Digital economy and technology

Data insights

The rapid advancement of digital technologies has transformed economies and reshaped the way businesses, governments and individuals interact globally. The digital economy, driven by innovation, connectivity and technological disruption, plays a pivotal role in shaping economic growth, productivity and societal change. This collection of thematic insights explores key aspects of the digital economy and technology, offering a comprehensive understanding of its evolving landscape.

Over $28 trillion of e-commerce sales in 2024

E-commerce sales, trillions of dollars, 2024

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

Based on data from 46 developed and developing economies which account for three quarters of global GDP.

See metadata.

Businesses located in 46 developed and developing economies that account for three quarters of global GDP recorded nearly $28 trillion in e‑commerce sales in 2024. A global measure of e-commerce would be even higher. This includes sales to customers both within the same economy and abroad.

Among the measured economies, the United States of America, Europe and China dominate e‑commerce sales. This reflects the presence of complex and digitalized supply chains supporting manufacturing, retail and other business activities, as well as these economies' central role in global value chains.
Data updated on 14 Oct 2026

E-commerce sales by businesses continue growing rapidly

Business e-commerce sales value and GDP, in current prices (index, 2016=100)

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

Based on a sample of 46 developed and developing economies, accounting for three quarters of global GDP.

See metadata.

Business e‑commerce sales have grown rapidly since 2016, based on statistics available across 46 developed and developing economies that generate three quarters of global GDP. This trend accelerated during the COVID‑19 pandemic (2020-2023), when both businesses and their customers turned to e-commerce to mitigate disruption to other sales channels.

Sales in 2024 were 5.5% higher than in 2023, representing a slight easing in the rate of increase. The continued growth of e‑commerce reflects the benefits that online sales channels offer businesses, enabling them to reach customers beyond their immediate location, including internationally, and to receive orders at any time.

Data updated on 14 Oct 2026

E-commerce is growing faster in developing economies

Average annual growth in business e-commerce sales value, percentage, 2016-2024

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

Based on data representing 10 developing and 36 developed economies.

See metadata.

From 2016 to 2024, e‑commerce sales by businesses in developing economies grew at over twice the average annual rate recorded in developed economies, based on a sample of economies with available data. 

In developed economies, businesses widely offer online ordering as a sales channel. While adoption continues to increase, and the value of e‑commerce sales is rising, digital ordering has already been adopted by many businesses for which it is well suited. By contrast, many developing economies are undergoing rapid digitalisation, including the adoption of digital ordering processes.

Data updated on 14 Oct 2026

Metadata

The availability of e-commerce value statistics remains limited, especially for developing economies. These analyses are based on e-commerce sales figures published by national statistical offices or other competent agencies of 46 developed and developing economies. The economies covered account for three quarters of global GDP and include the following developing economies: China; Colombia; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Kazakhstan; Malaysia; Mexico; Philippines; Singapore; and Thailand. The following developed economies are covered: Australia; Austria; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Canada; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Kingdom of the Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Republic of Korea; Romania; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; United Kingdom; and United States of America.

For the derivation of trends over time, missing values for specific periods for individual economies are estimated using linear interpolation and extrapolation based on growth rates observed across economies.

As the underlying value figures are expressed in current prices, the trends in real e-commerce sales values are affected by changes in the prices of the goods and services sold via e-commerce.

An e-commerce transaction is "the sale or purchase of goods or services, conducted over computer networks by methods specifically designed for the purpose of receiving or placing of orders. The goods or services are ordered by those methods, but the payment and the ultimate delivery of the goods or services do not have to be conducted online" (OECD, 2009; 2025. See The 2025 OECD definition of e-commerce and guidelines for interpretation).

A key outcome of this definition is that e-commerce does not include orders placed via manually typed messages sent through email or messaging apps, orders placed through voice or video calls, or placement through any other "general purpose" method not "specifically designed for the purpose of receiving or placing of orders".

However, in operationalizing the definition, some economies include orders placed through manually typed messages. There are also variations in the economic activities and firm sizes covered, and in the valuation of e-commerce sales. Notably, some economies include sales taxes such as the value added tax in the value reported. 

Full metadata are available in the Data Centre for:

More data insights

International trade
Economy and finance
Maritime and other transport
Environment
Population and inclusiveness