Transport services (% of commercial service exports) in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Transport services (% of commercial service exports) was 6.4% in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Transport services in United Kingdom, 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 is 6.4%, measured in 2025.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.6% on the previous year and down 33.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, transport services in United Kingdom peaked at 53.5% in 1971 and was at its lowest, 5.5%, in 2021.
That places United Kingdom 151st 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 (% of commercial service exports) in United Kingdom, 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% | -11.5% |
| 2025 | 6.4% | +1.6% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 6.4% is below the median for high income countries, which is 15.4%, 41% of the median. (72 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 6.4% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 19.5%, 33% of the median. (51 countries reporting)
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
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 transport services in United Kingdom?
- Transport services in United Kingdom 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?
- The highest recorded value was 53.5% in 1971.
- What is the lowest transport services recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.5% in 2021.
- How does United Kingdom rank for transport services?
- United Kingdom ranks 151st out of 198 countries with data for 2025.
- Is transport services rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 33.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- 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 Transport services (% of commercial service exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 56 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
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.