Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Sudan
Sudan: Share of food products in total merchandise exports was 50.6% in 2018. ◆ Volatile
Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Sudan, 1963–2018
Source: UN Comtrade, WITS, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2018, share of food products in total merchandise exports in Sudan stood at 50.6%.
The figure is up 19.5% on the previous year and up 1,858.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of food products in total merchandise exports in Sudan peaked at 70.3% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 2.2%, in 2013.
That places Sudan 36th out of 196 countries with data for 2018, putting it in the top 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 Sudan, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 29.5% | — |
| 1964 | 37.8% | +28.2% |
| 1965 | 36.0% | -4.7% |
| 1966 | 36.0% | -0.0% |
| 1967 | 30.6% | -15.1% |
| 1968 | 27.5% | -9.9% |
| 1969 | 28.9% | +4.8% |
| 1970 | 24.6% | -14.9% |
| 1971 | 28.8% | +17.2% |
| 1972 | 28.8% | +0.2% |
| 1973 | 32.9% | +14.0% |
| 1974 | 44.6% | +35.8% |
| 1975 | 42.4% | -4.9% |
| 1976 | 38.9% | -8.3% |
| 1978 | 37.4% | -3.8% |
| 1979 | 28.6% | -23.5% |
| 1980 | 46.9% | +63.7% |
| 1981 | 58.8% | +25.4% |
| 1982 | 61.0% | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 42.7% | -29.9% |
| 1985 | 45.2% | +5.8% |
| 1995 | 44.4% | -1.8% |
| 1996 | 60.6% | +36.6% |
| 1997 | 58.0% | -4.2% |
| 1998 | 64.6% | +11.4% |
| 1999 | 70.3% | +8.8% |
| 2000 | 16.7% | -76.2% |
| 2001 | 10.4% | -37.8% |
| 2002 | 17.6% | +68.6% |
| 2003 | 10.4% | -40.6% |
| 2004 | 10.5% | +0.9% |
| 2005 | 6.8% | -35.0% |
| 2006 | 5.6% | -18.8% |
| 2007 | 2.4% | -56.8% |
| 2008 | 2.6% | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 5.8% | +125.7% |
| 2010 | 3.5% | -39.6% |
| 2011 | 6.3% | +78.0% |
| 2012 | 15.9% | +154.3% |
| 2013 | 2.2% | -86.1% |
| 2014 | 21.0% | +851.9% |
| 2015 | 30.0% | +43.0% |
| 2016 | 50.8% | +69.3% |
| 2017 | 42.3% | -16.8% |
| 2018 | 50.6% | +19.5% |
Sudan compared with similar countries
- Sudan's 50.6% is above the median for low income countries, which is 34.9%, 1.4× the median. (22 countries reporting)
- Sudan's 50.6% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.6%, 1.8× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Sudan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | +851.9% | 2.2% | 21.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 32.3% | 27.5% | 37.8% | 7 |
| 1970s | 34.1% | 24.6% | 44.6% | 9 |
| 1980s | 50.9% | 42.7% | 61.0% | 5 |
| 1990s | 59.6% | 44.4% | 70.3% | 5 |
| 2000s | 8.9% | 2.4% | 17.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 24.7% | 2.2% | 50.8% | 9 |
Countries ranked near Sudan
More economy & growth data for Sudan
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 2.1 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 4.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 54.24 million BoP, current US$ (2021)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0016 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2021)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 1.13 BoP, current US$ per person (2021)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 548.20 million BoP, current US$ (2023)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -4.41 % change on previous year (2023)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0137 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 10.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2023)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 5.73 % change on previous year (2017)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of food products in total merchandise exports in Sudan?
- Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Sudan was 50.6% in 2018, 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 Sudan?
- The highest recorded value was 70.3% in 1999.
- What is the lowest share of food products in total merchandise exports recorded in Sudan?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.2% in 2013.
- How does Sudan rank for share of food products in total merchandise exports?
- Sudan ranks 36th out of 196 countries with data for 2018.
- Is share of food products in total merchandise exports rising or falling in Sudan?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,858.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sudan 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.