As a tool to monitor the implementation of the Millennium Declaration [PDF: A/RES/55/2] adopted at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2000, a series of 48 indicators have been developed by experts of international organizations.

Each indicator was then assigned to the relevant organizations. UNCTAD is responsible, together with IMF, WTO and the World Bank, for the Market Access Indicators.

Since 2002, the indicators are available in a database maintained by the United Nations Statistics Division, and they will be updated annually to reflect developments in the respective areas.