The share of manufactured exports classified as high technology varies sharply across economies. Using the latest non-empty World Bank observation for 186 economies, the median is 5.8% and the mean is 11.8%. The Cayman Islands has the highest latest value at 85.5% in 2024, followed by Samoa at 76.7% and Hong Kong SAR, China at 75.6%. These percentages do not measure the dollar value of high-tech exports. They measure high-tech products as a share of manufactured exports.
The observation years are not uniform. Of the 186 economies, 125 have 2024 data and 35 have 2023 data. The remaining 26 latest observations range from 2007 to 2022. A world map using all 186 values is therefore a latest-available view, not a 2024 ranking of 186 economies. Where a same-year comparison matters, the 125 economies with 2024 observations are treated separately.
Table of Contents
What the high-technology export share measures
The World Bank defines high-technology exports as products with high research-and-development intensity. Examples include aerospace products, computers, pharmaceuticals, scientific instruments, and electrical machinery. The numerator is the export value of products in that high-technology classification. The denominator is manufactured exports. A value of 30% therefore means that roughly 30% of manufactured exports fall into the high-technology classification; it does not mean that 30% of all exports are high technology.
The underlying trade data come from UN Comtrade and are accessed through the World Integrated Trade Solution platform. This product-based approach is useful for international comparison, but it is not a complete measure of technological capability. The World Bank metadata notes that the classification emphasizes R&D intensity, while other aspects of technology—such as scientific personnel, know-how, patents, and the technology embodied in production—can tell a different story. The indicator is best read as a measure of export composition.
The latest-available world pattern
The distribution is strongly right-skewed. Across the 186 latest observations, the first quartile is 2.0%, the median is 5.8%, and the third quartile is 16.8%. The mean of 11.8% is higher than the median because a relatively small number of economies have very large shares. There are 34 economies at or above 20%, 9 at or above 50%, and 28 below 1%. Four observations are exactly zero.
The map highlights several export-oriented economies in East and Southeast Asia, parts of Europe, and a number of small island economies with high shares. That geography should not be turned into a single causal story. Because this is a ratio, a high value can result from the composition of both the numerator and the denominator. An economy with a small manufactured-export base concentrated in a few high-tech products can have a very high share, while a major exporter with a broad manufactured-export basket can have a lower percentage despite exporting a large dollar amount of high-tech goods.
Highest latest-available values—and why the year column matters
| Economy | High-tech share | Observation year |
|---|---|---|
| Cayman Islands | 85.5% | 2024 |
| Samoa | 76.7% | 2024 |
| Hong Kong SAR, China | 75.6% | 2024 |
| Philippines | 61.0% | 2024 |
| Singapore | 59.4% | 2024 |
| Malaysia | 58.6% | 2024 |
| Iceland | 54.0% | 2024 |
| Ireland | 53.5% | 2024 |
| Palau | 51.7% | 2018 |
| Malta | 45.2% | 2024 |
| Viet Nam | 44.3% | 2023 |
| Kazakhstan | 42.2% | 2024 |
| Israel | 37.2% | 2024 |
| Korea, Rep. | 36.3% | 2024 |
| St. Kitts and Nevis | 34.6% | 2017 |
The mixed vintages are visible in the top fifteen. Most of the leading values are from 2024, but Palau is represented by a 2018 observation, Viet Nam by 2023, and St. Kitts and Nevis by 2017. Those entries are valid latest-available values for their economies, but they should not be discussed as if they all describe the same global trade environment. The table is useful for broad coverage; it is not a synchronized snapshot.
The ranking also demonstrates why share and scale must be separated. A very high percentage in the Cayman Islands or Samoa does not imply that either economy has a larger high-technology export value than China, the United States, Germany, or other large exporters. A share answers a composition question: how much of manufactured exports is classified as high technology? A current-dollar series answers a scale question: how much high-tech merchandise was exported?
A same-year view: 125 economies with 2024 data
When the comparison is restricted to 2024, the median among 125 economies is 8.8% and the mean is 14.2%. Both are higher than the median and mean of the full latest-available set. That difference must not be interpreted as evidence that the global share increased over time. The group of economies is different, so the change partly reflects sample composition rather than a time-series movement.
| Top 2024 economy | High-tech share |
|---|---|
| Cayman Islands | 85.5% |
| Samoa | 76.7% |
| Hong Kong SAR, China | 75.6% |
| Philippines | 61.0% |
| Singapore | 59.4% |
| Malaysia | 58.6% |
| Iceland | 54.0% |
| Ireland | 53.5% |
| Malta | 45.2% |
| Kazakhstan | 42.2% |
| Israel | 37.2% |
| Korea, Rep. | 36.3% |
| Benin | 30.5% |
| Switzerland | 29.6% |
| United Kingdom | 29.2% |
In the synchronized 2024 subset, the Cayman Islands, Samoa, Hong Kong SAR, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Iceland, and Ireland all exceed 50%. Malta and Kazakhstan exceed 40%. Israel is at 37.2%, and Korea, Rep. is at 36.3%. The presence of both small economies and large export-manufacturing centers near the top reinforces the interpretation: this is a share of manufactured exports, not a ranking of total high-tech export volume.
A high share can be economically meaningful because it shows that high-R&D-intensity goods occupy a large place in the manufactured-export basket. It does not on its own reveal domestic value added, the ownership of the exporting firms, imported intermediate inputs, research spending, or the size of employment in high-tech industries. Those questions need additional indicators.
Very low shares require the same caution
| Low 2024 value | High-tech share |
|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | 0.00% |
| Bahamas, The | 0.00% |
| Macao SAR, China | 0.00% |
| Belize | 0.00% |
| Maldives | 0.00% |
| Lesotho | 0.09% |
| Seychelles | 0.09% |
| Namibia | 0.12% |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 0.22% |
| Saudi Arabia | 0.54% |
| Nicaragua | 0.60% |
| Togo | 0.68% |
Several 2024 observations are at or near zero. That means the World Bank high-technology product group accounts for little or none of the economy’s reported manufactured exports in the indicator. It does not mean that the economy has no digital sector, no technical skills, or no technology-intensive services. The indicator is centered on exported manufactured goods, so service-based technology activity can be largely outside its scope.
Low values can also appear in economies whose manufactured exports are concentrated in food processing, basic materials, apparel, or other products outside the high-technology classification. Explaining any individual economy would require its detailed trade composition rather than the percentage alone. The same principle applies at the top: the ratio indicates concentration in the classified products, not a complete technology profile.
Most economies are far below the extreme values
The distribution contains 28 economies below 1%, 52 between 1% and 5%, 41 between 5% and 10%, 31 between 10% and 20%, 22 between 20% and 40%, and 12 at 40% or above. This is why the median is a useful complement to the mean. A handful of values above 50% can pull the arithmetic average upward even though the typical economy is much closer to the single-digit or low-double-digit range.
The shape also cautions against using a single global average as a target. Countries have different manufacturing structures, resource endowments, export specializations, market sizes, and positions in global value chains. The indicator describes an observed export mix. Whether a higher share is desirable, sustainable, or locally value-adding is a separate policy question that cannot be resolved by this ratio alone.
Latest available and same-year comparisons answer different questions
A latest-available map maximizes geographic coverage. It is useful for asking where high shares have been observed most recently for each economy. Its weakness is time mismatch. A 2024-only table has stronger comparability in time but excludes 61 economies that lack a 2024 observation. Neither approach is universally better; the appropriate choice depends on the question.
For a broad geographic scan, latest available is reasonable as long as the year mismatch is clearly disclosed. For a statement specifically about 2024, only 2024 observations should be used. For a claim about growth or decline, neither cross-section is enough. A time series for the same economies and the same indicator definition is necessary.
Share and export value should often be read together
Consider two hypothetical exporters. If manufactured exports are $100 million and the high-tech share is 60%, the implied high-tech export value is about $60 million. If another economy exports $100 billion of manufactures with a 20% high-tech share, its high-tech export value would be much larger despite the lower percentage. The example illustrates why the percentage ranking cannot substitute for a value ranking.
For questions about global market scale, the World Bank also publishes high-technology exports in current U.S. dollars. For questions about the technological composition of manufacturing production rather than exports, manufacturing value-added indicators are more relevant. Using the indicator that matches the question prevents a composition ratio from being turned into a broad technology score.
Five interpretation rules
- Read the denominator. The indicator is high-tech exports as a share of manufactured exports, not total exports.
- Check the observation year. The latest values span 2007–2024; only 125 of the 186 observations are from 2024.
- Do not convert a share ranking into a scale ranking. A high percentage does not imply the largest high-tech export value.
- Be careful with small economies. A concentrated export basket or small manufactured-export denominator can produce a large percentage.
- Use additional data for explanations. Industry detail, export values, manufacturing value added, R&D, employment, and time trends are needed for causal or policy analysis.
Source and indicator definition
The official source is the World Bank indicator High-technology exports (% of manufactured exports) and its World Development Indicators metadata. The World Bank identifies UN Comtrade, accessed through WITS, as the underlying source. The indicator is annual and defines high-technology exports as R&D-intensive products such as aerospace, computers, pharmaceuticals, scientific instruments, and electrical machinery. The main map uses each economy’s latest non-empty observation, while the 2024 section is kept separate for same-year comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a high high-tech export share mean an economy has the largest high-tech export value?
No. The indicator is a percentage of manufactured exports. An economy with a lower share can still export a much larger dollar value of high-tech goods.
Are all 186 observations from 2024?
No. There are 125 observations from 2024, 35 from 2023, and 26 latest values from earlier years.
What products count as high technology in this World Bank indicator?
The definition includes R&D-intensive products such as aerospace, computers, pharmaceuticals, scientific instruments, and electrical machinery.
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