OECD Statistics. New OECD-UNSD data release strengthens open evidence on multinational enterprises.
This article presents the Multinational Enterprise Information Platform (MEIP), a joint initiative by the OECD and the United Nations Statistics Division. It aims to improve the measurement and understanding of multinational enterprises (MNEs), which play a central role in global trade, investment, and production. However, their complex organizational structures make them difficult to analyze using traditional statistical tools. For this reason, MEIP offers a more transparent and integrated view of multinational activity.
Strengthening data on multinational enterprises
MEIP brings together publicly available data in a single, structured system. This includes information on subsidiaries, ownership links, digital presence, and major corporate events. As a result, users can better trace how multinational firms operate across borders.
It also provides tools to explore corporate networks and track structural changes such as mergers and acquisitions. In addition, the platform focuses on the 500 largest multinational enterprises, enabling detailed analysis of their geographic footprint. By making these relationships more visible, it supports research on productivity, trade, and taxation. Moreover, policymakers benefit from clearer and more consistent evidence.
New indicators and global patterns
A key innovation in the latest release is the inclusion of firm-level indicators. These indicators cover employment, revenue, net profit, and research and development (R&D). They are compiled using hybrid methods that combine company filings with AI-assisted extraction from annual reports.
The data show a strong concentration of global corporate activity. The Americas and Europe account for 74% of headquarters and revenue among the top 500 MNEs, while Asia represents 24%. At the same time, sectoral differences are evident. Technology and healthcare dominate R&D spending, accounting for about 80% of the total. Meanwhile, technology and financial firms generate roughly 55% of global net profits.
As illustrated in the figures (pages 4–6), productivity patterns vary across sectors. Energy and utilities show the highest revenue per employee. By contrast, healthcare and technology lead in R&D intensity. These differences reflect distinct innovation and production dynamics.
The role of AI and corporate dynamics
The platform includes a news-based database to track corporate developments. Through large-scale text analysis, it links millions of news articles to major multinational firms. In 2025 alone, nearly 3 million articles referenced one of the top 500 MNEs.
Artificial intelligence stands out as a major theme. Around 1 in 20 news articles mentioned AI in 2025, and many also referred to leading multinational firms. Consequently, this indicates the central role of MNEs in developing and deploying AI technologies. The system also enables users to identify spikes in media attention related to mergers, acquisitions, or other major events.
Expanding data infrastructure and future development
Recent updates introduce several improvements in data integration. New datasets include millions of company identifiers and stronger methods for linking corporate information across sources. Furthermore, advanced extraction techniques analyze website data to uncover additional relationships between firms.
AI-based tools are also being tested to support data validation and integration. Although still experimental, they improve efficiency when handling large datasets. Looking ahead, the OECD and UNSD plan to expand the platform’s capabilities. The objective is to support national statistical offices and improve consistency in global business statistics.
Reference
Pilgrim, G., Chang, E., Ang, S., & Chow, J. (2026, March 18). MNE-thing is possible: New OECD-UNSD data release strengthens open evidence on multinational enterprises. OECD & United Nations Statistics Division. https://oecdstatistics.blog/2026/03/18/mne-thing-is-possible-new-oecd-unsd-data-release-strengthens-open-evidence-on-multinational-enterprises/