Computer, communications and other services (%) … imports in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Computer, communications and other services (%) … imports was 55.3% in 2025. ▲ Rising
Computer, communications and other services in United Kingdom, 1970–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of commercial service imports.
Analysis
In 2025, computer, communications and other services in United Kingdom stood at 55.3%.
The figure is up 1.1% on the previous year and up 27.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, computer, communications and other services in United Kingdom peaked at 67.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 20.1%, in 1988.
United Kingdom ranks 32nd of 198 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 56 years of available data.
Computer, communications and other services (%) … imports in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % of commercial service imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 34.7% | — |
| 1971 | 30.8% | -11.2% |
| 1972 | 23.3% | -24.3% |
| 1973 | 24.6% | +5.7% |
| 1974 | 25.2% | +2.2% |
| 1975 | 28.1% | +11.6% |
| 1976 | 27.0% | -3.8% |
| 1977 | 28.2% | +4.3% |
| 1978 | 26.1% | -7.5% |
| 1979 | 22.6% | -13.4% |
| 1980 | 22.0% | -2.5% |
| 1981 | 22.6% | +2.4% |
| 1982 | 25.0% | +10.9% |
| 1983 | 25.7% | +2.8% |
| 1984 | 28.0% | +9.1% |
| 1985 | 27.1% | -3.2% |
| 1986 | 25.1% | -7.4% |
| 1987 | 21.9% | -13.0% |
| 1988 | 20.1% | -8.2% |
| 1989 | 21.8% | +8.6% |
| 1990 | 23.4% | +7.5% |
| 1991 | 25.3% | +8.2% |
| 1992 | 25.4% | +0.1% |
| 1993 | 27.2% | +7.1% |
| 1994 | 27.9% | +2.8% |
| 1995 | 28.7% | +2.7% |
| 1996 | 30.6% | +6.6% |
| 1997 | 28.1% | -8.1% |
| 1998 | 29.5% | +4.9% |
| 1999 | 34.0% | +15.3% |
| 2000 | 33.2% | -2.3% |
| 2001 | 33.8% | +1.9% |
| 2002 | 33.0% | -2.5% |
| 2003 | 32.2% | -2.3% |
| 2004 | 33.9% | +5.3% |
| 2005 | 35.2% | +3.7% |
| 2006 | 36.2% | +2.8% |
| 2007 | 37.0% | +2.2% |
| 2008 | 39.7% | +7.4% |
| 2009 | 41.6% | +4.7% |
| 2010 | 41.8% | +0.5% |
| 2011 | 41.4% | -0.8% |
| 2012 | 43.1% | +4.1% |
| 2013 | 43.3% | +0.3% |
| 2014 | 42.9% | -0.8% |
| 2015 | 43.3% | +0.9% |
| 2016 | 44.3% | +2.3% |
| 2017 | 45.4% | +2.6% |
| 2018 | 47.0% | +3.5% |
| 2019 | 48.0% | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 67.9% | +41.5% |
| 2021 | 66.9% | -1.5% |
| 2022 | 55.4% | -17.2% |
| 2023 | 53.4% | -3.5% |
| 2024 | 54.7% | +2.4% |
| 2025 | 55.3% | +1.1% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 55.3% is above the median for high income countries, which is 47.3%, 1.2× the median. (72 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 55.3% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 47.1%, 1.2× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Computer, communications and other services (%) … imports in United Kingdom changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +41.5% | 48.0% | 67.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 27.1% | 22.6% | 34.7% | 10 |
| 1980s | 23.9% | 20.1% | 28.0% | 10 |
| 1990s | 28.0% | 23.4% | 34.0% | 10 |
| 2000s | 35.6% | 32.2% | 41.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 44.0% | 41.4% | 48.0% | 10 |
| 2020s | 58.9% | 53.4% | 67.9% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More private sector data for United Kingdom
- Merchandise trade 37.6% (2025)
- Food imports 9.8% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 56.7% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 948.64 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service imports 448.00 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 6.7% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 59.7% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 555.83 billion current US$ (2025)
- Commercial service exports 714.60 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 7,999 current US$ per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is computer, communications and other services in United Kingdom?
- Computer, communications and other services in United Kingdom was 55.3% in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest computer, communications and other services recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 67.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest computer, communications and other services recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.1% in 1988.
- How does United Kingdom rank for computer, communications and other services?
- United Kingdom ranks 32nd out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is computer, communications and other services rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 27.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Computer, communications and other services (% of commercial service imports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Computer, communications and other services include such activities as international telecommunications, and postal and courier services; computer data; news-related service transactions between residents and nonresidents; construction services; royalties and license fees; miscellaneous business, professional, and technical services; and personal, cultural, and recreational services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service imports which are commercial services provided by non-residents to residents.