Introduction

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a global plan to bring dignity, peace, and prosperity to people and the planet—both now and in the future. Three years after the Agenda was launched, many countries are now turning this shared vision into national plans and development strategies.

This Sustainable Development Goals Report 2018 shows that progress is being made in several key areas of the 2030 Agenda. Since the year 2000, the maternal mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa has fallen by 35%, and the death rate for children under five has dropped by 50%. In South Asia, the risk of girls marrying as children has gone down by over 40%. In the least developed countries, the number of people with access to electricity has more than doubled. Around the world, labour productivity has gone up, and unemployment has gone down. Over 100 countries now have policies and programmes supporting sustainable consumption and production.

But the report also shows that progress in some areas is not fast enough to meet the goals and targets of the Agenda by 2030. This is especially true for the poorest and most marginalised people. Young people are three times more likely to be unemployed than adults. Less than half of all children and teens meet the basic levels in reading and maths. In 2015, 2.3 billion people still lacked even basic sanitation, and 892 million people were still practising open defecation. Nearly 1 billion people—mostly in rural areas—still don’t have electricity. In sub-Saharan Africa, women of reproductive age face HIV infection rates 10 times higher than the global average. Nine out of 10 people in cities breathe polluted air. And although some types of discrimination against women and girls are getting better, gender inequality continues to limit their rights and opportunities.

There are more challenges ahead—conflict, climate change, and growing inequality are making it harder to reach the goals. After years of decline, the number of undernourished people increased from 777 million in 2015 to 815 million in 2016. This was mainly because of conflicts, droughts, and disasters caused by climate change. In 2017, the North Atlantic had its costliest hurricane season ever, and the average global temperature over the past five years has been the highest on record.

To stay on track with the Sustainable Development Goals, we need to understand where we are today. This report also highlights the problems in gathering and sharing reliable, timely, and clear data that is broken down by different groups. It stresses the need for better, evidence-based policies. Today’s technology makes it possible to collect the data we need to fulfil the promise of leaving no one behind. But we need strong political leadership, enough funding, and real commitment to use these tools properly.

With only 12 years left until 2030, we must act with urgency. Reaching the goals of the 2030 Agenda requires quick and strong action from countries, as well as partnerships between governments and all stakeholders. This bold plan needs deep changes—it cannot succeed with business as usual. The United Nations is playing its part by launching reforms to improve the UN development system so it can better support the 2030 Agenda. The goal is to become more effective, coordinated, and responsible.

We are ready to work with all Member States to make the Sustainable Development Goals a reality for everyone, everywhere.

António Guterres
Secretary-General, United Nations

Close the gaps. Bring people together. Rebuild trust by focusing on shared goals. Unity is the way forward. Our future relies on it.

– António Guterres
Secretary-General of the United Nations