Agricultural raw materials exports in Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: Agricultural raw materials exports was 2.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Agricultural raw materials exports in Sub-Saharan Africa, 1974–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
In 2024, agricultural raw materials exports in Sub-Saharan Africa stood at 2.6%.
The figure is down 8.7% on the previous year and up 5.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, agricultural raw materials exports in Sub-Saharan Africa peaked at 9.4% in 1974 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 2014.
Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 11th of 46 groups on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 34 years of available data.
Agricultural raw materials exports in Sub-Saharan Africa, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 9.4% | — |
| 1975 | 7.8% | -16.4% |
| 1976 | 8.7% | +11.1% |
| 1977 | 7.4% | -14.6% |
| 1978 | 6.6% | -10.5% |
| 1979 | 6.6% | -0.6% |
| 1981 | 4.7% | -29.6% |
| 1996 | 7.1% | +53.6% |
| 1997 | 7.7% | +7.0% |
| 1998 | 6.8% | -11.2% |
| 1999 | 6.8% | -0.1% |
| 2000 | 6.0% | -11.8% |
| 2001 | 5.4% | -9.3% |
| 2002 | 5.1% | -5.4% |
| 2003 | 5.7% | +10.3% |
| 2006 | 3.9% | -31.4% |
| 2007 | 3.7% | -3.6% |
| 2008 | 3.8% | +0.7% |
| 2009 | 3.4% | -9.6% |
| 2010 | 2.9% | -13.9% |
| 2011 | 4.7% | +59.7% |
| 2012 | 4.6% | -2.6% |
| 2013 | 3.2% | -30.4% |
| 2014 | 2.4% | -23.5% |
| 2015 | 2.5% | +2.7% |
| 2016 | 3.1% | +24.5% |
| 2017 | 3.0% | -2.5% |
| 2018 | 3.0% | -1.4% |
| 2019 | 3.0% | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 3.1% | +2.3% |
| 2021 | 3.4% | +11.8% |
| 2022 | 3.1% | -10.5% |
| 2023 | 2.8% | -8.5% |
| 2024 | 2.6% | -8.7% |
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Agricultural raw materials exports in Sub-Saharan Africa 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | +59.7% | 2.9% | 4.7% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 7.8% | 6.6% | 9.4% | 6 |
| 1980s | 4.7% | 4.7% | 4.7% | 1 |
| 1990s | 7.1% | 6.8% | 7.7% | 4 |
| 2000s | 4.6% | 3.4% | 6.0% | 8 |
| 2010s | 3.2% | 2.4% | 4.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 3.0% | 2.6% | 3.4% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sub-Saharan Africa
More agriculture & rural data for Sub-Saharan Africa
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), annual 10.7 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per capita 0.5534 units per person (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 0.1791 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, value added (current US$), per 299.6 current US$ per person (2025)
- Rural population, annual growth rate 1.53 % change on previous year (2025)
- Rural population, per unit of GDP 0.0003 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Agricultural raw materials imports 1.0% (2024)
- Rural population 55.3% (2025)
- Rural population growth 1.5% (2025)
- Rural population 731.42 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is agricultural raw materials exports in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Agricultural raw materials exports in Sub-Saharan Africa was 2.6% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest agricultural raw materials exports recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 9.4% in 1974.
- What is the lowest agricultural raw materials exports recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 2014.
- How does Sub-Saharan Africa rank for agricultural raw materials exports?
- Sub-Saharan Africa ranks 11th out of 46 groups with data for 2024.
- Is agricultural raw materials exports rising or falling in Sub-Saharan Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 5.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Sub-Saharan Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Agricultural raw materials exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Agricultural raw materials comprise section 2 of SITC Rev. 3 (crude materials, inedible, except fuels) excluding divisions 22 (oil-seeds and oleaginous fruits), 27 (crude fertilizers and minerals excluding coal, petroleum, and precious stones), and 28 (metalliferous ores and scrap). This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-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.