--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-18/the-unido-world-productivity-database-an-overview/" title: "The UNIDO World Productivity Database: An Overview" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-13T07:31:38+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-13T07:31:38+00:00" post_type: "ipm" summary: "" ipm_issue_period: - "Spring 2009" ipm_keyword: - "developing countries" - "forecasts" - "international comparison" - "measurement methods" - "production function" - "TFP" - "UNIDO" - "World Productivity Database" ipm_research_theme: - "Measurement and methodology" ipm_country_focus: - "Developing Countries" - "International" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/IPM_50_banner.webp" status: "publish" --- # The UNIDO World Productivity Database: An Overview Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-18/the-unido-world-productivity-database-an-overview/ # The UNIDO World Productivity Database: An Overview [Download full PDF article](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-18-3-Isaksson.pdf) Cite this article × Cite this article as: Isaksson, Anders. 2009. “The UNIDO World Productivity Database: An Overview.” International Productivity Monitor, No. 18 (Spring 2009): 38–50. https://www.csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-18/the-unido-world-productivity-database-an-overview/ ## Author: - Anders Isaksson Research and Statistics Branch, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) ## IPM Issue 18 Spring 2009 pp. 38–50 ## Related IPM articles [Efficiency Adjustment of Hours Worked: Two Possible Modifications of a Jorgensen Production Model Barbara Fraumeni Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 103–115](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/efficiency-adjustment-of-hours-worked-two-possible-modifications-of-a-jorgensen-production-model/) [Labour Productivity as a Measure of Technological Change Ulrich Kohli Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 64–81](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/labour-productivity-as-a-measure-of-technological-change/) [The Relationship between Efficiencies Defenses for Mergers and TFP Growth Robin Shaban Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 82–102](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/the-relationship-between-efficiencies-defenses-for-mergers-and-tfp-growth/) [IPM Issue 49 Editors’ Overview Andrew Sharpe, Bart van Ark, Paul Schreyer Fall 2025 | IPM Issue 49 | pp. 1–2](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-49/) [The UK Productivity Slowdown: A Review of Timing, Magnitude, and Drivers Josh Martin Spring 2025 | IPM Issue 48 | pp. 1–34](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-48/the-uk-productivity-slowdown-a-review-of-timing-magnitude-and-drivers/) [Appendix: UK Productivity Growth Rates Across Data Vintages and Studies Josh Martin Spring 2025 | IPM Issue 48 | pp. 65–73](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-48/appendix-uk-productivity-growth-rates-across-data-vintages-and-studies/) [Opportunities and Risks of Artificial Intelligence for Productivity Francesco Filippucci, Peter Gal, Katharina Laengle, Matthias Schief, Filiz Unsal Spring 2025 | IPM Issue 48 | pp. 1–26](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-48/opportunities-and-risks-of-artificial-intelligence-for-productivity/) [Cracking the Productivity Code: An International Comparison of UK Productivity John Van Reenen, Xuyi Yang Spring 2024 | IPM Issue 46 | pp. 60–82](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-46/cracking-the-productivity-code-an-international-comparison-of-uk-productivity/) [Appendix: EUKLEMS & INTANProd Industry Coverage and Intangible Asset Treatment Filippo Bontadini, Carol Corrado, Jonathan Haskel, Massimiliano Iommi, Cecilia Jona-Lasinio, Tsutomu Miyagawa Spring 2024 | IPM Issue 46 | pp. 1–4](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-46/appendix-euklems-intanprod-industry-coverage-and-intangible-asset-treatment/) [Intangible Capital, TFP Growth and Green Shoots in New Productivity Data Filippo Bontadini, Carol Corrado, Jonathan Haskel, Massimiliano Iommi, Cecilia Jona-Lasinio, Tsutomu Miyagawa Spring 2024 | IPM Issue 46 | pp. 3–37](https://csls.ca/ipm-archive/ipm-issue-46/intangible-capital-tfp-growth-and-green-shoots-in-new-productivity-data/) ## Abstract ## Résumé EN FR Copy link Email LinkedIn This article introduces a new unique database, the World Productivity Database (WPD), which contains information on levels and growth of aggregate total factor productivity (TFP) for up to 112 countries, covering the period 1960 to 2000. At its core are numerous measurement methods, variations in functional forms and specifications — including schooling and health — of the production function, constant and variable returns to scale, as well as measures of technical progress and change in technical efficiency. In addition, five labour and four capital stock measures are used to derive a variety of TFP measures. Another significant feature is TFP forecasts for the period of 2001-2010. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE is to describe Cet article présente une nouvelle base de données unique, la Base de données mondiale sur la productivité, qui contient des informations sur les niveaux et la croissance de la productivité multifactorielle (PMF) globale pour jusqu’à 112 pays, couvrant la période 1960-2000. Elle repose essentiellement sur de nombreuses méthodes de mesure, des variations des formes fonctionnelles et des spécifications — notamment la scolarité et la santé — de la fonction de production, des rendements d’échelle constants et variables, ainsi que des mesures du progrès technique et de l’évolution de l’efficience technique. De plus, cinq mesures de la main-d’œuvre et quatre mesures du stock de capital sont utilisées pour dériver une variété de mesures de PMF. Une autre caractéristique notable est la présentation de prévisions de PMF pour la période 2001-2010. [Download full PDF](https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/IPM-Issue-18-3-Isaksson.pdf)