GAO Reports by the Numbers: International Affairs and Trade

From diplomatic security to global health and customs issues, our International Affairs and Trade team reports on topics that affect the security and prosperity of the global community.

To get a better idea of the breadth of the issues we look at, here’s a roundup of facts from some recent reports. For more details on each fact, click on the answer to go to the original report.

What percentage of overseas Foreign Service positions were vacant as of March 2018? (13%)

Image

How much has the Small Business Administration awarded through its State Trade Expansion Program to help small businesses export their goods or services? ($139 million)

Image

According to the World Health Organization, tobacco use is responsible for how many deaths worldwide each year? (Over 8 million)

Image

How much has the U.S. government invested in counternarcotics and security efforts in Colombia since 1999? (Over $10 billion)

Image

How many embassies, consulates, and other diplomatic missions does the State Department operate worldwide? (More than 275) (This post was edited to reflect the number of missions.)

Image

How much has the U.S. government invested since 2002 for Afghan security—including providing and maintaining equipment for the Afghan defense and security forces? (Over $84 billion)

Image

• Comments on GAO’s WatchBlog? Contact blog@gao.gov.