UN Sustainable Development Goals Index 2025: Top 10 Best and Worst Performing Countries
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015, set out an ambitious vision for a fairer, greener, and more inclusive world by 2030. However, the 2025 Sustainable Development Report (SDR), published by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), paints a sobering picture: None of the 17 SDGs are on track to be fully achieved by 2030, and only 17% of the targets are progressing as planned.
While the world has made notable progress in areas like access to basic services, infrastructure, and healthcare, it has regressed in key sectors such as press freedom, corruption perception, nutrition, and environmental sustainability.
Europe, particularly the Nordic countries, continues to lead global efforts toward sustainable development. Finland has retained the top position, followed closely by Sweden and Denmark.
| Rank | Country | Score (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finland | 87.0 |
| 2 | Sweden | 85.7 |
| 3 | Denmark | 85.3 |
| 4 | Germany | 83.7 |
| 5 | France | 83.1 |
| 6 | Austria | 83.0 |
| 7 | Norway | 82.7 |
| 8 | Croatia | 82.4 |
| 9 | Poland | 82.1 |
| 10 | Czechia | 81.9 |
At the other end of the spectrum, countries facing conflict, political instability, and economic challenges rank lowest in the index.
| Rank | Country | Score (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 167 | South Sudan | 41.6 |
| 166 | Central African Republic | 45.2 |
| 165 | Chad | 46.0 |
| 164 | Somalia | 46.1 |
| 163 | Yemen, Republic | 47.7 |
| 162 | Congo, Dem. Rep. | 48.2 |
| 161 | Sudan | 49.1 |
| 160 | Afghanistan | 49.1 |
| 159 | Niger | 50.3 |
| 158 | Madagascar | 51.0 |
In a remarkable improvement, India has ranked 99th in the 2025 SDG Index, with a score of 67.0. This marks India’s first time entering the top 100, a significant milestone considering its past positions:
This steady climb reflects India’s growing focus on sustainable development, particularly in clean energy, digital public infrastructure, and financial inclusion.
Despite entering the top 100 globally, India still lags behind several South Asian peers, indicating both progress and challenges.
| Country | Rank (2025) | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Maldives | 53 | Not provided |
| Bhutan | 74 | 70.5 |
| Nepal | 85 | 68.6 |
| India | 99 | 67.0 |
| Sri Lanka | 93 | Not provided |
| Bangladesh | 114 | Not provided |
| Pakistan | 140 | Not provided |
Some of the most significant improvements since 2015 were made by countries in Asia, particularly in healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
Nepal improved by 11.1 points
Cambodia gained 10 points
Philippines rose by 8.6 points
These nations demonstrate that with targeted policies and international support, lower-income countries can accelerate SDG progress.
China ranks 49th with a score of 74.4
United States ranks 44th with a score of 75.2
Despite being two of the world’s largest economies, both countries fall short of the top 40, with challenges in inequality, environmental sustainability, and health outcomes affecting their scores.
Despite some pockets of improvement, global SDG progress remains off track. According to the 2025 SDR:
Only 17% of targets are progressing on schedule.
Obesity, corruption, and media suppression are on the rise.
Environmental degradation, including sustainable nitrogen management, is deteriorating.
Inequality and gender gaps persist across both developed and developing nations.
The report also highlights the need for increased global cooperation, financial investments, and data-driven policies to meet the 2030 Agenda.
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