Skip to main content

International trade

Data insights

International trade is the backbone of the global economy, facilitating the exchange of goods, services and ideas across borders. It fosters economic growth, enhances productivity and drives innovation. This collection of thematic insights delves into key aspects of international trade, offering a deeper understanding of its diverse components.

Global exports of creative services increasing faster than creative goods

Exports of creative goods and creative services, billions of United States dollars

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat.

Over the past two decades, exports of creative goods increased by more than 3.5-fold, compared to a 3.8-fold increase for all exported goods. In the last decade, creative services exports grew 2.8-fold, surpassing the 1.5-fold increase for all services exports. These data have been calculated by UNCTAD based on identifying goods and services with a significant creative component from the EBOPS for services (experimental estimation) and based on the HS classification for goods. 

In 2022, UNCTAD estimated that creative services exports reached a record $1.4 trillion, nearly double the $713 billion for creative goods exports. Recently, creative goods and services exports have diverged due to a surge in software and R&D services exports and the digitization of some creative products.

Data updated on 15 Apr 2024

Metadata

The creative economy has no single definition. It is an evolving concept which builds on the interplay between human creativity and ideas and intellectual property, knowledge and technology. Essentially it is the knowledge-based economic activities upon which the ‘creative industries’ are based. 

The creative industries – which include advertising, architecture, arts and crafts, design, fashion, film, video, photography, music, performing arts, publishing, research & development, software, computer games, electronic publishing, and TV/radio – are the lifeblood of the creative economy. They are also considered an important source of commercial and cultural value.

Full metadata are available in our Data Centre for: