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UNCTAD launches its 2016 Handbook of Statistics

15 December 2016

The Handbook includes a wealth of data for analysis of international trade, investment, or development.

Presented in English and French, the annual Handbook provides users - policymakers, researchers, academics, government officials, journalists, and others - with access to cross-comparable data sets.

"By supporting policy analysis, this resource will help policy makers to implement better and more effective policies," Steve MacFeely, UNCTAD's Head of Statistics, said.

"With this Handbook, UNCTAD offers trade data that are largely based on final official figures, and which provide a greater level of detail than any other dataset on trade," he added.

As with previous issues, the Handbook covers international merchandise trade, international trade in services, commodities, international finance, and GDP and population.

According to the Handbook the value of global merchandise trade fell 13% from $19 trillion in 2014 to $16.6 trillion in 2015, making 2015 only the second year since 2000 in which merchandise trade declined.

The value of trade in services also decreased, falling 6% over the same period to $4.8 trillion in 2015.

The data indicate that a weak recovery after the 2009 global financial crisis has ended. The Handbook also notes the widening trade deficit of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in Africa.

Also available, UNCTADstat is a rich online database detailing key economic statistics by region and country, including indicators on international trade, economic trends, foreign direct investment, external financial resources, population and labour force, information economy and maritime transport is also available.

UNCTAD publishes country profiles which provide a summary overview of data for each county.