Économie numérique et technologie

Digitally deliverable services – those that can be delivered remotely over computer networks such as the Internet – now account for over half of all services exports worldwide and their share grew especially during the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, although exhibiting a slightly downward trend in recent years due to the bounce back of transport and travel post-COVID-19.

In 2021, amid the COVID-19 lockdown that disrupted many traditional trade flows, world digitally deliverable services exports increased by a remarkable 18%. The expansion continued in 2022 and 2023, with upswings of 5 and 9%, respectively. Three quarters of the exports, worth some $3 372 billion, originated from developed economies, leaving developing world exports at an estimated $1 090 billion for 2023. 

In 2023, exports of digitally deliverable services from developing economies grew by 9%. The growth was prominent across all developing regions: Africa, Americas, Asia and Oceania. Their share in total services exports was 46%, while for the developed world it stood at 61%. It is estimated that about 95% of digitally deliverable services have actually been digitally delivered since 2021. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the share hovered around 87%.