UNCTAD launches global database to track e-commerce value
Rapid e-commerce growth contrasts with major data gaps, prompting UN experts to call for standardised, technology-neutral frameworks for global measurement.
UNCTAD has launched the first global database to consolidate national estimates of e‑commerce value, aiming to provide clearer insights and highlight major gaps in digital economy data.
The announcement was made during the sixth meeting of the UN Trade and Development Working Group on Measuring E-commerce, with representatives from 42 countries participating.
E-commerce and digitally delivered services are among the fastest-growing sectors of the global economy, yet most countries lack robust statistics to capture online transactions, cross-border trade, and social-media-based commerce.
Experts warned that inadequate data hinders policymaking, masks inequalities in digital access, and limits the benefits of digital transformation.
The working group recommended a 2026 review of indicators, including AI, platform business models, remote work, and fully digital services. Guidelines will be promoted via expanded capacity-building programmes, supported by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Cooperation between governments, the private sector, and international organisations is vital for consistent global measurement and to avoid duplication.
Experts called for technology-neutral, comparable frameworks and innovative tools, such as payment records and data mining, to improve global e‑commerce measurement.
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