Highest scoring goals
Where Low-income Countries is closest to the targets behind the goal, in the 2022 data.
All countries / Low-income Countries
Low-income Countries
50.7
SDG Index score, 2022
0–100, higher is better
0–100, higher is better
+1.8
points since 2015, when the goals were adopted
(48.9 → 50.7)
+7.2
points since 2000 (43.5 → 50.7)
SDG Index score, 2000–2022
The overall index for Low-income Countries, against the world.
Lowest scoring goals
Where the greatest distance is left to cover, in the 2022 data.
Most progress since 2015
Largest gain in goal score since the goals were adopted.
Went backwards
Goals scoring lower than they did in 2015.
All 17 goals
Each card shows the 2022 score, where it sits among the countries assessed on that goal, and how the score has moved since 2015.
Goal 1
No Poverty
20.0
End poverty in all its forms everywhere
- Bottom quartile
- +0.5 since 2015
Goal 2
Zero Hunger
46.2
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
- Bottom quartile
- +0.7 since 2015
Goal 3
Good Health and Well-being
41.5
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
- Bottom quartile
- +3.5 since 2015
Goal 4
Quality Education
35.6
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
- Bottom quartile
- +5.3 since 2015
Goal 5
Gender Equality
49.7
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
- Bottom quartile
- +5.5 since 2015
Goal 6
Clean Water and Sanitation
45.9
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
- Bottom quartile
- +1.8 since 2015
Goal 7
Affordable and Clean Energy
32.9
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
- Bottom quartile
- +1.9 since 2015
58.0
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
- Bottom quartile
- +2.0 since 2015
17.8
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
- Bottom quartile
- +4.5 since 2015
Goal 10
Reduced Inequalities
47.9
Reduce inequality within and among countries
- Lower-middle quartile
- -0.8 since 2015
45.1
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
- Bottom quartile
- +1.9 since 2015
96.4
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
- Top quartile
- +0.1 since 2015
Goal 13
Climate Action
98.9
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
- Top quartile
- 0.0 since 2015
Goal 14
Life Below Water
73.8
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
- Top quartile
- -0.4 since 2015
Goal 15
Life on Land
64.7
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
- Lower-middle quartile
- +1.2 since 2015
42.2
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
- Bottom quartile
- -0.5 since 2015
Goal 17
Partnerships for the Goals
44.8
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
- Bottom quartile
- +3.6 since 2015
Summary
Written by a language model from the scores above. Treat it as a reading of the table, not as a source.
About these numbers
- Goal scores run from 0 to 100 and measure distance to target: 0 is the worst outcome observed and 100 means the target has been reached on the indicators behind that goal. They are built to be compared across countries, not across goals.
- The headline score is the published figure. It is the average of all 17 goals, with any goal a country is not assessed on filled in at its region's average for that goal — so for a country with a gap, the 17 numbers below will not average to it.
- The headline score and rankings come from the Sustainable Development Report 2023. The 2000–2022 trends come from the SDG Index 2000-2022, so the two can differ slightly for the same goal.
- Rankings cover the 166 countries in the report. World, regional and income aggregates are excluded from every ranking.
- Comparison markers on each card are unweighted averages of the countries assessed on that goal. The published regional and world aggregates are weighted differently and appear only on their own profile pages.
- Quartile labels describe position within this dataset. They are not the Sustainable Development Report's own dashboard ratings, which are calculated per indicator.
- Get this profile as JSON →
Low-income countries achieved an SDG Index score of 50.7 in 2022, reflecting a positive upward trend from 43.5 in 2000. Performance is highest in Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), while the lowest scores are found in Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and Goal 1 (No Poverty). While most indicators have improved since 2000, notable regressions occurred in Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). As a collective group, these nations continue to face significant developmental challenges despite the overall progress made over the last two decades.