Net food imports by crop - Wheat in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: Net food imports by crop - Wheat was 3.10 million in 2019. ◆ Volatile

Latest (2019)
3.10 million
Change on year
up 21.3%
World rank
18th
of 175 countries
All-time high
3.24 million
in 2014
All-time low
-6,867
in 2003
Years of data
59
1961–2019

Net food imports by crop - Wheat in Saudi Arabia, 1961–2019

01.0M2.0M3.0M196119902019

Source: FAOSTAT. Available at: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data.

Analysis

The most recent figure for net food imports by crop - wheat in Saudi Arabia is 3.10 million, measured in 2019.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 21.3% on the previous year and up 138.3% over ten years.

Over the whole period, net food imports by crop - wheat in Saudi Arabia peaked at 3.24 million in 2014 and was at its lowest, -6,867, in 2003.

That places Saudi Arabia 18th out of 175 countries with data for 2019, putting it in the top 10%.

The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.

Net food imports by crop - Wheat in Saudi Arabia, year by year

Annual values for Net food imports by crop - Wheat in Saudi Arabia, 1961 to 2019.
Year Value Change
1961 30,941 —
1962 43,030 +39.1%
1963 50,627 +17.7%
1964 48,854 -3.5%
1965 81,617 +67.1%
1966 74,172 -9.1%
1967 164,660 +122.0%
1968 32,718 -80.1%
1969 68,229 +108.5%
1970 131,618 +92.9%
1971 79,187 -39.8%
1972 101,699 +28.4%
1973 77,103 -24.2%
1974 68,252 -11.5%
1975 12,649 -81.5%
1976 26,446 +109.1%
1977 51,732 +95.6%
1978 55,952 +8.2%
1979 289,632 +417.6%
1980 172,247 -40.5%
1981 437,895 +154.2%
1982 567,633 +29.6%
1983 434,335 -23.5%
1984 177,460 -59.1%
1985 65,031 -63.4%
1986 80,039 +23.1%
1987 112,474 +40.5%
1988 143,255 +27.4%
1989 129,698 -9.5%
1990 127,915 -1.4%
1991 121,905 -4.7%
1992 98,180 -19.5%
1993 20,974 -78.6%
1994 991 -95.3%
1995 865 -12.7%
1996 460 -46.8%
1997 39 -91.5%
1998 -9 -123.1%
1999 28,200 -313433.3%
2000 19,966 -29.2%
2001 938 -95.3%
2002 1,248 +33.0%
2003 -6,867 -650.2%
2004 559 -108.1%
2005 -4,154 -843.1%
2006 -194 -95.3%
2007 -1,534 +690.7%
2008 247,302 -16221.4%
2009 1.30 million +425.8%
2010 1.60 million +23.1%
2011 2.06 million +28.5%
2012 2.25 million +9.2%
2013 2.12 million -5.6%
2014 3.24 million +52.8%
2015 2.90 million -10.6%
2016 2.55 million -11.9%
2017 2.86 million +11.9%
2018 2.55 million -10.6%
2019 3.10 million +21.3%

Saudi Arabia compared with similar countries

  • Saudi Arabia's 3.10 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 97,313, 31.8× the median. (62 countries reporting)
  • Saudi Arabia's 3.10 million is above the median for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan & Pakistan, which is 590,246, 5.3× the median. (22 countries reporting)

Biggest year-on-year movements

Years where Net food imports by crop - Wheat in Saudi Arabia 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.

YearChange FromTo
1999 +313433.3% -9 28,200
2008 +16221.4% -1,534 247,302
2005 -843.1% 559 -4,154
2007 -690.7% -194 -1,534
2003 -650.2% 1,248 -6,867
2009 +425.8% 247,302 1.30 million

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1960s 66,094 30,941 164,660 9
1970s 89,427 12,649 289,632 10
1980s 232,007 65,031 567,633 10
1990s 39,952 -9 127,915 10
2000s 155,757 -6,867 1.30 million 10
2010s 2.52 million 1.60 million 3.24 million 10

Countries ranked near Saudi Arabia

  1. 15 Morocco 3.84 million compare
  2. 16 South Korea 3.75 million compare
  3. 17 Belgium 3.66 million compare
  4. 19 Thailand 2.70 million compare
  5. 20 Vietnam 2.66 million compare
  6. 21 Sudan 2.10 million compare

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More reference data data for Saudi Arabia

All data for Saudi Arabia →

Frequently asked questions

What is net food imports by crop - wheat in Saudi Arabia?
Net food imports by crop - wheat in Saudi Arabia was 3.10 million in 2019, according to FAOSTAT. Available at: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data.
What is the highest net food imports by crop - wheat recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The highest recorded value was 3.24 million in 2014.
What is the lowest net food imports by crop - wheat recorded in Saudi Arabia?
The lowest recorded value was -6,867 in 2003.
How does Saudi Arabia rank for net food imports by crop - wheat?
Saudi Arabia ranks 18th out of 175 countries with data for 2019.
Is net food imports by crop - wheat rising or falling in Saudi Arabia?
Over the last ten years it is up 138.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
Where does this Saudi Arabia data come from?
The figures come from FAOSTAT. Available at: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data, published as part of Net food imports by crop - Wheat. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Net food imports by crop - Wheat in Saudi Arabia. Statizoid, drawing on FAOSTAT. Available at: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data. Retrieved 28 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/net-food-imports-by-crop-wheat/saudi-arabia/

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About this data

Indicator
Net food imports by crop - Wheat
Source
FAOSTAT. Available at: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
175 places, 7,821 data points, 1961–2019
Last refreshed

Net food imports are generated from FAOSTAT, taking Export level (tonnes) from the Import level (tonnes) [both under Trade: Crops and Livestock Products]. Net food imports are a proxy for the country's vulnerability to global food prices.