# Data, waves and wind to be counted in the economy

8 days ago

**Robert Cuffe**  
Head of statistics •   
Reporting from BBC Verify

Wind and waves are set to be included in calculations of the size of countries' economies for the first time, as part of changes approved at the United Nations.

Assets like oilfields were already factored in under the rules - last updated in 2008.

This update aims to capture areas that have grown since then, such as the cost of using up natural resources and the value of data.

The changes come into force in 2030, and could mean an increase in estimates of the size of the UK economy making promises to spend a fixed share of the economy on defence or aid more expensive.

## Related

### Wind power
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### GDP
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### Wind farms
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