Transport services in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Transport services was 6.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Transport services in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 1970–2025
Source: Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF). Measured in % of commercial service exports.
Analysis
The most recent figure for transport services in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is 6.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.8% on the previous year and down 33.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, transport services in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 53.5% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 5.5%, in 2021.
That places United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 152nd out of 198 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Transport services in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | % of commercial service exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 52.0% | — |
| 1971 | 53.5% | +2.9% |
| 1972 | 51.0% | -4.8% |
| 1973 | 52.0% | +2.1% |
| 1974 | 52.9% | +1.7% |
| 1975 | 47.9% | -9.5% |
| 1976 | 45.7% | -4.5% |
| 1977 | 42.7% | -6.5% |
| 1978 | 39.6% | -7.4% |
| 1979 | 41.4% | +4.7% |
| 1980 | 41.3% | -0.2% |
| 1981 | 39.2% | -5.2% |
| 1982 | 35.3% | -9.8% |
| 1983 | 31.4% | -11.0% |
| 1984 | 30.1% | -4.1% |
| 1985 | 27.4% | -9.0% |
| 1986 | 23.4% | -14.7% |
| 1987 | 22.9% | -2.1% |
| 1988 | 24.9% | +8.9% |
| 1989 | 25.9% | +4.0% |
| 1990 | 25.2% | -2.7% |
| 1991 | 23.6% | -6.3% |
| 1992 | 23.0% | -2.8% |
| 1993 | 22.3% | -2.8% |
| 1994 | 21.6% | -3.2% |
| 1995 | 20.7% | -4.2% |
| 1996 | 19.2% | -7.1% |
| 1997 | 18.4% | -4.5% |
| 1998 | 17.2% | -6.1% |
| 1999 | 14.8% | -14.2% |
| 2000 | 15.2% | +3.0% |
| 2001 | 15.1% | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 14.6% | -3.3% |
| 2003 | 14.2% | -2.9% |
| 2004 | 14.2% | +0.0% |
| 2005 | 13.2% | -6.8% |
| 2006 | 11.5% | -13.1% |
| 2007 | 10.7% | -7.3% |
| 2008 | 11.4% | +6.7% |
| 2009 | 9.3% | -18.3% |
| 2010 | 9.9% | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 10.5% | +6.8% |
| 2012 | 10.7% | +1.5% |
| 2013 | 10.0% | -6.5% |
| 2014 | 9.7% | -3.2% |
| 2015 | 9.5% | -1.4% |
| 2016 | 9.0% | -5.7% |
| 2017 | 8.7% | -3.5% |
| 2018 | 8.2% | -5.1% |
| 2019 | 8.8% | +7.0% |
| 2020 | 6.4% | -27.8% |
| 2021 | 5.5% | -13.8% |
| 2022 | 6.9% | +25.5% |
| 2023 | 7.1% | +3.2% |
| 2024 | 6.3% | -11.7% |
| 2025 | 6.4% | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 47.9% | 39.6% | 53.5% | 10 |
| 1980s | 30.2% | 22.9% | 41.3% | 10 |
| 1990s | 20.6% | 14.8% | 25.2% | 10 |
| 2000s | 12.9% | 9.3% | 15.2% | 10 |
| 2010s | 9.5% | 8.2% | 10.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 6.4% | 5.5% | 7.1% | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More private sector data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Merchandise trade 37.6% (2025)
- Food imports 9.8% (2025)
- Manufactures imports 56.7% (2025)
- Merchandise imports 948.64 billion current US$ (2025)
- Food exports 6.7% (2025)
- Manufactures exports 59.3% (2025)
- Merchandise exports 555.83 billion current US$ (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per capita 7,999 current US$ per person (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), per unit of GDP 0.1389 current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Merchandise exports (current US$), annual growth rate 6.02 % change on previous year (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is transport services in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Transport services in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 6.4% in 2025, according to Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- What is the highest transport services recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 53.5% in 1971.
- What is the lowest transport services recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.5% in 2021.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for transport services?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 152nd out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is transport services rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments Statistics Yearbook and data files, International Monetary Fund (IMF), published as part of Transport services (% of commercial service exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Transport is the process of carriage of people and objects from one location to another as well as related supporting and auxiliary services. Also included are postal and courier services. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of service exports which are commercial services provided by residents to non-residents.