Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Tanzania
Tanzania: Share of food products in total merchandise exports was 37.4% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
37.4%
Change on year
up 12.8%
World rank
54th
of 196 countries
All-time high
69.9%
in 1999
All-time low
20.5%
in 2011
Years of data
35
1976–2024
Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Tanzania, 1976–2024
Source: UN Comtrade, WITS, and World Bank staff estimates (2026) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2024, share of food products in total merchandise exports in Tanzania stood at 37.4%.
The figure is up 12.8% on the previous year and down 15.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of food products in total merchandise exports in Tanzania peaked at 69.9% in 1999 and was at its lowest, 20.5%, in 2011.
Tanzania ranks 54th of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 35 years of available data.
Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Tanzania, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 60.1% | — |
| 1977 | 68.6% | +14.2% |
| 1978 | 65.2% | -4.9% |
| 1979 | 61.0% | -6.5% |
| 1980 | 58.1% | -4.8% |
| 1981 | 63.1% | +8.5% |
| 1987 | 68.4% | +8.6% |
| 1997 | 65.2% | -4.7% |
| 1998 | 60.9% | -6.6% |
| 1999 | 69.9% | +14.7% |
| 2000 | 54.8% | -21.6% |
| 2001 | 44.7% | -18.4% |
| 2002 | 43.1% | -3.5% |
| 2003 | 37.1% | -13.9% |
| 2004 | 33.1% | -10.8% |
| 2005 | 37.1% | +11.9% |
| 2006 | 34.2% | -7.9% |
| 2007 | 35.0% | +2.6% |
| 2008 | 28.3% | -19.3% |
| 2009 | 25.7% | -9.0% |
| 2010 | 24.0% | -6.6% |
| 2011 | 20.5% | -14.5% |
| 2012 | 25.5% | +24.0% |
| 2013 | 29.3% | +15.2% |
| 2014 | 44.4% | +51.3% |
| 2015 | 40.6% | -8.7% |
| 2016 | 36.9% | -8.9% |
| 2017 | 40.0% | +8.2% |
| 2018 | 21.9% | -45.2% |
| 2019 | 31.7% | +44.5% |
| 2020 | 27.8% | -12.1% |
| 2021 | 31.3% | +12.4% |
| 2022 | 28.9% | -7.5% |
| 2023 | 33.1% | +14.5% |
| 2024 | 37.4% | +12.8% |
Tanzania compared with similar countries
- Tanzania's 37.4% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 21.6%, 1.7× the median. (47 countries reporting)
- Tanzania's 37.4% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 27.6%, 1.4× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 63.7% | 60.1% | 68.6% | 4 |
| 1980s | 63.2% | 58.1% | 68.4% | 3 |
| 1990s | 65.3% | 60.9% | 69.9% | 3 |
| 2000s | 37.3% | 25.7% | 54.8% | 10 |
| 2010s | 31.5% | 20.5% | 44.4% | 10 |
| 2020s | 31.7% | 27.8% | 37.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Tanzania
More economy & growth data for Tanzania
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 3.67 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 6.5 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 2.26 million BoP, current US$ (2003)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0001 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2003)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 0.0609 BoP, current US$ per person (2003)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 1.72 billion BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 4.16 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0217 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 25.05 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate -14.24 % change on previous year (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of food products in total merchandise exports in Tanzania?
- Share of food products in total merchandise exports in Tanzania was 37.4% 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 Tanzania?
- The highest recorded value was 69.9% in 1999.
- What is the lowest share of food products in total merchandise exports recorded in Tanzania?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.5% in 2011.
- How does Tanzania rank for share of food products in total merchandise exports?
- Tanzania ranks 54th out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of food products in total merchandise exports rising or falling in Tanzania?
- Over the last ten years it is down 15.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Tanzania 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.