Efforts are ramping up to close persistent data gaps in services trade data – a key step to unleashing the sector’s full potential for shared prosperity.

The global economy is increasingly shaped by the expansion of services – both as a standalone sector and essential inputs across primary industries and manufacturing.

But due to a lack of quality data, knowledge about the sector remains limited, especially in developing countries with reduced statistical capacity.

To mitigate this challenge, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) launched a new report, entitled “Primer on data for trade in services and development policies”.

The Primer seeks to make the complex statistical landscape more accessible, helping countries navigate over 20 key global datasets, identify persistent gaps – such as missing bilateral and digital services data – and apply them to analysis and development strategies.

The report also connects to broader capacity-building efforts of UN Trade and Development, including its TrainForTrade programme and the Trade-in-Services Statistics Information System (TiSSTAT), helping countries from West Africa to the Caribbean improve services data and policymaking.

Rising importance of services trade

The Primer was the focus of an event that took place during the annual China International Fair for Trade in Services held in Beijing.

Organized in partnership with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the event brought together policymakers, experts and business leaders to explore ways to improve trade-in-services data and empower developing countries to seize new opportunities for growth.

Services, a new engine for global trade, is increasingly powering economic diversification, resilience and inclusive growth.

Between 2014 and 2024, global services exports grew by an average of 5.3% per year, outpacing goods exports at 2.5%.

Digitally deliverable services expanded even faster — 6.4% annually worldwide and 8.6% in developing countries.

How services help transform economies

Services are not only an output, but also inputs for nearly everything produced, traded and consumed.

Manufacturing firms increasingly bundle services such as design, logistics and finance into their products – a trend that is reshaping comparative advantage and redefining industrialization strategies.

Recognizing the centrality of services is therefore crucial for economies pursuing sustainable and digital transformations.

Making the invisible visible

Despite services contributing over 40% of global value added in exports – over half in developed economies and one third in developing economies – many countries still lack robust data.

No more than 15 developing economies regularly publish partner-disaggregated services trade statistics, compared to 95% of developed economies.

This hampers evidence-based policymaking and limits countries’ ability to design strategies to harness services for structural transformation.

Building momentum towards UNCTAD16 and beyond

The Primer comes as the world gears up for the 16th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD16), set for 20-23 October in Geneva under the theme “Shaping the future: Driving economic transformation for equitable, inclusive and sustainable development”. 

The quadrennial conference will feature a Global Services Forum, offering a platform to spearhead policies that support economic diversification and inclusive growth.

Looking ahead, developing economies will require continued support through capacity-building, technical assistance and knowledge-sharing.  

For these economies, investing in data and capacity is the foundation for turning services into engines of growth, diversification and job creation.

Strengthening national statistical capacities and collaboration between data producers and users – across ministries, statistical offices, and international partners – will be key to ensuring that services trade data becomes more accessible, policy-relevant and widely used.