Context:
India has achieved a significant milestone by entering the top 100 countries in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index for the first time. In the 2025 edition of the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) released by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, India has been ranked 99th out of 167 nations, with an overall SDG score of 67.
India’s Ranking
This marks a sharp rise from 109th position in 2024, reflecting sustained progress across key social, economic, and environmental indicators. The SDG Index assesses a country’s performance across the 17 goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015, with a score of 100 representing full achievement.
India’s SDG Rankings Over Time
- 2025: 99th (score: 67)
- 2024: 109th
- 2023: 112th
- 2022: 121st
- 2021: 120th
Global Performance
| Country | Rank | SDG Score |
|---|---|---|
| Finland | 1st | — |
| Sweden | 2nd | — |
| Denmark | 3rd | — |
| United States | 44th | 75.2 |
| China | 49th | 74.4 |
| Maldives | 53rd | — |
| Bhutan | 74th | 70.5 |
| Nepal | 85th | 68.6 |
| Sri Lanka | 93rd | — |
| India | 99th | 67.0 |
| Bangladesh | 114th | 63.9 |
| Pakistan | 140th | 57.0 |
Key Highlights from the 2025 Report
- India’s steady improvement is noted as a positive outlier among developing economies.
- Despite overall progress, global advancement on SDGs has plateaued.
- Only 17% of SDG targets are on track to be met by 2030.
- Key global barriers include:
- Ongoing geopolitical conflicts
- Structural economic vulnerabilities
- Limited fiscal capacity in low-income countries
Dominance of European Countries
- European nations continue to lead the global SDG Index, occupying 19 of the top 20 positions.
- Finland, Sweden, and Denmark retain the top three spots.
- However, even high-ranking nations face setbacks in:
- Climate change adaptation
- Biodiversity protection
- Unsustainable consumption patterns
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