An Integrated UNCTAD Open-Source Indicator Framework
The 175 UNCTAD indicators have been strategically compiled to create a comprehensive, open-source integrated indicator framework. By consolidating diverse metrics—ranging from maritime logistics and digital readiness to environmental sustainability—this framework eliminates the silos between different sectors of global trade and development. It offers a holistic view of the global economy, allowing users to access high-quality, standardized data that is essential for understanding the interdependencies of the modern international landscape.
Empowering UNCTAD Data for Research and Education
This collection serves as a powerful resource designed specifically for research and education. For academics, policy analysts, and students, the framework provides the empirical foundation necessary for longitudinal studies, econometric modeling, and comparative analysis across various regions. By making these complex datasets accessible and structured, it empowers the next generation of thinkers to identify emerging trends and develop evidence-based solutions for the world’s most pressing economic and development challenges using official UNCTAD methodology.
UNCTAD Indicators as a Representation of Social Responsibility
Beyond its technical utility, the compilation of these indicators represents a profound commitment to social responsibility. By prioritizing transparency and providing free access to critical data, this framework supports the democratization of information. It ensures that stakeholders in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have access to the same analytical tools as larger economies, fostering a more equitable global dialogue. This initiative reflects a dedication to monitoring progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring that economic growth remains inclusive, accountable, and sustainable.
UNCTAD Open-Source Indicator Framework
| Category | Indicator Name |
| International Trade | 1. Merchandise Exports Value |
| 2. Merchandise Imports Value | |
| 3. Services Exports (by category) | |
| 4. Services Imports (by category) | |
| 5. Merchandise Trade Balance | |
| 6. Trade Openness Index | |
| 7. Commodity Price Index | |
| 8. Terms of Trade Index | |
| 9. Export Sophistication Index | |
| 10. Concentration Index (Product) | |
| 11. Diversification Index | |
| 12. Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) | |
| 13. Intra-regional Trade Share | |
| 14. ICT Goods Trade | |
| Investment & Finance | 15. FDI Inflows |
| 16. FDI Outflows | |
| 17. Inward FDI Stock | |
| 18. Outward FDI Stock | |
| 19. Green Field Investment Projects | |
| 20. Cross-border M&A Deals | |
| 21. Current Account Balance | |
| 22. External Debt (Total) | |
| 23. Debt Service Ratio | |
| 24. Personal Remittances Received | |
| 25. Official Development Assistance (ODA) | |
| Economic Development | 26. Real GDP Growth Rate |
| 27. GDP at Current Prices | |
| 28. GDP Per Capita | |
| 29. Gross Fixed Capital Formation | |
| 30. Manufacturing Value Added | |
| 31. Consumer Price Index (Inflation) | |
| 32. Productive Capacities Index (PCI) | |
| 33. Human Development Index (Contribution) | |
| Maritime & Logistics | 34. Merchant Fleet by Flag of Registration |
| 35. Merchant Fleet by Country of Ownership | |
| 36. Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (LSCI) | |
| 37. Port Container Throughput (TEUs) | |
| 38. World Seaborne Trade by Cargo Type | |
| 39. Average Time in Port | |
| 40. Ship Scrapping Tonnage | |
| Population & Labor | 41. Total Population |
| 42. Urban Population Share | |
| 43. Labor Force Participation Rate | |
| 44. Dependency Ratio (Young/Old) | |
| 45. Youth Unemployment Rate | |
| Technology & Digital | 46. Digital Trade Estimates |
| 47. Individuals Using the Internet | |
| 48. Fixed Broadband Subscriptions | |
| 49. E-commerce Readiness Index | |
| 50. High-technology Export Share |
| Category | Indicator Name |
| Productive Capacities | 51. Human Capital Score (Education & Health) |
| 52. Natural Capital Score (Resources & Extractives) | |
| 53. Energy Score (Availability & Efficiency) | |
| 54. ICT Connectivity Score | |
| 55. Institutional Quality Score (Stability & Regulatory) | |
| 56. Private Sector Dynamism Score | |
| 57. Structural Change Score (Productivity Shifts) | |
| 58. Transport Connectivity Score | |
| Environmental Trade | 59. BioTrade Export Value |
| 60. Ocean Economy Trade Shares | |
| 61. Trade in Plastic-based Products | |
| 62. Trade in Non-plastic Substitutes | |
| 63. Environmental Goods Trade Performance | |
| 64. Carbon Intensity of International Trade | |
| Digital Economy | 65. Digitally Deliverable Services Exports |
| 66. E-commerce Sales (% of GDP) | |
| 67. Business Use of Internet (%) | |
| 68. ICT Sector Share of Total Employment | |
| 69. Cyberlaw Legislation Adoption Rate | |
| 70. Secure Internet Servers per 1M People | |
| Investment & Finance | 71. International Project Finance Trends |
| 72. Sovereign Wealth Fund Investment Flows | |
| 73. SDG Investment Gap Estimates | |
| 74. Debt-to-Export Ratio | |
| 75. Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) Estimates | |
| Maritime & Logistics | 76. Average Ship Turnaround Time in Port |
| 77. Carbon Emissions from Global Shipping | |
| 78. Ship Scrapping & Recycling Tonnage | |
| 79. Bilateral Shipping Connectivity Index | |
| 80. Freight Rate Indices (Container/Bulk) | |
| Inclusiveness & Social | 81. Gender Gap in Digital Entrepreneurship |
| 82. Youth Participation in Formal Trade | |
| 83. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Vulnerability | |
| 84. Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC) Trade Costs | |
| 85. Concentration of Wealth in Trade (Theil Index) |
UNCTAD Statistical Indicators (Continued 86–100)
| Category | Indicator Name |
| Trade Dynamics | 86. Export Market Concentration Index (by country of origin) |
| 87. Import Market Concentration Index (by country of destination) | |
| 88. Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) Index | |
| 89. Trade Specialization Index | |
| 90. Market Access Indicators (Tariff & Non-Tariff Measures) | |
| Sustainable Development | 91. SDG 17.11.1: Developing Countries’ Share of Global Exports |
| 92. Aid for Trade Commitments and Disbursements | |
| 93. Sustainable Energy Goods Trade Flow | |
| 94. Biodiversity-based Products (BioTrade) Share | |
| 95. Trade in Renewable Energy Technologies | |
| Special Groupings | 96. LDCs (Least Developed Countries) Trade Performance |
| 97. LLDCs (Landlocked Developing Countries) Transit Costs | |
| 98. SIDS (Small Island Developing States) Economic Vulnerability | |
| 99. South-South Trade Volume and Growth | |
| Future Trends | 100. AI-Powered Trade Nowcasts (Real-time Growth Estimates) |
UNCTAD Statistical Indicators (Continued 101–125)
| Category | Indicator Name |
| Trade in Services | 101. Creative Services Exports Estimates |
| 102. Digitally Deliverable Services (BPM6) | |
| 103. Knowledge-intensive Services Trade Share | |
| 104. Manufacturing-related Services Exports | |
| Commodities | 105. UNCTAD Commodity Price Index (New Method, 2015=100) |
| 106. Food Price Index (Processed vs. Unprocessed) | |
| 107. Minerals, Ores, and Metals Price Index | |
| 108. Agricultural Raw Materials Index | |
| Environmental Trade | 109. Trade in Plastic Waste and Scrap |
| 110. Export Value of Non-plastic Substitutes | |
| 111. Ocean Economy Goods and Services Trade | |
| 112. Trade-related Carbon Emission Intensities | |
| Investment & Finance | 113. Green Field Investment Projects (By Sector) |
| 114. Cross-border M&A Deal Values | |
| 115. SDG Investment Trends in Developing Economies | |
| 116. External Debt-to-GDP Ratio | |
| Maritime Transport | 117. Port Liner Shipping Connectivity Index (PLSCI) |
| 118. Average Vessel Age by Flag of Registration | |
| 119. Seaborne Trade Volume (Loaded vs. Discharged) | |
| 120. Freight Rate Indices (Dry Bulk and Tanker) | |
| Social & Inclusive | 121. Gender Parity Index in Trade-related Employment |
| 122. Under-five Mortality Rate (LDC Criterion) | |
| 123. Adult Literacy Rate (Human Assets Index) | |
| 124. Share of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing in GDP | |
| Technology | 125. Cyberlaw Legislation Adoption (E-transactions, Privacy, Crime) |
| Category | Indicator Name |
| Trade & Environment | 126. Export value of environmentally sensitive goods |
| 127. Trade in second-hand and scrap metal products | |
| 128. Share of renewable energy technology in total machinery trade | |
| 129. Plastic waste imports and exports by region | |
| 130. Sustainable Ocean Economy (Blue Economy) export share | |
| Creative Economy | 131. Creative goods exports (Art, Crafts, Design, Media) |
| 132. Market concentration index of creative goods | |
| 133. International trade in creative services (Research, R&D) | |
| 134. Audiovisual and related services trade | |
| Digital & Tech | 135. ICT producing sector share of GDP |
| 136. Digital Economy Project Values (Greenfield investments) | |
| 137. Online purchase prevalence (% of population) | |
| 138. ICT services exports growth rates | |
| 139. Number of secure internet servers per capita | |
| Investment Trends | 140. International project finance deals in renewable energy |
| 141. Value of cross-border M&A in the digital sector | |
| 142. SDG investment trends in LDCs and SIDS | |
| 143. Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) outward investment flows | |
| Maritime & Logistics | 144. Bilateral Liner Shipping Connectivity Index |
| 145. Average ship turnaround time by vessel type | |
| 146. World seaborne trade: Loaded vs. Discharged volumes | |
| 147. Deadweight tonnage (DWT) of the world merchant fleet | |
| Development Finance | 148. External debt stocks of developing economies |
| 149. Net Official Development Assistance (ODA) as % of GNI | |
| 150. Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) estimated trade misinvoicing |
| Category | Indicator Name |
| Productive Capacities | 151. Institutional Quality Score (Regulatory Efficiency & Stability) |
| 152. Private Sector Dynamism (Ease of Starting & Operating Business) | |
| 153. Energy Efficiency (GDP per unit of energy used) | |
| 154. Research & Development (R&D) Expenditure (% of GDP) | |
| 155. Number of Researchers per Million Inhabitants | |
| 156. Natural Capital Sustainability (Material footprint per capita) | |
| 157. Structural Transformation Index (Resource shift to high-productivity) | |
| Digital & AI | 158. AI-Powered Trade Nowcasts (Real-time trade growth estimates) |
| 159. Digitally Deliverable Services Share of World Services Trade | |
| 160. Critical Minerals for Digital Transition (Extraction & Trade) | |
| 161. E-waste Generation and Collection Rates | |
| 162. Data Centre Electricity Consumption (TWh) | |
| 163. 5G Broadband Population Coverage (%) | |
| Maritime & Chokepoints | 164. Suez Canal Vessel Transit Tonnage |
| 165. Panama Canal Water Level Impact on Trade Throughput | |
| 166. Average Voyage Distance (Ton-Miles) for Seaborne Trade | |
| 167. Baltic Dry Index (BDI) and Tanker Freight Volatility | |
| 168. Alternative Fuel Vessels Share of New Ship Orders | |
| 169. Carbon Intensity of Global Merchant Fleet (CO2 per ton-mile) | |
| Sustainable Investment | 170. International Project Finance in Renewable Energy |
| 171. Investment in Agrifood Systems (SDG Target) | |
| 172. Water and Sanitation Project Finance Deals | |
| 173. Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) Green Investment Share | |
| Global Vulnerability | 174. South-South Trade Growth vs. North-South Trade |
| 175. LDC Economic Growth vs. 7% Target (Agenda 2030) |
Data Sources and Methodology
These indicators are sourced from UNCTADstat, the central data repository of UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The figures are compiled through a rigorous process that integrates official national statistics from member states with data from international partner organizations, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Trade Organization (WTO), and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).
To ensure global comparability, UNCTAD applies its Statistics Quality Assurance Framework, utilizing advanced econometric modeling and AI-powered "nowcasting" to fill data gaps for developing economies. Key annual publications, such as the Handbook of Statistics, the World Investment Report, and the Review of Maritime Transport, serve as the primary authoritative vehicles for these datasets, providing the evidence base for global policy-making and the monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).