Data stories | UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Analysis of global trade and development trends through graphs, maps and charts.

Our data stories break down complex trends shaping the global economy and its future. They unpack the numbers behind the issues that matter, delivering clear analysis to guide decisions.

A graph showing Imports and exports growth, percentage-point difference from global average, 2025

Global trade growth continues, but rising fragility weighs on developing economies

Despite robust global trade growth in 2025, rising geopolitical tensions and disruptions to key shipping routes are increasing risks across the global economy, with implications for developing economies.

A line graph shows Strait of Hormuz disruptions are a shock to global trade, which is expected to slow

Hormuz disruption deepens global economic strain across trade, prices and finance

Map showing that South-South cooperation from Latin America and the Caribbean is primarly intraregional

Measuring South–South Cooperation is critical to achieving sustainable development

Line graph showing that when gas prices go up, fertilizer prices often go up

Fertilizer disruptions raise risks for food security and trade

A graph showing the number of developing countries by change in fiscal space (interest payments as a share of government revenue), 2018–2024

The rising cost of debt is squeezing development prospects in many countries

A line chart showing value added by economic activity, percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), 1970–2023

Services are transforming least developed economies – but jobs and productivity lag behind

A line graph showing trade growth in different ICT goods

Chips and other electronic components power digital trade, with Asia as the global hub

A bar chart showing that global foreign investment rises 14% in 2025, but underlying activity remains weak

Global foreign investment up 14% in 2025, with growth concentrated in developed economies

A bar chart showing that tariffs rose significantly in 2025, especially in manufacturing

10 trends shaping global trade in 2026

An automobile assembly plant in Kedah, Malaysia.

2025: The most-read stories reflecting key forces in the global economy

A bar chart showing that global trade growth remains strong in 2025, but slowed in 3rd and 4th quarters

Global trade to hit record $35 trillion despite slowing momentum

A graph showing that Foreign direct investment in Eastern and Southern Africa reached record $65 billion

Eastern and Southern Africa: Foreign investment surged to record highs

A graph showing that global growth shows no signs of picking up in the near term

Global growth expected to slow to 2.6% through 2026

Graph showing that world trade and the global financial cycle move in sync

Over 90% of global trade now depends on finance, deepening vulnerabilities

A graph showing Gaza's GDP per capita plummeted to $161 in 2024, among the lowest in the world

Gaza’s economy collapsed 83% in 2024, pushing all 2.3 million people into poverty

Global heating pushes temperatures into danger zone

GDP and CO2 emissions: Record temperatures heighten urgency to break the link

A graph showing growth in trade in wind-energy components, solar-energy components and other industrial goods

Trade in renewable energy powers ahead, but barriers slow transition

Line chart showing investment trends for greenfield investment, project finance and mergers and aquisitions

Global foreign investment falls 3% in first half of 2025, hitting industry and infrastructure

Graph showing US tariffs have risen sharply on least developed countries' light-manufacturing exports

How can least developed countries strengthen resilience to tariff shocks?

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