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UN Sustainable Development Report 2026

Kumari Sonali

UN Sustainable Development Report 2026:

India ranked 94th out of 167 countries in the 2026 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index, achieving its highest-ever position with an overall score of 68.3 out of 100, according to the Sustainable Development Report 2026 released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).

Key Findings of the Sustainable Development Report 2026:

  • Globally, none of the 17 SDGs are on track to be achieved by 2030.
  • Only about 16.5% of individual SDG targets are progressing on track, with nearly half making only marginal progress and 15% actively reversing since 2015.
  • Top Performers: Nordic countries continue to lead the global rankings, with Finland securing the top spot, followed closely by Sweden and Denmark.
  • At the bottom of the index are Chad, the Central African Republic, and South Sudan due to conflict and instability.
  • The goals furthest off track globally are SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
  • Barbados ranked first globally in its commitment to UN-based multilateralism, whereas the US ranked last, largely due to its opposition to the 2030 Agenda and withdrawal from international organizations.

India:

  • Since the SDGs were adopted in 2015, India has climbed 18 places (from 112th to 94th), making it one of the fastest-improving major economies alongside China.
  • However, it still lags behind South Asian neighbors like Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
  • Only 33.3% of India’s SDG targets are on track to be achieved by 2030, while progress is limited to 42.7% of targets, and 24% have worsened.
  • The Hunger Crisis (SDG 2): Zero Hunger remains India’s most pressing challenge.
  • Progress is stagnating, with child wasting rising to 19% (the highest globally), child stunting remaining severe at 29.3%, and undernourishment rising to 12%.
  • India faces “major challenges” in 7 of the 17 goals, specifically SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 15 (Life on Land), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).
  • Under SDG 16, India’s score on the Press Freedom Index has dropped severely (from 59.51 in 2015 to 31.96 in 2026).
    In health (SDG 3), mortality linked to air pollution and non-communicable diseases has worsened.
  •  India is deteriorating on two environmental SDGs—SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).
  • The decline in SDG 13 is primarily driven by rising carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion and cement production, with per capita CO₂ emissions reaching a record high of 2.21 tonnes.
  • The report highlights that India has made significant, notable progress globally in expanding electricity access (SDG 7) and increasing mobile broadband and internet usage (SDG 9).