Economy, investment and finance

Data insights

Economic, investment and financial data provide vital measurements of economies' health, overall development and capacity for growth. This collection of thematic insights explores critical dimensions of national accounts, economic potential and price signals.

Economies vary considerably in their productive capacities

World map - Productive Capacity Index overall and component indices

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

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The overall Productive Capacity Index (PCI) score reveals a stark global divide. Developed economies score very high with economies such as Denmark, Australia and the United States, leading the pack with an average score of 70.5 in 2024. From the developing regions Asia and Latin America performed better than the African region. Economies such as China, Singapore and Saudi Arabia are gradually converging towards developed-country levels, achieving average scores of about 61.3. 

At the lower end of the spectrum, several African economies — including Somalia and Niger — register PCI scores below 20, underscoring persistent structural constraints. In continental Africa, South Africa, Tunisia and Morocco, stand out as top performers on the continent with an average score of 49.2 and achieve relatively strong results compared to their regional peers. 

Data updated on 31 Oct 2025

Least Developed Countries are developing their productive capacities fast but have a long way to catch up

Median overall Productive Capacities Index within group

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

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Developed economies remain far ahead in productive capacities, but progress has largely stalled since COVID-19. Developing countries have made notable gains since 2000, yet the gap persists, with little sign of convergence. LDCs have advanced steadily, though more slowly since 2016, while SIDS, once outperforming the developing average, have grown at a slower pace and are now aligned with other developing economies.

Data updated on 31 Oct 2025

Productive capacities among LDCs has developed fastest in the Information and Communication Technology category

Median Productive Capacities Index per category in Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

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Between 2000 and 2024, growth in productive capacities among LDCs has been driven by strong gains in Information and Commuication Technology (ICT), with smaller contributions from the private sector, energy and human capital—though the latter has notably declined since COVID-19.

Natural capital remains the largest component of LDCs’ productive capacities, although it has slightly declined compared with the 2000s. This is a key asset but also a vulnerability, due to risks from commodity dependence.

Structural change has remained quite volatile, underscoring the difficulty of translating sectoral shifts into sustainable transformation. Transport has been the weakest area, showing stagnation throughout the period and partial recovery after COVID-19 disruptions

Data updated on 31 Oct 2025

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International trade
Maritime and other transport
Environment
Digital economy and technology
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