Short address of this page: www.oecd.org/sti/inputoutput

Last update: 25 March 2012

Input-Output tables describe the sale and purchase relationships between producers and consumers within an economy. They can be produced by illustrating flows between the sales and purchases (final and intermediate) of industry outputs or by illustrating the sales and purchases (final and intermediate) of product outputs. The OECD Input-Output database is presented on the former basis, reflecting in part the collection mechanisms for many other data sources such as research and development R&D expenditure data, employment statistics, pollution data, energy consumption, which are in the main collected by enterprise or by establishment, and thus according to industry classifications.

The latest set of OECD Input-Output tables includes matrices of inter-industrial flows of transactions of goods and services (domestically produced and imported) in current prices, for all OECD countries (except Iceland) and 15 non-member countries, covering the years 1995, 2000 and 2005 or nearest years. Tables for four countries (Cyprus*, Malta, Latvia and Lithuania) have been recently added as well as an estimated  table for the EU has a whole.

Through the use of a standard industry list based on ISIC Revision 3, comparisons can be made across countries. Further information for each country and the estimation methodology is available in the document OECD Input-Output Database edition 2006 - STI Working Paper 2006/8.

The database is a very useful empirical tool for economic research and structural analysis at international level. It highlights inter-industrial relationships and covers not only manufacturing but also services. When used in conjunction with other OECD databases on industrial structures, such as STAN Industry Database (STAN), STAN Bilateral Trade Database by Industry and End-Use (BTDIxE) and the STAN Business R&D Expenditures by Industry (ANBERD), it provides a tool for consistent economic analysis of growth, structural change, productivity, competitiveness and employment at both the sectoral and macroeconomic levels (e.g. Productivity Growth in Services Industries).

Increasingly, input-output tables are also being used in environmental analysis; for example, to measure direct and indirect pollutants produced by industrial sectors within an economy and, importantly, 'leakages' between economies (see Carbon Embodiment in International Trade ). For a broad overview of potential uses of 'harmonised' input-output tables, see STI Working Paper 2006/7.

Other information

• Notes
• Sample charts and tables

Direct access to Excel versions of I-O tables:

Latest tables (ISIC Rev. 3) in ready-made files section of IO-TOTAL on OECD.Stat: how to get tables from OECD.STAT and how to access period specific metadata

2002 edition (ISIC Rev. 3),

1995 edition (in ISIC Rev.2, link to zip file)

Cyprus

The following note is included at the request of Turkey: "The information in this document with reference to 'Cyprus' relates to the southern part of the Island. There is no single authority representing both Turkish and Greek Cypriot people on the Island. Turkey recognizes the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Until a lasting and equitable solution is found within the context of the United Nations, Turkey shall preserve its position concerning the 'Cyprus issue'". The following note is included at the request of all the European Union Member States of the OECD and the European Commission: "The Republic of Cyprus is recognized by all members of the United Nations with the exception of Turkey. The information in this document relates to the area under the effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus".