6 July 2026 - As world leaders gather at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development to take stock of progress on the 17 SDGs, UN DESA’s Statistics Division is releasing The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026 on 7 July 2026. Here is what the data show.
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A decade of determined action has delivered real results
The evidence is unambiguous: sustained global commitment produces measurable change. Since 2015, billions of people have gained access to safe drinking water and sanitation, electricity now reaches 92 per cent of the world's population with a third from renewable sources, and internet access has nearly doubled from 40 to 74 per cent. New HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths have each fallen by roughly a third, 134 countries have met the child mortality reduction target, and disaster-related deaths have dropped by 65 per cent. Social protection now reaches more than half of humanity for the first time in history. A decade ago, data existed for only half of all SDG indicators; today, a global database of three million data points spans nearly every indicator.
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The report is honest about what remains to be done
But we face serious headwinds. From sharp cuts in development assistance to rising debt burdens in developing countries, persistent poverty, climate chaos and lack of opportunity, countries are struggling to make life better for their people. Violent conflicts are unravelling human development. At every step, these pressures are hitting vulnerable countries the hardest. Of the 139 targets with trend data, about 36 per cent are on track or making moderate progress, nearly half are advancing too slowly, and 15 per cent have fallen below 2015 baselines.
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The path forward is clear: scale up and act now
Progress is possible when proven solutions are scaled and hard-won gains are protected. Closing the financing gap through the Sevilla Commitment, harnessing digital technologies, prioritizing peace, and strengthening multilateral cooperation will be critical. With just four years remaining, the choices made now will have lasting effects for generations. Grounded in the latest data, The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026 provides an evidence base for discussions at the High-level Political Forum and for the urgent actions needed to put the Goals back within reach.
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Join the report launch on 7 July for the latest on global SDG progress
UN DESA will launch this flagship report on the opening day of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, on 7 July 2026. Follow the launch live via UN Web TV and access the complete report available from 12:30 pm EDT at The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026.