Publications

Global Population Growth and Sustainable Development probes the linkages between global population growth and the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. The report examines how the current rapid growth of the human population is a consequence of the demographic transition from high to low levels of mortality and fertility. The report reviews the connections between population growth and key aspects of social and economic development, including poverty, hunger and malnutrition, health, education, gender equality, economic growth and decent work. It also explores the contribution of global population increase to environmental degradation, including…

The Monthly Bulletin of Statistics presents current economic and social statistics for more than 200 countries and territories of the world.  It contains over 50 tables of monthly and/or bimonthly, quarterly and annual data on a variety of subjects illustrating important economic trends and developments, including population, prices, employment and earnings, energy, manufacturing, transport, construction, international merchandise trade and finance.

In addition to the regular recurrent monthly tables, this issue includes Bimonthly and quarterly tables: Retail price indices relating to living expenditures of United Nations officials; Civil aviation traffic: passenger-km and…

The 2019 Energy Statistics Yearbook is the 63rd issue in a series of annual compilations of internationally comparable statistics summarizing world energy trends. Annual data for 229 countries and areas for the period 2016 to 2019 are presented on production, trade and consumption of energy: solids, liquids, gaseous fuels, electricity and heat, covering both renewable and non-renewable sources of energy. In addition, per capita consumption series are also provided for all energy products. Graphs are included to illustrate historic trends and/or changes in composition of production and/or consumption of major energy products. Special tables of interest include: international…

The 2019 Electricity Profiles contains electricity profiles for about 230 countries and territories, providing detailed information on production, trade and consumption of electricity, net installed capacity and thermal power plant input and efficiency for most countries.

The 2019 Energy Balances contains energy balances for more than 220 countries and territories, showing production, trade, transformation and consumption (by sector) in energy units for all energy products.

The global economic recovery is facing significant headwinds amid new waves of COVID-19 infections, persistent labour market challenges, lingering supply-chain challenes and rising inflationary pressures. After expanding by 5.5 per cent in 2021, the global output is projected to grow by only 4.0 per cent in 2022 and 3.5 per cent in 2023, according to the United Nations World Economic Situation and Prospects (WESP) 2022.

The robust recovery in 2021 – driven by strong consumer spending and some uptake in investment, with trade in goods surpassing pre-pandemic levels — marked the highest growth rate in more than four decades, the Report highlighted. Yet the momentum for growth –…

Demographic Yearbook 2020 is the 71st issue in a series published since 1948. Through the cooperation with the National Statistical Offices, official demographic statistics are compiled in the Yearbook, as available for more than 230 countries and areas of the world up to the reference year 2020. This edition of the Yearbook contains chapters on the population size and distribution, the population of capital cities, fertility, fetal mortality, infant and maternal mortality, general mortality, nuptiality and divorce.

The World Population Policies 2021: Policies related to fertility, provides a brief overview of global fertility levels and trends since the early 1960s and explores government’s views and policies related to fertility. The analysis of views and policies draws on data gathered through 2019 and available in the World Population Policies Database, reflecting the situation before the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The report then presents five case studies of countries from different regions and with a range of fertility levels, exploring in more detail the origin and evolution of national fertility policies. The case studies are followed by an assessment of…

The Statistical Yearbook is an annual compilation of a wide range of international economic, social and environmental statistics on over 200 countries and areas, compiled from sources including UN agencies and other international, national and specialized organizations. The 2020 edition contains data available to the Statistics Division as of 31 July 2021 and presents them in 34 tables on topics such as: communication; crime; development assistance; education; energy; environment; finance; gender; international merchandise trade; international tourism; labor force; national accounts; population and migration; price and production indices; and science and technology. Most tables covering…

This is the sixty-second issue of National Accounts Statistics: Main Aggregates and Detailed Tables, showing detailed national accounts estimates for over 200 countries and areas for the reporting years 2009 to 2020. The national data for each country and area are presented in separate chapters using uniform table headings and classifications recommended in the United Nations System of National Accounts (SNA). A summary of the conceptual framework of the SNA and definitions of important terms are also included in this publication. Other statistical information covered includes gross domestic product, national income, savings, private and government consumption, and transactions of…

The Statistical Yearbook is an annual compilation of a wide range of international economic, social and environmental statistics on over 200 countries and areas, compiled from sources including UN agencies and other international, national and  specialized organizations. The 2020 edition contains data available to the Statistics Division as of 31 July 2021 and presents them in 34 tables on topics such as: communication; crime; development assistance; education; energy; environment; finance; gender; international merchandise trade; international tourism; labor force; national accounts; population and migration; price and production indices; and science and…

The fourth edition of the Handbook on the Least Developed Country Category provides comprehensive information on the least developed country (LDC) category, including a description of procedures and methodologies used in the identification of these countries and the international support measures available to them. It builds upon and updates the previous edition, published in 2018. The Handbook aims at providing comprehensive and up-to-date information on the LDC category. The publication is intended for use by government officials, policymakers, researchers and others interested in the LDC category.