With just five years remaining until the 2030 deadline, the 2025 Progress Towards the Sustainable Development Goals report by the UN Secretary-General offers a critical snapshot of where the world stands. While there are some signs of progress, the report warns that the pace and scale of action remain far below what is needed to deliver on the SDGs.
Key findings:
- 35% of targets are on track or showing moderate progress
- 47% show insufficient progress
- 18% have regressed below 2015 levels
- 2024 was the hottest year on record, with climate action lagging
- Poverty, hunger, gender inequality and education gaps remain urgent challenges
Notable progress in 2025 includes:
- Over 52% of the global population is now covered by at least one social protection benefit
- Electricity access has risen to 92% globally
- Maternal and under-five mortality rates continue to decline
The report calls for urgent and transformative action across six key transitions: food systems, energy, digital connectivity, education, jobs and social protection, and climate and biodiversity. Renewed global cooperation and sustained investment are essential to deliver on the 2030 Agenda.
This report will also inform the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) 2025, taking place in July in New York, where countries and stakeholders will reflect on progress and recommit to accelerated action.
Read the full report here