Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Nigeria
Nigeria: Share of food products in total merchandise exports was 6.0% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Nigeria, 1962–2024
Source: UN Comtrade, WITS, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
Nigeria recorded 6.0% for share of food products in total merchandise exports in 2024.
That represents a change of up 58.5% on the previous year and up 220.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of food products in total merchandise exports in Nigeria peaked at 64.5% in 1962 and was at its lowest, 0.0%, in 2001.
That places Nigeria 154th out of 196 countries with data for 2024, 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 Nigeria, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 64.5% | — |
| 1963 | 62.3% | -3.4% |
| 1964 | 61.0% | -2.1% |
| 1965 | 54.4% | -10.9% |
| 1966 | 46.9% | -13.8% |
| 1967 | 51.1% | +9.1% |
| 1968 | 63.3% | +23.8% |
| 1969 | 42.1% | -33.5% |
| 1970 | 31.3% | -25.5% |
| 1971 | 19.4% | -38.0% |
| 1972 | 12.8% | -34.2% |
| 1973 | 11.8% | -8.1% |
| 1974 | 5.1% | -56.9% |
| 1975 | 5.2% | +2.0% |
| 1976 | 4.5% | -13.4% |
| 1977 | 5.7% | +26.6% |
| 1978 | 7.5% | +33.0% |
| 1979 | 3.6% | -52.4% |
| 1981 | 2.2% | -39.2% |
| 1983 | 3.8% | +73.1% |
| 1984 | 2.7% | -27.6% |
| 1985 | 2.2% | -20.3% |
| 1986 | 5.1% | +134.9% |
| 1987 | 3.1% | -38.7% |
| 1996 | 1.7% | -47.3% |
| 1997 | 0.2% | -90.8% |
| 1998 | 0.4% | +172.7% |
| 1999 | 0.3% | -27.2% |
| 2000 | 0.1% | -54.2% |
| 2001 | 0.0% | -88.7% |
| 2002 | 0.6% | +3974.5% |
| 2003 | 0.0% | -96.3% |
| 2006 | 0.1% | +134.9% |
| 2007 | 1.6% | +2830.8% |
| 2008 | 1.3% | -20.6% |
| 2009 | 4.5% | +252.0% |
| 2010 | 3.3% | -26.4% |
| 2011 | 1.8% | -46.2% |
| 2012 | 5.4% | +198.2% |
| 2013 | 5.1% | -5.7% |
| 2014 | 1.9% | -62.9% |
| 2015 | 2.9% | +54.6% |
| 2016 | 2.0% | -32.1% |
| 2017 | 1.8% | -6.8% |
| 2018 | 2.0% | +8.3% |
| 2019 | 1.8% | -9.3% |
| 2020 | 3.0% | +65.9% |
| 2021 | 3.3% | +10.0% |
| 2022 | 2.8% | -16.0% |
| 2023 | 3.8% | +37.4% |
| 2024 | 6.0% | +58.5% |
Nigeria compared with similar countries
- Nigeria's 6.0% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 21.6%, 28% of the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Nigeria's 6.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.6%, 22% of the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Nigeria 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +3974.5% | 0.0% | 0.6% |
| 2007 | +2830.8% | 0.1% | 1.6% |
| 2009 | +252.0% | 1.3% | 4.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 55.7% | 42.1% | 64.5% | 8 |
| 1970s | 10.7% | 3.6% | 31.3% | 10 |
| 1980s | 3.2% | 2.2% | 5.1% | 6 |
| 1990s | 0.6% | 0.2% | 1.7% | 4 |
| 2000s | 1.0% | 0.0% | 4.5% | 8 |
| 2010s | 2.8% | 1.8% | 5.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.8% | 2.8% | 6.0% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Nigeria
More economy & growth data for Nigeria
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 1.04 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 3.32 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 1.19 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0041 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 148.16 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0138 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 16.86 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 13.91 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of food products in total merchandise exports in Nigeria?
- Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Nigeria was 6.0% in 2024, 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 Nigeria?
- The highest recorded value was 64.5% in 1962.
- What is the lowest share of food products in total merchandise exports recorded in Nigeria?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.0% in 2001.
- How does Nigeria rank for share of food products in total merchandise exports?
- Nigeria ranks 154th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of food products in total merchandise exports rising or falling in Nigeria?
- Over the last ten years it is up 220.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Nigeria 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.
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About this data
Value of food exports divided by the total value of merchandise exports, expressed as a percentage.