Pennsylvania: Facts and Figures

Pennsylvania generated over $44 billion worth of goods exports in 2021. With two major city centers in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, nearly 15,000 Pennsylvania companies export goods across the globe each year. And 88% of Pennsylvania’s exporters are small-and medium-sized businesses.

Job Creation

  • In Pennsylvania, 1,596,200 jobs were supported by international trade in 2019, representing 20.3% of all jobs in the state.1,2
  • In 2020, 14,889 companies exported goods from Pennsylvania of which 88% were small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2018, 329,500 people were employed by affiliates of companies at least 50% foreign-owned.3,4

Exports and Growth

  • Pennsylvania exported $44.7 billion in goods to foreign markets in 2021, a 20% increase compared to 2020 driven by continued economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy.5
    • Canada ($12.0 billion)
    • Mexico ($4.9 billion)
    • China ($3.3 billion)
    • Germany ($1.9 billion)
    • United Kingdom ($1.8 billion)
  • Agricultural exports are important to Pennsylvania's' economy, totaling $2.1 billion in 2020, according to the USDA.6
  • Since 2014, the U.S. Export-Import Bank has financed $7 billion in exports from 218 companies in Pennsylvania.7
  • Since 1971, the Overseas Private Investment Corporation - which has been modernized into the Development Finance Corporation (DFC) - has invested $1.6 billion in Pennsylvania companies for overseas investment.8
  • Since 1992, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency has helped facilitate $1.3 billion in exports from Pennsylvania companies.9

Education and Research

  • In 2018-2019, 21,672 Pennsylvania students studied abroad.10
  • During 2020, 50,070 international students were enrolled in Pennsylvania colleges and universities and contributed $2 billion to the Pennsylvania economy.10

Global Engagement

  • Since 1961, 8,670 Peace Corps volunteers from Pennsylvania have served in dozens of countries overseas.11