ProgresstowardstheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsintheArabregionin2025

UNITEDNATIONS

ESCWA

a.

VISION

ESCWA,aninnovativecatalystforastable,justandflourishingArabregion

MISSION

Committedtothe2030Agenda,ESCWA’spassionateteamproducesinnovative

knowledge,fostersregionalconsensusanddeliverstransformationalpolicyadvice.Together,weworkforasustainablefutureforall.

E/ESCWA/CL4.SIT/2025/TP.4

EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia

ProgresstowardstheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsintheArabregionin2025

UNITEDNATIONS

Beirut

?2025UnitedNations

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3

Contents

Introduction5

1.

Dataavailabilityandprogressassessment7

2.

SDGs:indicatorsanddataanalysis15

3.

OverviewbyGoal43

Annex61

References62

Endnotes62

Listoffigures

Figure1.DataavailabilityforSDGindicatorsintheArabregion8

Figure2.ProgressofGoalstowardsthe2023thresholdlevelandthe2030target9

Figure3.Progresstowardsthe2030targetinhigh-incomeArabcountries,bySustainableDevelopmentGoal9

Figure4.Progresstowardsthe2030targetinmiddle-incomeArabcountries,bySustainableDevelopmentGoal10

Figure5.Progresstowardsachievingthe2030targetinthelow-incomeArabcountries,bySustainableDevelopmentGoal10

Figure6.DistributionofprogresstowardstheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsattargetlevel11

Figure7.SnapshotofprogressinSDGtargets12

Figure8.ProgressinSDG1indicators16

Figure9.1.1.1:Proportionofpopulationbelowinternationalpovertyline17

Figure10.1.3.1:Proportionofpopulationcoveredbyatleastonesocialprotectionbenefit17

Figure11.1.4.1:Proportionofpopulationusingbasicdrinkingwaterservices17

Figure12.ProgressinSDG2indicators18

Figure13.2.1.1:Prevalenceofundernourishment19

Figure14.2.a.1:AgriculturevalueaddedshareofGDP19

Figure15.ProgressinSDG3indicators20

Figure16.3.1.2:Proportionofbirthsattendedbyskilledhealthpersonnel21

Figure18.3.7.2:Adolescentbirthrate21

Figure17.3.2.1:Under-fivemortalityrate,per1,000livebirths21

Figure19.ProgressinSDG4indicators22

Figure20.4.1.2:Completionrate22

Figure21.4.2.2:Participationrateinorganizedlearning22

4ProgresstowardstheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsintheArabregionin2025

Figure22.ProgressinSDG5indicators23

Figure23.5.3.1:Proportionofwomenaged20–24yearswhoweremarriedorinaunionbeforeage1824

Figure24.5.5.1:Proportionofseatsheldbywomeninnationalparliaments24

Figure25.ProgressinSDG6indicators24

Figure26.6.2.1:Proportionofpopulationusingsafelymanagedsanitationservices25

Figure27.6.4.1:Wateruseefficiency26

Figure28.ProgressinSDG7indicators27

Figure29.7.2.1:Renewableenergyshareinthetotalfinalenergyconsumption27

Figure30.ProgressinSDG8indicators28

Figure31.8.3.1:Proportionofinformalemployment28

Figure32.8.10.1:Numberofautomatedtellermachinesper100,000adults29

Figure33.ProgressinSDG9indicators30

Figure34.9.2.2:Manufacturingemploymentasaproportionoftotalemployment30

Figure35.9.5.1:ResearchanddevelopmentexpenditureasaproportionofGDP31

Figure36.ProgressinSDG10indicators31

Figure37.10.4.1:LabourshareofGDP32

Figure38.10.c.1:Averageremittancecostsofsending$200toareceivingcountryas

aproportionoftheamountremitted,202332

Figure39.ProgressinSDG11indicators32

Figure40.11.1.1:Proportionofurbanpopulationlivinginslums33

Figure41.ProgressinSDG12indicators34

Figure43.12.4.2:Electronicwastegenerated,percapita34

Figure42.12.3.1:HouseholdFoodwastepercapita34

Figure44.ProgressinSDG13indicators35

Figure45.13.2.2:CO2emissions(Metrictonspercapita)35

Figure46.ProgressinSDG14indicators36

Figure47.14.1.1:Beachlitteroriginatingfromnationalland-basedsourcesthatendsintheocean36

Figure48.ProgressinSDG15indicators37

Figure49.15.1.2:Proportionofimportantsitesforterrestrialandfreshwaterbiodiversity

thatarecoveredbyprotectedareas37

Figure50.15.3.1:Proportionoflandthatisdegradedovertotallandarea38

Figure53.16.9.1:Proportionofchildrenunder5yearsofagewhosebirthshavebeenregistered

withacivilauthority,202339

Figure51.ProgressinSDG16indicators39

Figure52.16.5.2:Briberyincidence,202439

Figure54.ProgressinSDG15indicators41

Figure55.17.3.2:VolumeofremittancesasaproportionoftotalGDP41

Figure56.17.8.1:Internetusersper100inhabitants42

Figure57.17.18.1:DataInfrastructureperformanceindex42

5

Introduction

TheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)areaglobalblueprintforachievingamoreequitableandsustainablefuture.PlanningandimplementingeffectivepoliciesintheArabregion,whichhasbeencharacterizedby

instabilityandconflictforthepasttwodecades,ismorechallengingthanever.

ThisreportshinesaspotlightonthechallengesontheroadtoachievingtheSDGs.Itprovidesinformationon

theregion’sprogressineachofthe17SDGsandtheir169targetsandassociatedindicators.Italsodrawsan

overview,brokendownbySDG,toreflecttheregion’sprogressintermsofgoals,targetsandindicators.Aswellasmarkingprogressincertainareas,thereportalsopointsoutimmediateprioritieswherecollectiveeffortsareurgentlyneedediftheaspirationsofthe2030Agendaaretobemet.

Despitenotableadvancementsinareassuchasgoodhealthandwell-being(SDG3)andcleanwaterandsanitation(SDG6),theregionfacessignificanthurdles,particularlyinaddressingpoverty(SDG1),inequality(SDG10)and

climateaction(SDG13).Politicalinstability,economicdisparityandresourcescarcityhinderprogress.

Thereporthighlightskeyachievements,gapsandstrategiesforacceleratingSDGimplementation.Itunderscorestheneedforrobustdatacollection,policyalignmentandcross-sectorpartnershipstoensureatransformative

impactacrossall17SDGs.Itservesasaresourceforallstakeholdersinvolvedinprioritization,planning,implementationandfollow-upofthe2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopmentintheArabregion.

Inthefuture,theEconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsia(ESCWA),incollaborationwithall

partnersandstakeholders,willcontinuetostrengthenthecapacitiesofArabcountriestobridgethedatagapandacceleratetheimplementationofthe2030Agenda.Notwithstandingthechallengesintheregion,therearenumerousopportunitiesforpromotingsustainabledevelopmentintheregion.

SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT

1

Dataavailabilityandprogressassessment

8ProgresstowardstheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsintheArabregionin2025

Figure1.DataavailabilityforSDGindicatorsintheArabregion

56%

38%12%

Suf?cientInsuf?cientNodata

2024

2020

50%

13%

31%

Source:ArabSDGMonitor.Availableat

/data-availabilty/index.html?o=1

(accessedinMarch2025).

Dataavailability

RobustandcomprehensivedataforSustainable

DevelopmentGoal(SDG)indicatorsareessential

fordrivingsustainabledevelopmentintheArab

region.Nevertheless,persistentchallengessuchasfragmentedstatisticalsystems,limitedcapacityof

nationalstatisticalofficesandgeopoliticalinstabilitycontinuetohinderprogress.Addressingthesegapsiscriticaltoensuringinformeddecision-making,

equitableresourceallocationandmeasurable

advancementstowardsachievingthe2030Agenda.

Progressassessmentatthelevelofeach

SustainableDevelopmentGoal

TheArabregionhasmadeprogressin

implementingtheSDGsaftertheadoptionofthe

2030Agendain2015,butthatprogresshasbeen

unevenasaresultofsocioeconomic,political

andenvironmentalfactors.Thisquantitative

assessmentisbasedonavailabledataand

evaluatestheprogressmadeintheachievementoftheSDGs,highlightingpositivedevelopments

butalsopersistinggapsandemergingchallenges.Theseresultsemphasizetheneedforacceleratedaction,collaborationandinnovativesolutionsto

ensuresustainableandinclusivedevelopment,andtoinformfuturestrategiesconsideringindividualcountries’contextsandneeds.

UnevenprogressacrossthedifferentSDGtargetsisacommonfeatureinhigh-incomeArabcountries.ForsomeSDGs,encouragingtrendsarevisible.Forothers,considerablechallengesareevident.The

high-incomeArabcountrieshavemadesubstantialprogressinfiveSDGs,andareontracktoachieve

theassociatedtargets.Themostapparentof

theseareSDG4(Qualityeducation)andSDG11(Sustainablecitiesandcommunities).However,alackofdatahampersprogressinsixoftheSDGs.ThemostaffectedSDGinthisrespectisSDG10

(Reducedinequalities).

9

Figure2.ProgressofGoalstowardsthe2023thresholdlevelandthe2030target

201520242030

1Nopoverty

2Zerohunger

3Goodhealthandwell-being

4Qualityeducation

5Genderequality

6Cleanwaterandsanitation

7Affordableandcleanenergy

8Decentworkandeconomicgrowth

9Industry,innovationandinfrastructure

10Reducedinequalities

11Sustainablecitiesandcommunities

12Responsibleconsumptionandproduction

13Climateaction

14Lifebelowwater

15Lifeonland

16Peace,justiceandstronginstitutions

17Partnershipforthegoals

OntrackInprogressOfftrack

Insuf?cientdataEvidencestrength

Source:ArabSDGMonitor.Availableat

/

data-availabilty/index.html?o=1

(accessedinMarch2025).

Figure3.Progresstowardsthe2030targetinhigh-incomeArabcountries,bySustainableDevelopmentGoal

201520242030

1Nopoverty

2Zerohunger

3Goodhealthandwell-being

4Qualityeducation

5Genderequality

6Cleanwaterandsanitation

7Affordableandcleanenergy

8Decentworkandeconomicgrowth

9Industry,innovationandinfrastructure

10Reducedinequalities

11Sustainablecitiesandcommunities

12Responsibleconsumptionandproduction

13Climateaction

14Lifebelowwater

15Lifeonland

16Peace,justiceandstronginstitutions

17Partnershipforthegoals

OntrackInprogress

Insuf?cientdata

OfftrackEvidencestrength

Source:ArabSDGMonitor.Availableat

/

(accessedinMarch2025).

Acrossthemiddle-incomeArabcountries,the2030targetsarenotontracktobeingmetforasingle

SDG,progresstowardsachievingSDG8(Decent

workandeconomicgrowth)being“offtrack”.ForsixSDGs,thereisalackofsufficientdata.Thissuggestsanurgentneedtomakeinvestmentsindataand

informationinfrastructuretoprovideevidencefor

moretargetedinterventionsandtomeasureprogressforimprovedevidence-basedpolicymaking.

Inlow-incomeArabcountries,oneofthemost

importantSDGs(SDG17)isnotontracktobeingachieved.SDG17isinstrumentalasitisaimedatenablingtheoverallsuccessoftheSDGs.

WhilemanySDGsarerelated,SDG17istheonemostcloselylinkedtoeverysingleSDG’schanceofsuccess.

10ProgresstowardstheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsintheArabregionin2025

Figure4.Progresstowardsthe2030targetinmiddle-

incomeArabcountries,bySustainableDevelopmentGoal

201520242030

1Nopoverty

2Zerohunger

3Goodhealthandwell-being

4Qualityeducation

5Genderequality

6Cleanwaterandsanitation

7Affordableandcleanenergy

8Decentworkandeconomicgrowth

9Industry,innovationandinfrastructure

10Reducedinequalities

11Sustainablecitiesandcommunities

12Responsibleconsumptionandproduction

13Climateaction

14Lifebelowwater

15Lifeonland

16Peace,justiceandstronginstitutions

17Partnershipforthegoals

OntrackInprogress

Insuf?cientdata

OfftrackEvidencestrength

Source:ArabSDGMonitor.Availableat

/

(accessedinMarch2025).

Figure5.Progresstowardsachievingthe2030targetinthelow-incomeArabcountries,bySustainableDevelopmentGoal

201520242030

1Nopoverty

2Zerohunger

3Goodhealthandwell-being

4Qualityeducation

5Genderequality

6Cleanwaterandsanitation

7Affordableandcleanenergy

8Decentworkandeconomicgrowth

9Industry,innovationandinfrastructure

10Reducedinequalities

11Sustainablecitiesandcommunities

12Responsibleconsumptionandproduction

13Climateaction

14Lifebelowwater

15Lifeonland

16Peace,justiceandstronginstitutions

17Partnershipforthegoals

OntrackInprogress

Insuf?cientdata

OfftrackEvidencestrength

Source:ArabSDGMonitor.Availableat

/

(accessedinMarch2025).

Progressattargetlevel

IntheArabregionprogressacrossthedifferent

SDGtargetsisgenerallyuneven.Forsometargets,

encouragingprogresshasbeenmade.Forothers,

considerablechallengesremain.Prioritizingdata

collectionandaddressingareaswherefurthereffortsaremostnecessarycanhelpaccelerateglobaleffortstowardthesetargets.

Figure6showsthedistributionoftheprogressoftargetspergoalintheArabregiontowardsthe2030Agenda.

ΔSDGswiththehighestpercentageoftargets“ontrack”:

SDG3(38percent)and

SDG6(38percent).

11

Figure6.DistributionofprogresstowardstheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsattargetlevel

43%

14%

Goal1

Goal2

Goal3

Goal4

Goal5

Goal6

Goal7

Goal8

Goal9

Goal10

Goal11

Goal12

Goal13

Goal14

Goal15

Goal16

Goal17

37.5%

25%

25%

43%12.5%

8%

8%

38%

46%

60%

40%

11%

11%

78%

37.5%

25%

37.5%

20%

8%33%

25%

10%10%

10%20%

9%18%

20%10%

8%

16.7%25%

10.5%31.6%

20%

60%

12.5%

17%42%

37.5%25%

80%

10%60%

9%64%

80%

90%

50%42%

16.7%41.6%

15.8%41.2%

0%20%40%60%80%100%

OntrackInprogressOfftrackInsuf?cientdata

Source:ESCWAcalculationfromArabSDGMonitor

/data-availabilty/index.html?o=1

(accessedMarch2025).

ΔSDGswithhighestpercentageoftargets“inprogress”:

-y'SDG3(46percent),

SDG7(60percent)and

SDG4(60percent).

ΔSDGswiththehighestpercentageoftargets“offtrack”:

SDG9(25percent),

SDG8(17percent)andSDG16(17percent).

ΔSDGswiththehighestpercentageoftargetswithinsufficientdata:

SDG5(78percent),

SDG10(80percent),

SDG12(64percent),

SDG13(80percent)and

SDG14(90percent).

Figure7providesasnapshotofprogresstowards

achievingthetargetsbehindtheSDGs.Targetswhich

areontracktobeingmetaremarkedingreen,thoseinprogressinyellowandthoseforwhichprogressisnotontrackinred.Thosetargetsforwhichinsufficientdataisavailablearemarkedingrey.

12ProgresstowardstheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsintheArabregionin2025

Figure7.SnapshotofprogressinSDGtargets

Goal1

1.5Resiliencetodisasters

1.1Extremepoverty

Socialprotection

1.4Accesstobasicservices

1.aResourcesforpovertyprogrammes

1.3

1.2Nationalpoverty

1.bPovertyeradicationpolicies

Goal5

5.bICTforwomenempowerment

5.5Womeninleadership

5.1Discriminationagainstwomenandgirls

5.2Violenceagainstwomenandgirls

5.3Earlymarriage

Unpaidcareanddomesticwork

5.6

Reproductivehealthaccessandrights

5.a

Equaleconomicrights

5.cGenderequalitypolicies/legislation

5.4

Goal9

9.4

Sustainableandcleanindustries

9.c

AccesstoICTandtheInternet

9.3

Small-scaleindustriesaccesstofinance

9.5

IndustrialR&D

9.b

9.1

Domestictechnologydevelopment

Infrastructuredevelopment

9.2

Sustainable/inclusiveindustrialization

10.7

Safe/responsiblemigrationandmobility

10.a

Specialanddifferentialtreatment(WTO)

9.aResilient/sustainableinfrastructure

GOAL13

13.1Resilienceandadaptivecapacity

13.2Climatechangepolicies

13.3Climatechangeawareness

13.aUNFCCCcommitments

13.bClimatechangeplanningandmanagement

Goal17

17.8CapacitybuildingforSTIandICTuse

17.11Exportsofdevelopingcountries

17.3Additionalfinancialresources

14.7

MarineresourcesforSIDSandLDCs

14.a

Researchcapacityandmarinetechnology

14.b

Small-scaleartisanalfishing

17.6CooperationinSTI

17.10MultilateraltradingsystemunderWTO

17.12Duty-freemarketaccessforLDCs

17.18Nationalstatisticsavailability

17.19Statisticalcapacity-building

17.4

17.1Taxandotherrevenuecollection

Debtsustainability

17.13Globalmacroeconomicstability

17.2DevelopedcountriesODAcommitments

17.5InvestmentpromotionforLDCs

17.7Transferoftechnologies

17.9CapacitybuildingforSDGs

17.16

17.14

Policycoherence

17.15Country'spolicyspace

Globalpartnership

17.17Effectivepublicandprivatepartnerships

Goal2

2.5Geneticresourcesforagriculture

2.cFoodpriceanomalies

2.2Malnutrition

2.4Nutritiousandsufficientfood

2.aInvestmentinagriculture

2.1Small-scalefoodproducers

2.3Sustainableagriculture

2.bTraderestrictioninagriculturalmarkets

Goal6

6.3

Waterquality

6.5

Transboundarywatercooperation

6.b

Participatorywaterandsanitationmanagement

6.1

Safedrinkingwater

6.2

Accesstosanitationandhygiene

6.4

Water-useefficiency

6.6

Water-relatedecosystems

6.a

Cooperationonwaterandsanitation

Goal10

10.2Social,economicandpoliticalinclusion

10.CMigrantremittancecosts

10.1Incomegrowth,bottom40%

10.3Eliminatediscrimination

10.4Fiscalandsocialprotectionpolicies

10.5Regulationoffinancialmarkets

Inclusiveglobalgovernance

10.bODAandfinancialflows

10.6

Goal14

14.5Conservationofcoastalareas

14.1Marinepollution

14.2Marineandcoastalecosystems

14.3Oceanacidification

14.4Sustainablefishing

Fisheriessubsidies

14.cImplementingUNCLOS

14.6

Goal3

3.1

Maternalmortality

3.2

Childmortality

3.3

Communicablediseases

3.5

Substanceabuse

3.9

Healthimpactofpollution

3.4

NCDandmentalhealth

3.7

Sexualandreproductivehealthcare

3.8

Universalhealthcoverage

3.a

Tobaccocontrol

3.c

Healthfinancingandworkforce

3.d

Managementofhealthrisks

3.b

R&Dforhealth

3.6Roadtrafficaccidents

Goal7

7.1

Accesstoenergyservices

7.3

Energyefficiency

7.b

SustainableenergyInfrustructure

7.2

Shareofren