presentation image of children holding signs of each of the 17 development goals

17 Goals for People, for Planet

World leaders came together in 2015 and made a historic promise to secure the rights and well-being of everyone on a healthy, thriving planet when they adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) remain the world’s roadmap for ending poverty, protecting the planet and tackling inequalities. The 17 SDGs offer the most practical and effective pathway to tackle the causes of violent conflict, inequalities, climate change and environmental degradation and aim to ensure that no one will be left behind. They  reflect an understanding that sustainable development everywhere must integrate economic growth, social well-being and environmental protection. 

Read more: What is Sustainable Development?

Keeping the Promise

While conflict, climate disruption, economic instability, and rising geopolitical tensions have placed the promise of the Goals in peril, we can still turn things around by 2030. Notably, there has been some SDG success since 2015 with improvements in key areas, including poverty reduction, child mortality, electricity access and the battle against certain diseases. 

  • Over half the world’s population is now covered by some form of social protection—10% more than a decade ago. 
  • Child marriage, maternal and child mortality have declined. 
  • Women now hold 27% of parliamentary seats globally, up from 22%. 
  • Access to electricity, clean cooking, and internet connectivity has expanded dramatically.
  • New HIV infections are down 39% since 2010. 
  • Malaria prevention efforts have saved 12.7 million lives.
  • Over 110 million more children are in school, and the gender gap in education continues to shrink with more girls finishing school. 
  • Access to electricity has reached 92% of the global population, while internet use has jumped from 40% in 2015 to 68% in 2024. 
  • Local conservation efforts have helped double protection for vital ecosystems.

But progress is not moving fast enough.

  • Only 35% of SDG targets are on track or making modest gains. Nearly half are progressing too slowly, and 18% are actually regressing. 
  • Over 800 million people still live in extreme poverty and hunger. One in 11 people still face hunger. Billions live without safe drinking water and sanitation. 
  • Women continue to shoulder 2.5 times more unpaid care work than men. 
  • Persons with disabilities remain underserved across sectors.
  • Climate records are being shattered, with 2024 the hottest year in history. 
  • CO₂ levels are the highest in over two million years. 
  • Over 120 million people are displaced—more than double the number in 2015. 
  • Debt service costs for low- and middle-income countries hit $1.4 trillion, draining resources from critical development.

Countries continue to drive efforts to achieve the SDGs evidenced at the annual High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development — the central platform for reviewing progress on the SDGs — where they showcase the bold actions they are taking to achieve the SDGs – but more must be done.

Pact for the Future

In September 2024, the UN Secretary-General convened the Summit of the Future, aimed at forging new international consensus on delivering a better present and safeguarding the future. Member States adopted the internationally negotiated Pact for the Future that will help advance the Sustainable Development Goals across all areas including international peace and security; science and technology; youth and future generations and transforming global governance. 

SDG Summit

Every four years, the High-Level Political Forum meets under the auspices of the UN General Assembly, known as the SDG Summit . In 2023, the second SDG Summit brought together Heads of State and Government to catalyze renewed efforts towards accelerating progress on the SDGs. The Summit culminated in the adoption of  a political declaration reaffirming world leaders’ commitment to achieving the 17 goals. 

SDG Summit 2023

SDG Report 2025

The annual SDG report provides an overview of the world’s implementation efforts to date, highlighting areas of progress and where more action needs to be taken. The report is prepared by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with input from international and regional organizations and the United Nations system of agencies, funds and programmes. 

Annual SDG Report

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Sustainable development has been defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
    Sustainable development calls for concerted efforts towards building an inclusive, sustainable and resilient future for people and the planet.
  • For sustainable development to be achieved, it is crucial to harmonize three core elements: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection. These elements are interconnected and all are crucial for the well-being of individuals and societies.
  • Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions is an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. To this end, there must be promotion of sustainable, inclusive and equitable economic growth, creating greater opportunities for all, reducing inequalities, raising basic standards of living, fostering equitable social development and inclusion, and promoting integrated and sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystems.

  • Achieving the goals relies on countries’ own sustainable development policies, plans and programmes. The SDGs are a compass for aligning countries’ plans with their global commitments.
  • Nationally-owned and country-led sustainable development strategies require resource mobilization and financing strategies.
  • All stakeholders: governments, civil society, the private sector, and others, need to contribute to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.

  • At the global level, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets are monitored and reviewed using a set of global indicators. The global indicator framework for Sustainable Development Goals was developed by the Inter-Agency and Expert Group on SDG Indicators (IAEG-SDGs) and agreed upon at the 48th session of the United Nations Statistical Commission held in March 2017.
  • Governments have also developed their own national indicators to assist in monitoring progress made on the goals and targets.
  • The follow-up and review process is informed by an annual SDG Progress Report prepared by the Secretary-General.
  • The annual meetings of the High-level Political Forum on sustainable development play a central role in reviewing progress towards the SDGs at the global level. The means of implementation of the SDGs is monitored and reviewed as outlined in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the outcome document of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, to ensure that financial resources are effectively mobilized to support the new sustainable development agenda.

  • To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, annual investment requirements across all sectors have been estimated at around $5-7 trillion. Current investment levels are far from the scale needed, especially in developing countries, where the annual financing gap has surged to approximately $4 trillion. With global financial assets estimated at over $200 trillion, financing is available, but most of these resources are not being channeled towards sustainable development at the scale and speed necessary to achieve the SDGs and objectives of the Paris Agreement on climate change.
  • The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Spain in 2025, produced the Sevilla Commitment to mobilize and channel financial resources more effectively, strengthen debt relief mechanisms, enhance domestic resource mobilization, and promote greater transparency and cooperation to close the financing gap necessary to achieve the SDGs and climate objectives.

  • Climate change is impacting public health, food and water security, migration, peace and security. Climate change, left unchecked, will roll back the development gains we have made over the last decades and will make further gains impossible.
  • Investments in sustainable development will help address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building climate resilience.
  • Conversely, action on climate change will drive sustainable development.
  • Tackling climate change and fostering sustainable development are two mutually reinforcing sides of the same coin; sustainable development cannot be achieved without climate action. Many of the SDGs are addressing the core drivers of climate change.

  • No, the Sustainable Development Goals are not legally binding.
  • Nevertheless, countries are expected to take ownership and establish a national framework for achieving the 17 Goals.
  • Implementation and success relies on countries’ own sustainable development policies, plans and programmes.
  • Countries have the primary responsibility for follow-up and review, at the national, regional and global levels, with regard to the progress made in achieving the Goals and targets by 2030.
  • Actions at the national level to monitor progress requires quality, accessible and timely data collection and regional follow-up and review.

  • The 17 Sustainable Development Goals with 169 targets are broader in scope and go further than the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by addressing the root causes of poverty and the universal need for development that works for all people. The goals cover the three dimensions of sustainable development: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection.
  • Building on the success and momentum of the MDGs, the SDGs cover more ground, with ambitions to address inequalities, economic growth, decent jobs, cities and human settlements, industrialization, oceans, ecosystems, energy, climate change, sustainable consumption and production, peace and justice.
  • The Sustainable Development Goals are universal and apply to all countries, whereas the MDGs were intended for action in developing countries only.
  • A core feature of the SDGs is their strong focus on means of implementation—the mobilization of financial resources—capacity-building and technology, as well as data and institutions.