SDG Index 2025 and India's Performance

India has achieved a milestone by ranking 99th out of 167 countries in the 2025 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index, released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network.

• Score: India scored 67, a significant improvement from its 109th rank in 2024.
• Neighbor Rankings:
  • Bhutan: 74th (70.5)
  • Nepal: 85th (68.6)
  • Bangladesh: 114th (63.9)
  • Pakistan: 140th (57)
  • Maldives: 53rd
  • Sri Lanka: 93rd
• Global Context: India's progress is noted amidst global stagnation in SDG targets, with only 17% on track for 2030.

Global Highlights

• Top Performers: European nations, led by Finland, Sweden, and Denmark, dominate the top rankings.
• Challenges: Even top-ranking countries face issues related to climate change and biodiversity.
• Regional Progress: East and South Asia have shown the fastest progress since 2015.
• Improved Nations:
  • Nepal: +11.1
  • Cambodia: +10
  • The Philippines: +8.6
  • Bangladesh: +8.3
  • Mongolia: +7.7

Areas of Concern

• Regressions: Significant setbacks in obesity rates, press freedom, sustainable nitrogen management, biodiversity, and corruption perceptions.

International Implications

• Commitment to Multilateralism: Barbados, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago rated highest.
• G20 and OECD Leaders: Brazil leads G20 at 25th, Chile tops OECD at 7th.
• United States: Ranked last (193rd) due to opposing policy positions.

Call for Global Financial Reform

The report urges the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) to prioritize global financial architecture reforms, emphasizing the disparity in financial flows to rich versus emerging economies.