Data insights

What do UNCTAD’s data reveal?

Data Insights of UN Trade and Development highlight key messages extracted from UNCTADstat data through careful analysis, highlighting key global trends in trade and development. Decision-makers, researchers and stakeholders can explore the numbers behind the critical issues shaping the future.

International trade

Merchandise, Services, Creative goods and services, Trade in critical minerals, Food by processing level

More than three quarters of Africa’s exports are primary goods

30 Oct 2026

Western Asia and Northern Africa show world's highest concentration of exports by product

30 Oct 2026

In 2025, South-South trade reached $6.9 trillion, marking a significant increase on 2024

30 Oct 2026

São Paulo Round signatories' intra-trade still below 10% of their exports, showing scope for expansion

30 Oct 2026

Economy, investment and finance

National accounts, South-South cooperation, Investment and balance of payments, Productive capacities, Inflation and exchange rates, Commodity prices

In developing economies, foreign direct investment remains highly concentrated

21 Oct 2026

Developing Asia remained the largest FDI recipient globally, attracting 40% of global inflows

21 Oct 2026

Fuel price growth surging in September 2026, while growth in minerals, ores and metals slowed down

9 Oct 2026

Trade openness varies widely across economies

1 Sep 2026

Maritime and other transport

Merchant fleet, Freight volumes by sea, Maritime connectivity, Global transport of merchandise trade

Global shipping networks rely on strong regional anchors

28 Sep 2026

93% of world ship carrying capacity is owned in Asia and Europe

18 Jun 2026

Ship building and recycling are concentrated in a few economies; while ownership and registration are more dispersed

18 Jun 2026

Ports in developing economies of Asia handle the majority of world port container traffic

15 Apr 2026

Environment and related trade

Biodiversity-based products, Ocean goods and services, Non-plastic substitutes, Plastic-based products, Green industrial goods

Global trade in non-plastic substitutes is dominated by developed economies

2 Oct 2026

Only around one third of the $484 billion in non-plastic substitutes exported in 2024 consisted of processed products

2 Oct 2026

Trade in ocean goods and services reached $2.5 trillion in 2025

18 Sep 2026

In Small Island Developing States, services account for 90% of ocean exports

18 Sep 2026

Digital economy and technology

Digital economy, E-commerce, Technology and innovation

E-commerce sales by businesses continue growing rapidly

14 Oct 2026

Exports of digitally deliverable services grew faster in developing than in developed economies in 2025

29 Sep 2026

Digitally deliverable services cover 56% of total services exports globally, but only 15% in Least Developed Countries

29 Sep 2026

International trade in electronic components on a gallop for the last 15 years

1 Dec 2025

Population and inclusiveness

Population, Inclusive growth

Population growth robust in Africa, while Europe stagnates

21 May 2026

Developing economies experience fastest population growth

21 May 2026

Developed economies’ population keeps ageing

21 May 2026

Dependency ratios are highest in Africa

21 May 2026