Part 3 The SDG Index and Dashboards
The SDG Index and Dashboards provides an annual assessment of SDG progress in all 193 UN member states. The SDG Index is
based on a clear, trustworthy method that has been peer-reviewed and checked for accuracy. A summary of the methods
explains where the data comes from and what has changed compared to earlier versions. This year, the Index uses 125
indicators—98 are global, and 27 are extra indicators used for OECD country dashboards.
○ Global SDG Progress
Overall, at the global level, SDG progress has stalled since 2020. Global SDG progress was already too slow even before the
COVID-19 pandemic and other crises hit. Based on the rate of progress since the SDGs were adopted by the international
community in 2015, none of the 17 SDGs will be achieved by 2030.
○ The 2024 SDG Index Score and Ranking
As in previous editions, European countries, particularly the Nordic countries, top the 2024 SDG Index. Finland ranks first,
followed by Sweden and Denmark. Interestingly, Finland also ranks first on the World Happiness Report. However, even these
countries face significant challenges in achieving several SDGs, especially SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 12 (Responsible
Consumption and Production), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), partly driven by unsustainable consumption
patterns and negative international *spillover effects. Countries at the bottom of the SDG Index ranking tend to be impacted by
military conflicts, security issues, and political or socio-economic instability. Yemen, Somalia, Chad, the Central African Republic,
and South Sudan rank at the bottom of this year’s SDG Index.
○ International spillovers
The SDGs require global cooperation and responsibility. While countries focus on domestic progress, they must also avoid
harming other nations’ ability to achieve their goals. This is known as an international spillover. Negative spillovers—such as
unsustainable consumption, toxic waste exports, unfair tax practices, and arms exports—are often caused by wealthy countries.
These actions can lead to deforestation, pollution, and social inequality in poorer nations. Many high-income countries also
perform poorly on supporting international partnerships and multilateralism (SDG 17). Although Official Development Assistance
(ODA) is a key form of positive spillover, only 5 of the 31 OECD/DAC countries meet the target of 0.7% of gross national income.
To reduce negative impacts and support global progress, countries must strengthen UN-based multilateralism, promote fair
trade, and establish global standards that ensure sustainable development for both people and the planet.
[Understanding data]
The poorest and most vulnerable countries are not catching up with the world average SDG Index score. Prior to the
pandemic, SDG progress was too slow globally, but there was some convergence taking place, with poorer countries progressing
faster on the SDG Index between 2015 and 2019 (+1.6 points) than rich countries (+0.7 points). Since 2020, the SDG Index score
of rich countries has slightly improved (+0.3 points), while that of the poorest countries has stagnated (+0.1 points), with the
result that the average score of the poorest countries for 2023 is only 51, compared with 77.6 for the rich countries. The gap
between the world average SDG Index score and that of poor countries and SIDS is larger in 2023 than it was in 2015. Poor
countries and countries with structural vulnerabilities may be particularly affected by the multiple and simultaneous crises, and
by the effects of climate change. The socio-economic consequences of these crises might be exacerbated by having only
limited access to international financing, including international capital markets. In contrast, the average SDG progress in BRICS
and BRICS+ countries since 2015 has been faster than the world average.
