Five economies accounting for more than half of developing economies’ services exports

Top five services exporters by group of economy, billions of dollars

Source:

UN Trade and Development, UNCTADstat Creative goods matrix and UNCTADstat Creative services exports.

These figures are estimated by UNCTAD based on the identification of goods and services with a significant creative component. The identification of creative goods is based on the on the Harmonized System classification and the identification of  creative services on the Extended Balance of Payments Services classification.

UNCTAD estimated that global exports of creative services reached a record of $1.7 trillion in 2024 – more than twice the value of $709 billion recorded for the exports of creative goods. While creative services exports grew by 12% year-on-year, exports of creative goods remained almost unchanged in 2024. Creative services already represent significant share of total trade in services, accounting for 20% in 2024, whereas creative goods made up 3% of total merchandise trade.

Over the past decade, trade in creative services has consistently outperformed trade in creative goods in terms of export value. While creative goods exports showed only modest growth between 2010 and 2024, creative services exports followed a strong upward trajectory, more than doubling in value over that period. This trend underscores the rapidly growing demand for creative services, including for software, research and development, and digital content and media.