2025
Authors:
Xing, Q., Wu, C., Liu, J., Pradhan, P., Bryan, B. A., Moallemi, E. A., Gao, L., Schaubroeck, T., & Carrasco, L. R.
Abstract:
Two-thirds of the timeline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals has elapsed, yet country-specific progress and 2030 prospects remain limited. This study compared progress across 117 SDG indicators for 167 countries and projected likely achievements by 2030. It found that the global SDG score is projected to reach around 63% by 2030 and that achieving the overall SDGs would require an annual growth rate of 4%. Two-thirds of the timeline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals has elapsed, yet country-specific insights into pre- and post-SDG progress and 2030 prospects remain limited. We compared progress across 117 SDG indicators for 167 countries and projected achievements by 2030. Progress varies with initial 2015 indicator scores: for low-scoring indicators (0–50%), more countries advanced than regressed (25 vs. 16%), with SDG9 (industry and innovation) showing the strongest performance. For high-scoring indicators (70–90%), regression outpaced advancement (16 vs. 10%), with SDG3 immunisation and infectious disease indicators performing worst. Pandemic impacts were greatest at low and high initial scores. By 2030, the global SDG score is projected to reach approximately 63% (SD 8%), with 78 countries reaching moderate scores (60–70%) and 12 remaining in the low range (40–50%). Achieving the overall SDGs by 2030 would require an annual growth rate of 4%. This comprehensive long-term assessment complements UN reporting and provides a critical evidence base for accelerating SDG delivery.
