India Makes Historic Entry into Top 100 in Global SDG Rankings

In a landmark development for India’s sustainable development journey, the country has, for the first time, entered the top 100 in the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index, ranking 99th out of 193 nations in the 2025 edition of the UN Sustainable Development Report. Published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and led by economist Jeffrey Sachs, this is India’s highest position yet in the SDG rankings.

Why in News?

India has entered the top 100 SDG rankings for the first time, achieving a score of 67 out of 100. The 2025 SDG Index comes at a critical juncture ahead of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) in Seville. It reflects India’s progress in basic infrastructure, health, education, and digital access, despite global SDG slowdowns.

Background on the SDG Index

• Introduced in 2015, the SDGs consist of 17 goals aimed at ending poverty, protecting the environment, and ensuring prosperity by 2030.
• The SDG Index ranks countries based on their progress toward these goals.

India’s 2025 Rank

• India Rank: 99th (up significantly from previous years)
• Score: 67.0
• This marks a significant leap in India’s global sustainability reputation.

Neighbouring Country Rankings

• China 49th
• Bhutan 74th
• Nepal 85th
• Sri Lanka 93rd
• Bangladesh 114th

Global Trends

• Finland, Sweden, and Denmark top the SDG Index.
• Only 17% of SDG targets are on track to be achieved globally by 2030.

Major reversals observed in,

• Obesity rate (SDG 2)
• Press freedom (SDG 16)
• Red List Index (SDG 15)
• Corruption perceptions (SDG 16)

Challenges and Observations

• Structural inequalities, climate change, and conflicts are stalling progress.
• East and South Asia are fastest-growing regions in SDG achievement.
• India’s success lies in digital and health infrastructure (SDGs 3, 7, 9).