INTRODUCTION
In the current technological age, the capacity to produce and export advanced technology has become a goal of many countries and through technology transfers and the shift in production to developing countries due to labour costs, more and more countries are becoming major hi-tech exporters. It’s important to note that hi-tech exports per capita doesn’t necessarily reflect overall hi-tech production as larger countries particularly find it easier to sell to domestic markets. This page is about hi-tech exports by country.
Charts
1. Hi-Tech Exports 1992 – 2016 for 5 Biggest Advanced Economies & China
2. Hi-Tech Exports Per Capita 1992 – 2016 for 5 Biggest Advanced Economies & China
3. Top 10 Hi-Tech Exporters Per Capita in 2016 with population over 60 million
Data Table
4. Total and Per Capita Hi-Tech Exports by Country from 1992 – 2016 for Most Populated Countries
The chart shows the dramatic shift in global high-tech exports between 1992 and 2016. In the early 1990s, the United States and Japan dominated high-technology exports among advanced economies. The United States had the highest export levels in 1992 and continued to grow into 2000, while Japan also maintained a strong position during this period due to its powerful electronics and manufacturing industries.
However, the most striking change is the rapid rise of China. Starting from a very low level in 1992, Chinese high-tech exports grew enormously, surpassing all other countries by 2008 and continuing to expand sharply by 2016. This reflects China’s transformation into a global manufacturing hub, driven by large-scale industrial investment, integration into global supply chains, and the growth of electronics production.
Meanwhile, the United States shows a gradual decline after 2000, while Japan’s exports also fall significantly. Germany steadily increases its exports over time, while the United Kingdom and France remain relatively stable.
Overall, the chart illustrates the shift of high-tech manufacturing toward Asia, particularly China, over the past few decades.
The chart shows how high-tech exports per capita have changed between 1992 and 2016 among major advanced economies and China. China’s high-tech exports have risen dramatically over the period. Much of this growth reflects the relocation of manufacturing by multinational technology companies, with firms such as Apple and many electronics producers shifting large parts of their production and assembly to China. As a result, China has become the world’s dominant exporter of high-technology goods in absolute terms, though on a per-capita basis it still remains far below the advanced economies due to its much larger population.
Among the major developed economies, Germany stands out as the only country to record strong and sustained growth in high-tech exports per person. Much of Germany’s high-tech export strength comes from advanced engineering sectors such as precision machinery, automotive technology, and industrial equipment.
France shows a more moderate increase over time, remaining relatively stable after the early 2000s. In contrast, the two leading high-tech exporters in 1992—the United States and Japan—follow a similar pattern of rise and then decline after peaking around 2000. This partly reflects the offshoring of manufacturing to lower-cost countries and the shift of some Western economies toward services and design rather than large-scale physical production.
This chart shows the top ten high-tech exporters per capita in 2016 among countries with populations above 60 million. Germany clearly stands out, with a significantly higher level of high-tech exports per person than any other large country. This reflects the strength of Germany’s advanced manufacturing sector, particularly in precision engineering, automotive technology, industrial machinery, and scientific equipment.
France ranks second, followed by the United Kingdom, both of which maintain strong aerospace, pharmaceutical, and advanced technology industries. Japan also remains a major high-tech exporter despite a decline from earlier decades, reflecting its continued importance in electronics, robotics, and automotive technology.
Several emerging manufacturing economies also appear on the list. Thailand, Mexico, China, and the Philippines benefit from their roles as major production hubs within global supply chains, particularly in electronics and components. However, in many of these countries a large share of production is carried out by foreign multinational companies.
The United States appears only mid-table, partly because its economy is more focused on high-value design, software, and services rather than large-scale manufacturing exports.
DATA TABLE
4. Total and Per Capita Hi-Tech Exports by Country from 1992 – 2016 for Most Populated Countries
OTHER PAGES ABOUT INDUSTRY
Sources:
Charts created using OpenOffice Calc.