Food imports in Japan
Japan: Food imports was 9.8% in 2025. ▼ Falling
Food imports in Japan, 1962–2025
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for food imports in Japan is 9.8%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 2.6% on the previous year and down 2.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, food imports in Japan peaked at 22.7% in 1965 and was at its lowest, 8.5%, in 2014.
Japan ranks 157th of 196 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 64 years of available data.
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 20.0% | 17.3% | 22.7% | 8 |
| 1970s | 17.2% | 15.1% | 18.9% | 10 |
| 1980s | 14.6% | 12.0% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 1990s | 16.0% | 14.5% | 18.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 11.0% | 8.7% | 13.3% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.4% | 8.5% | 10.3% | 10 |
| 2020s | 9.7% | 8.9% | 10.6% | 6 |
Countries ranked near Japan
More private sector data for Japan
- Merchandise exports 738.34 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures exports 80.6% (2025)
- Food exports 1.3% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 755.55 billion current US$ (2025)
- Manufactures imports 59.9% (2025)
- Merchandise trade 33.7% (2025)
- Commercial service exports 242.56 billion current US$ (2025)
- Transport services 13.6% (2025)
- Computer, communications and other services 66.2% (2025)
- Commercial service imports 266.13 billion current US$ (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is food imports in Japan?
- Food imports in Japan was 9.8% in 2025, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest food imports recorded in Japan?
- The highest recorded value was 22.7% in 1965.
- What is the lowest food imports recorded in Japan?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.5% in 2014.
- How does Japan rank for food imports?
- Japan ranks 157th out of 196 countries with data for 2025.
- Is food imports rising or falling in Japan?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Japan 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 — 64 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.