India Enters Top 100 in Worldwide SDG Rankings

The Sustainable Development Report (SDR) assesses the advancements achieved annually on the Sustainable Development Goals since their endorsement by the 193 UN Member States in 2015.

This version also features, for the first time, an evaluation of which nations have advanced the most on the SDGs through a prominent SDG Index (SDGi).

Key Features

Worldwide Engagement via Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs): 190 of 193 UN member countries have taken part in the VNR process since the approval of Agenda 2030.

Regional Trends in SDG Advancement: East and South Asia have been the quickest advancing area since 2015.

Factors of advancement: Swift enhancements in socioeconomic metrics.

Leading Countries in SDG Index: Finland, Sweden, and Denmark occupy the top three spots.

19 of the top 20 performers are nations in Europe.

Even leading nations face obstacles, especially regarding climate initiatives and biodiversity targets.

India was placed 99th among 167 countries.

It ranks India with a score of 67 on the SDG Index, a notable increase from its 109th position in 2024.

Following the implementation of the SDGs, India has consistently enhanced its position: it was 112th in 2023, 121st in 2022, and 120th in 2021.

Among India’s neighboring countries, China is placed 49th (74.4), Bhutan 74th (70.5), Nepal 85th (68.6), Bangladesh 114th (63.9), while Pakistan is at 140th (57).

The maritime neighbors Maldives and Sri Lanka are positioned at 53rd and 93rd places, respectively.

Worldwide SDG Progress Continues to Lag Behind: None of the 17 SDGs is presently on course to be fulfilled globally by 2030.

Globally, only 17% of SDG targets are making progress.

Key challenges: Disputes, systemic weaknesses, constrained financial capacity.

Significant advancements observed in: SDG 3 (Health): Mortality rates for children under 5 and neonates.

SDG 7: Availability of electricity.

SDG 9: Access to the internet and mobile broadband usage.

It pinpointed five areas of notable decline since 2015: obesity prevalence (SDG 2), media freedom (SDG 16), sustainable nitrogen usage (SDG 2), the Red List Index for biodiversity decline (SDG 15), and the Corruption Perceptions Index (SDG 16).

UN-Based Multilateralism Index (UN-Mi): Barbados is ranked 1st – demonstrating the highest commitment to UN-based multilateralism.

The United States stands at the bottom, after leaving the Paris Climate Agreement (2025), exiting the World Health Organization (WHO), and formally opposing the SDGs and Agenda 2030.

Fiscal Limitations in Developing Nations: Approximately half of the world’s population resides in nations without the fiscal resources to invest in sustainable growth.

Global public goods (such as climate protection, global health, and peace) continue to lack adequate funding.

Suggestions

Requirement for Reform in Global Financial Architecture (GFA) since the existing GFA benefits affluent countries by providing them easier access to capital.

Suggests actionable changes to enhance and synchronize global funding for SDGs and public assets.