic Republic of Congo 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.