Digital services exports (DDS) reached 56% of global services exports, indicating a performance better than the overall growth of service trade in the past decade.
Growth of Global Services Exports
According to a new report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), global services exports have grown by 6.7% over the past decade and are expected to reach 8.3% by 2025. Trade in digital services has increased at an average annual growth rate of 7.1% over the past decade, faster than other sectors. This growth is attributed to the expansion of cloud computing, digital platforms, and improvements in communication infrastructure.
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Unequal Technological Distribution
The report highlights a significant technological gap; digital services account for about 61% of total services exports in developed countries, while this figure is only 16% in less developed countries. Services exports from less developed countries have grown on average by 3% per year over the past decade, but their share of total global services exports has decreased from less than 1% in 2010 to 0.6% in 2025.
This gap is also reported in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) readiness index, where advanced economies scored an average of 0.65, developing economies scored 0.41, and less developed countries scored 0.31. Less than one-third of developing countries have established a national AI strategy.
The United Nations Conference has urged emerging economies to focus on investing in cross-border digital payment systems to prevent the exacerbation of existing inequalities by AI and has emphasized the importance of investing in legal frameworks and the skills needed for the workforce.
Erdem Erkul, President of the Digital Technology Business Council at the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK), stated, "UNCTAD data shows that the structure of global trade has changed over the past decade, and physical production is no longer sufficient, as modern products are combined with software, data, and digital services in almost all sectors.
Erkul added, "AI risks can widen the global wealth gap, but it also provides an opportunity for developing countries to reduce the cost of producing and exporting digital services. AI can increase efficiency in many sectors and help small companies access global markets."
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