Highest scoring goals
Where South Africa is closest to the targets behind the goal, in the 2023 data.
All countries / South Africa
South Africa
64.0
SDG Index score, 2023 report
0–100, higher is better
0–100, higher is better
#110
of 166 countries worldwide
#4
of 45 in Sub-Saharan Africa
+1.9
points since 2015, when the goals were adopted
(62.1 → 64.0)
+4.9
points since 2000 (59.1 → 64.0)
55.5
average of the 45 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
17/17
goals assessed in the 2023 data
SDG Index score, 2000–2022
The overall index for South Africa, against its region and the world.
Lowest scoring goals
Where the greatest distance is left to cover, in the 2023 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 2023 score, where it sits among the countries assessed on that goal, and how the score has moved since 2015.
Goal 1
No Poverty
51.7
End poverty in all its forms everywhere
- #116 of 151 countries
- #15 of 45 in region
- Bottom quartile
- +0.1 since 2015
Goal 2
Zero Hunger
56.8
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
- #113 of 166 countries
- #20 of 45 in region
- Lower-middle quartile
- +3.8 since 2015
Goal 3
Good Health and Well-being
57.0
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
- #120 of 166 countries
- #6 of 45 in region
- Lower-middle quartile
- +8.6 since 2015
Goal 4
Quality Education
76.6
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
- #102 of 166 countries
- #6 of 45 in region
- Lower-middle quartile
- -1.9 since 2015
Goal 5
Gender Equality
76.8
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
- #38 of 166 countries
- #4 of 45 in region
- Top quartile
- -4.8 since 2015
Goal 6
Clean Water and Sanitation
62.4
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
- #103 of 166 countries
- #5 of 45 in region
- Lower-middle quartile
- +0.8 since 2015
Goal 7
Affordable and Clean Energy
59.7
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
- #110 of 166 countries
- #5 of 45 in region
- Lower-middle quartile
- +1.1 since 2015
69.8
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
- #102 of 166 countries
- #11 of 45 in region
- Lower-middle quartile
- +1.2 since 2015
70.8
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
- #49 of 166 countries
- #1 of 45 in region
- Upper-middle quartile
- +10.8 since 2015
Goal 10
Reduced Inequalities
0.0
Reduce inequality within and among countries
- #149 of 149 countries
- #45 of 45 in region
- Bottom quartile
- 0.0 since 2015
80.5
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
- #71 of 166 countries
- #3 of 45 in region
- Upper-middle quartile
- +3.6 since 2015
84.4
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
- #85 of 166 countries
- #41 of 45 in region
- Lower-middle quartile
- +0.4 since 2015
Goal 13
Climate Action
82.7
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
- #110 of 166 countries
- #45 of 45 in region
- Lower-middle quartile
- +1.6 since 2015
Goal 14
Life Below Water
70.9
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
- #43 of 126 countries
- #11 of 29 in region
- Upper-middle quartile
- +5.4 since 2015
Goal 15
Life on Land
57.8
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
- #122 of 166 countries
- #37 of 45 in region
- Lower-middle quartile
- -0.1 since 2015
55.1
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
- #103 of 166 countries
- #10 of 45 in region
- Lower-middle quartile
- -2.6 since 2015
Goal 17
Partnerships for the Goals
75.2
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development
- #25 of 166 countries
- #2 of 45 in region
- Top quartile
- +3.7 since 2015
South Africa Sub-Saharan Africa average all-country average — both taken over the countries assessed on each goal
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 →
South Africa holds an SDG Index score of 64.0, ranking 110th globally. The country performs best in Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and worst in Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities), which has dropped significantly. Since 2000, South Africa’s overall progress has trended upward, increasing from 59.1 to 64.0. While some areas like poverty and inequality have seen declines, significant improvements are noted in health and industry. Regionally, South Africa is a strong performer, ranking 4th in Sub-Saharan Africa with a score that substantially exceeds the regional average of 55.5.