The Handbook on Measuring Digital Trade, a collaborative effort by the OECD, IMF, UNCTAD and WTO, sets out a conceptual and measurement framework for digital trade which aligns with the broader standards for macro-economic statistics. By defining what digital trade refers to (all international trade that is digitally ordered and/or digitally delivered) and by clarifying how digital trade relates to international trade as a whole, the Handbook helps statistical compilers produce consistent and comparable data on digital trade.
Measuring digital trade
Statistical evidence on the magnitude and evolution of digital trade, defined as all international trade that is digitally ordered and/or digitally delivered, is still partial. The OECD, in close collaboration with its Members and other international organisations, is responding to the growing demand for coherent and comparable statistics by developing methodological guidance on how to measure digital transactions as well as by producing experimental estimates of digital trade.
Key messages
Digital trade remains largely invisible in traditional trade statistics, however, proxy measures for digitally ordered and digitally delivered trade suggest that, in 2020, digital trade represented 25% of global trade (just under 5 trillion USD) with digitally deliverable trade being the fastest growing segment. Estimates also show that the geography of digital trade is changing, with the Indo-Pacific region witnessing largest increases.
Context
Digitally deliverable services are the fastest growing segment of international trade
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Related policy issues
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In an interconnected world, international trade plays a crucial role in economic development. However, keeping track of the flows of goods and services across countries is no easy task, due to the complexity of international supply chains and the growing role of digitally delivered trade. The OECD collects, harmonises, and disseminates various statistics related to international trade and globalisation. Building on officially reported data, the OECD also addresses issues like data gaps, asymmetries, and other data complexities to provide analysts and policymakers with better evidence and more reliable insights. Through strong collaboration with its Members, the OECD leads in advancing measurement techniques and contributes to setting global standards for measuring international trade.Learn more