The UNCTAD Handbook of Statistics 2020 provides a wide range of statistics and indicators relevant to the analysis of international trade, investment, maritime transport and development. Reliable statistical information is indispensable for formulating sound policies and recommendations that may commit countries for many years as they strive to integrate into the world economy and improve the living standards of their citizens. Whether for research, consultation or technical cooperation, UNCTAD needs reliable and internationally comparable trade, nancial and macroeconomic data, covering several decades and for as many countries as possible.

In addition to facilitating the work of the UNCTAD secretariat, the UNCTAD Handbook of Statistics and the UNCTADstat Data Center make internationally comparable sets of data available to policymakers, research specialists, academics, ofcials from national Governments, representatives of international organizations, journalists, executive managers and members of non-governmental organizations.

This year’s online edition incorporates several new interactive charts and maps. The choropleth maps help to make smaller territories more visible. We encourage users to explore these new features using the online version of the handbook or e-handbook available at: http://stats.unctad.org/handbook/. The e-handbook is a fully interactive tool, including maps and charts, that allow readers to directly access the data from the UNCTADstat Data Center associated

with each table or chart.

The 2020 edition also includes some new sub-annual maritime indicators (see chapter 5) and quarterly time series of world trade (see chapters 1 and 2). As in previous editions, several nowcasts are included. Given the increased importance of timely data, the handbook has been supplemented by quarterly trade nowcasts, see also: https://unctad.org/MerchandiseTradeNowcast.