Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Iran
Iran: Share of food products in total merchandise exports was 5.9% in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Iran, 1963–2022
Source: UN Comtrade, WITS, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
Iran recorded 5.9% for share of food products in total merchandise exports in 2022.
That represents a change of down 22.5% on the previous year and up 61.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of food products in total merchandise exports in Iran peaked at 17.5% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1977.
That places Iran 155th out of 196 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Iran, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 3.4% | — |
| 1964 | 2.7% | -19.2% |
| 1965 | 3.4% | +25.5% |
| 1966 | 3.3% | -4.1% |
| 1967 | 2.6% | -21.2% |
| 1968 | 3.0% | +14.1% |
| 1969 | 2.8% | -4.5% |
| 1970 | 2.6% | -8.8% |
| 1971 | 2.5% | -2.2% |
| 1972 | 2.5% | -1.5% |
| 1973 | 2.4% | -1.3% |
| 1974 | 0.5% | -79.4% |
| 1975 | 0.6% | +9.3% |
| 1976 | 0.4% | -21.8% |
| 1977 | 0.2% | -44.8% |
| 1997 | 3.6% | +1405.4% |
| 1998 | 6.6% | +84.3% |
| 1999 | 4.1% | -37.7% |
| 2000 | 2.9% | -29.7% |
| 2001 | 3.8% | +31.5% |
| 2002 | 3.7% | -1.8% |
| 2003 | 4.2% | +13.3% |
| 2004 | 3.1% | -27.6% |
| 2005 | 3.5% | +15.0% |
| 2006 | 4.3% | +21.1% |
| 2010 | 6.2% | +45.3% |
| 2011 | 3.7% | -40.6% |
| 2013 | 5.5% | +48.6% |
| 2014 | 7.3% | +33.7% |
| 2015 | 9.7% | +32.6% |
| 2016 | 7.3% | -24.1% |
| 2017 | 5.9% | -20.1% |
| 2018 | 6.3% | +7.9% |
| 2019 | 13.6% | +114.0% |
| 2020 | 17.5% | +29.2% |
| 2021 | 7.7% | -56.3% |
| 2022 | 5.9% | -22.5% |
Iran compared with similar countries
- Iran's 5.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 19.9%, 30% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Iran's 5.9% is below the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 9.7%, 61% of the median. (23 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Iran changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | +1405.4% | 0.2% | 3.6% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.4% | 7 |
| 1970s | 1.5% | 0.2% | 2.6% | 8 |
| 1990s | 4.8% | 3.6% | 6.6% | 3 |
| 2000s | 3.6% | 2.9% | 4.3% | 7 |
| 2010s | 7.3% | 3.7% | 13.6% | 9 |
| 2020s | 10.4% | 5.9% | 17.5% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Iran
More economy & growth data for Iran
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.48 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 2 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 89.42 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0002 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.9766 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.45 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 1.88 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.003 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 15.83 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 130.68 % change on previous year (1982)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of food products in total merchandise exports in Iran?
- Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Iran was 5.9% in 2022, according to UN Comtrade, WITS, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of food products in total merchandise exports recorded in Iran?
- The highest recorded value was 17.5% in 2020.
- What is the lowest share of food products in total merchandise exports recorded in Iran?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1977.
- How does Iran rank for share of food products in total merchandise exports?
- Iran ranks 155th out of 196 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of food products in total merchandise exports rising or falling in Iran?
- Over the last ten years it is up 61.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Iran data come from?
- The figures come from UN Comtrade, WITS, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of food products in total merchandise exports. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 37 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Value of food exports divided by the total value of merchandise exports, expressed as a percentage.