Millennium Development Goals

The United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are the eight goals set by the 189 UN member
states in September 2000 and agreed to be achieved by the year 2015. The Millennium Declaration was signed
at the September global summit held at the UN headquarters in New York and the 149 international leaders in
attendance committed to combating disease, hunger, poverty, illiteracy, discrimination against women and
environmental degradation. The MDGs were derived from this Declaration, and specific indicators and targets
were attached to them.
The following are the eight Millennium Development Goals:
1. to eliminate extreme poverty and hunger;
2. to achieve global primary education;
3. to empower women and promote gender equality;
4. to reduce child mortality;
5. to promote maternal health;
6. to fight malaria, HIV/AIDS, and other diseases;
7. to promote environmental sustainability; and
8. to develop a universal partnership for development.
The implementation of these eight chapters of the Millennium Declaration was agreed to begin in 1st January
2001, and the UN agreed to be holding such summits every five years to assess its progress towards achieving
the MDGs. The first follow-up to the Millennium Summit was held in 2005 at the 2005 World Summit.
Since 2001, the UN has given a lot of priority to the implementation of these MDGs, and though most of the
targets had not been achieved by 2015, a substantial positive progress has been recorded over the 15 years.

MDG 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

05/15/2017 2 Comments
Recent gains in millennium development goal 1 have seen the number of hungry people in the
world decrease to fewer than 1 billion, though the Food and Agriculture Organisation of
the United Nations believes that this number is still unacceptably high.

Millennium Development Goal 1 has three targets:

1. To halve the proportion of people whose daily income is less than $1.25

2. To achieve full and productive employment, as well as decent work for all, including young
people and women

3. To halve the proportion of individuals suffering from hunger in the period between 1990
and 2015.
Pioneering efforts have led to profound achievements including:

 A considerable reduction in extreme poverty over the last 25 years. In 1990, nearly 50
percent of the population in developing nations lived on less than $1.25 a day. As of 2015,
that proportion has dropped to 14 percent.

 The number of people living in extreme poverty worldwide has reduced by more than 50
percent. In 1990, 1.9 billion people were said to be living in extreme poverty, compared to
836 million in 2015. Most progress was seen in the new millennium.

 The number of living on more than $4 a day – those in the working middle class – has
nearly tripled between 1991 and 2015. In 1991, this group made only 18 percent of the
population, and rose to 50 percent in 2015.

 The proportion of undernourished people in the developing world has dropped by almost
50 percent since 1990; from 23.3 percent in 1990 – ’92 to 12.9 percent in 2014 – ’16.
MDG 2: Achieve universal primary education
05/15/2017 Leave a comment
There is only one target for millennium development goal 2:

1. To ensure that children universally – including both boys and girls – will be able to
complete a full course of primary education by 2015.
The Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN claims that nearly 57 million primary school
age children are not able to attend school; 80 percent of whom live in rural areas. This has made
the urban-rural knowledge and education divide today’s main obstacle to achieving global
primary education by 2015.
The fact that rural children are highly affected by hunger and malnutrition has also seriously
affected their learning ability. As such, food security and primary education should be addressed
at the same time to give rural people the capacity to feed themselves and overcome hunger,
poverty, and illiteracy. Social protection brings together all efforts for education and food
security towards increased effectiveness.
MDG 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
11/15/2016 Leave a comment
There was only one target under millennium development goal 3:

 To eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2005, and in

all levels of education by 2015.
It is important to promote the total and equitable participation of both men and women in
efforts aimed at improving poverty reduction, food security, and sustainability of rural
development. Without gender equality and the economic and social improvement for rural
women, food security cannot be achieved.

Some of the achievements of MDG 3 include:

 An increase in the number of girls in school in 2015 compared to 2000. The developing
world as a whole has achieved the goal of eliminating gender disparity in all levels of
education, including primary, secondary, and tertiary.

 In Southern Asia, the number of girls enrolled in primary school was 74 for every 100 boys
in 1990. By 2015, there were 103 girls enrolled for every 100 boys.

 The proportion of women in vulnerable employment compared to total female

employment has reduced by 13 percent in the period between 1991 and 2015, compared
to a 9 percent decrease for men.

 Significant gains in women’s parliamentary representation in nearly 90 percent of 174

countries for which data has been available in the past two decades. At the very least, the
average proportion of women in parliament has increased by nearly 100 percent during
the last 20 years, yet this still translates to one woman for every five men.
MDG 4: Reduce child mortality
11/15/2016 3 Comments
The Millennium Development Goal 4 has only one target:

 To reduce the under-five mortality rate by two-thirds in the period between 1990
and 2015
Undernutrition is estimated to contribute to more than 33 percent of all deaths in children
under five. So, efforts to improve household food security and nutrition have increased the
chances of children growing to adulthood.
In this regard, FAO programmes, in combination with efforts by the Renewed Efforts against
Child Hunger and Undernutrition (REACH) and WHO, WFP, and UNICEF have helped
communities and households secure access to nutritionally adequate diets to minimise child
undernutrition. Efforts include the provision of training materials, community-centred initiatives,
training programmes for local and national staff, nutrition education programmes, and
promotion of forums on community nutrition and household food security.
Improving complementary feeding for babies, or giving foods in addition to breast milk, has led
to significant reduction in the child mortality caused by undernutrition.
MDG 5: Improve maternal health
11/15/2016 1 Comment
Hunger and malnutrition were observed to increase the incidence and fatality rate of the
conditions that contribute to nearly 80 percent of maternal deaths.
In this regard, millennium development goal 5 has two targets:

1. To reduce the maternal mortality ratio by 75 percent

2. To achieve universal access to reproductive health

Improving maternal health is critical to saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of women who
die due to complication from pregnancy and childbirth each year. Over 90 percent of these
deaths could be prevented if women in developing regions had access to sufficient diets, basic
literacy and health services, and safe water and sanitation facilities during pregnancy and
childbirth.

Some of the achievements of MDG 5 include:

 A 45 percent reduction in the maternity mortality ratio worldwide since 1990, though
most of the reduction occurred since 2000

 A 64 percent reduction in maternal mortality ratio in Southern Asia between 1990 and
2013, and 49 percent in sub-Saharan Africa

 A 12 percent increase in the number of births assisted by skilled health personnel globally
in 2014 compared to 1990 – 59 percent to 71 percent.

 An increase in the proportion of pregnant women receiving four or more antenatal visits
in North Africa from 50 percent in 1990 to 89 percent in 2014.

 Increase in contraceptive prevalence among women 15 – 49 years old – whether married

or in some other union – from 55 to 64 percent between 1990 and 2015.
MDG 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other major diseases
11/15/2016 Leave a comment
HIV, malaria, and other diseases directly and indirectly impact food and nutrition security, rural
development, and agricultural productivity. At the same time, malnutrition and food and
nutrition insecurity can increase vulnerability to disease.
In this regard, Millennium Development Goal 6 has three targets:

1. To halt by 2015 and have started to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS

 2. To achieve global access to treatment for HIV/AIDS for those who need it by 2010

3. To have ceased and started reversal of the incidence of malaria and other major
diseases by 2015
Some of the achievements of MDG 6 include:

 40 percent reduction in new HIV infections from 3.5 million cases in 2000 to 2.1 million
cases in 2013

 A massive increase in the number of people living with HIV receiving anti-retroviral
therapy (ART) globally, from 800,000 in 2003 to 13.6 million in 2014. ART have helped
avoid over 7.6 million deaths from AIDS between 1995 and 2013.

 Averting over 6.2 million deaths associated with malaria between 2000 and 2015, mostly
of children under five years in sub-Saharan Africa. The universal malaria incidence rate
has also reduced by an estimated 37 percent, and the mortality rate by 58 percent.

 The delivery of over 900 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets to malaria-endemic

countries in sub-Saharan Africa between 2004 and 2014.

 Tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis, and treatment interventions conducted between 2000

and 2013 saved an estimated 37 million lives. The TB mortality rate reduced by 45 percent
between 1990 and 2013, while prevalence rate fell by 41 percent within the same time
period.
MDG 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
11/15/2016 1 Comment
It is critical that the natural resources base and ecosystems are managed sustainably to ensure
that people’s food requirements and other social, economic, and environmental needs are
sufficiently met. Climate change, conflicts over access to resources, and increased water scarcity
all pose a threat to not only environmental sustainability but also food security.
As such, millennium development goal 7 has 4 targets:

1. To integrate the principles of sustainable development into every nation’s policies

and programmes, and also reverse the depletion of environmental resources

2. To reduce biodiversity loss and achieve a substantial reduction in the rate of loss by
2010

3. To halve the proportion of the universal population without sustainable access to

clean and safe drinking water and basic sanitation by 2015.

4. To achieve substantial improvement in the lives of a minimum of 100 million slum

dwellers by 2020.
An estimated 30 percent of total land area on the planet is forested. An estimated 1.6 billion
people depend on forests directly for their livelihoods, plus they provide other benefits enjoyed
by all, including clean air and water. Forests also provide a habitat for millions of plants and
animals, as well as catchment for 75 percent of the world’s fresh water. They help in the
adaptation to and mitigation of climate change, though they are under threat from
deforestation.
Hunger and poverty tend to compel the disadvantaged to over-exploit resources on which their
livelihoods depend. Policies, institutions, and strategies for protecting, conserving, and
enhancing natural resources should be strengthened to deliver an enabling environment, and
be based on the specific resource challenged faced in a given location.
Some of the achievements of MDG 7 include:

 The virtual elimination of ozone-depleting substances since 1990. Consequently, the

ozone layer is expected to recover by around the middle of the century

 Substantial increase in marine and terrestrial protected areas in many areas since 1990. In
Caribbean and Latin America, coverage of terrestrial protected areas increased from 8.8
percent in 1990 to 23.4 percent in 2014.

 The number of people using improved drinking water sources has increased from 76
percent in 1990 to 91 percent in 2015.

 2.6 billion people have gained access to better drinking water since 1990. Of these, 1.9
billion have access to piped drinking water on premises, with 58 percent of the global
population enjoying this level of service in 2015.

 147 nations in the world have fulfilled the drinking water target; 95 nations have achieved
the sanitation target; and 77 nations have met both.

 2.1 billion people in the universe have gained access to improved sanitation. At the same
time, the proportion of people practising open defecation has reduced by nearly 50
percent since 1990.

 A reduction in the proportion of urban population in developing nations living in slums

from 39.4 to 29.7 percent in the period between 2000 and 2014.
MDG 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development
11/15/2016 3 Comments
Millennium development goal 8 has 6 targets that seek to develop global partnership for development,
namely:

 To further develop an open, predictable, rule-based, non-discriminatory trading and

economic system

 To address the special needs of the least developed countries

 To address the special needs of small island developing States and landlocked developing
countries

 To deal exhaustively with the debt problems of developing nations

 To provide access to affordable essential drugs in the developing world – in collaboration

with pharmaceutical companies

 To avail benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications, in

collaboration with the private sector
Some of the achievements of MDG 8 include:

 A 66 percent increase in official development assistance from developed nations in real

terms in the period 2000 to 2014, reaching $135.2 billion
  In 2014, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Luxembourg continued to
exceed the UN official development assistance target of 0.7 percent of gross national
income

 Imports from developing to developed countries admitted duty-free increased from 65

percent in 2000 to 79 percent in 2014

 The proportion of external debt service to export revenue in the developing world
reduced from 12 to 3 percent between 2000 and 2013.

 95 percent of the global population is covered by a mobile cellular signal as of 2015

 The number of mobile-cellular subscription has grown by nearly tenfold in the last 15
years, from 738 million to over 7 billion between 2000 and 2015

 Internet penetration has increased from about 6 percent of the global population to 43
percent between 2000 and 2015. Consequently, 3.2 billion people are now linked to an
international network of content and applications.

Background on the goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were born at the United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro in 2012. The objective was to produce a set of
universal goals that meet the urgent environmental, political and economic challenges facing
our world.

The SDGs replace the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which started a global effort in
2000 to tackle the indignity of poverty. The MDGs established measurable, universally-agreed
objectives for tackling extreme poverty and hunger, preventing deadly diseases, and
expanding primary education to all children, among other development priorities.

For 15 years, the MDGs drove progress in several important areas: reducing income poverty,
providing much needed access to water and sanitation, driving down child mortality and
drastically improving maternal health. They also kick-started a global movement for free
primary education, inspiring countries to invest in their future generations. Most significantly,
the MDGs made huge strides in combatting HIV/AIDS and other treatable diseases such as
malaria and tuberculosis.

Key MDG achievements

 More than 1 billion people have been lifted out of extreme poverty (since 1990)
 Child mortality dropped by more than half (since 1990)
 The number of out of school children has dropped by more than half (since 1990)
 HIV/AIDS infections fell by almost 40 percent (since 2000)

The legacy and achievements of the MDGs provide us with valuable lessons and experience to
begin work on the new goals. But for millions of people around the world the job remains
unfinished. We need to go the last mile on ending hunger, achieving full gender equality,
improving health services and getting every child into school beyond primary. The SDGs are
also an urgent call to shift the world onto a more sustainable path.

The SDGs are a bold commitment to finish what we started, and tackle some of the more
pressing challenges facing the world today. All 17 Goals interconnect, meaning success in one
affects success for others. Dealing with the threat of climate change impacts how we manage
our fragile natural resources, achieving gender equality or better health helps eradicate
poverty, and fostering peace and inclusive societies will reduce inequalities and help
economies prosper. In short, this is the greatest chance we have to improve life for future
generations.

The SDGs coincided with another historic agreement reached in 2015 at the COP21 Paris
Climate Conference. Together with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, signed
in Japan in March 2015, these agreements provide a set of common standards and achievable
targets to reduce carbon emissions, manage the risks of climate change and natural disasters,
and to build back better after a crisis.

The SDGs are unique in that they cover issues that affect us all. They reaffirm our
international commitment to end poverty, permanently, everywhere. They are ambitious in
making sure no one is left behind. More importantly, they involve us all to build a more
sustainable, safer, more prosperous planet for all humanity.

Goal 1: No poverty

Eradicating poverty in all its forms remains one of the greatest challenges facing humanity.
While the number of people living in extreme poverty dropped by more than half between 1990
and 2015, too many are still struggling for the most basic human needs.

As of 2015, about 736 million people still lived on less than US$1.90 a day; many lack food,
clean drinking water and sanitation. Rapid growth in countries such as China and India has
lifted millions out of poverty, but progress has been uneven. Women are more likely to be poor
than men because they have less paid work, education, and own less property.

Progress has also been limited in other regions, such as South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa,
which account for 80 percent of those living in extreme poverty. New threats brought on by
climate change, conflict and food insecurity, mean even more work is needed to bring people
out of poverty.

The SDGs are a bold commitment to finish what we started, and end poverty in all forms and
dimensions by 2030. This involves targeting the most vulnerable, increasing basic resources
and services, and supporting communities affected by conflict and climate-related disasters.

Facts and figures

736 million

736 million people still live in extreme poverty.

10%

10 percent of the world’s population live in extreme poverty, down from 36 percent in 1990.

1.3 billion

Some 1.3 billion people live in multidimensional poverty.

50%

Half of all people living in poverty are under 18.

1 in 10

One person in every 10 is extremely poor.

80%
 80 percent of people living on less than $1.90 are in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

Goal 2: Zero hunger

The number of undernourished people has dropped by almost half in the past two decades
because of rapid economic growth and increased agricultural productivity. Many developing
countries that used to suffer from famine and hunger can now meet their nutritional needs.
Central and East Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean have all made huge progress in
eradicating extreme hunger.

Unfortunately, extreme hunger and malnutrition remain a huge barrier to development in many
countries. There are 821 million people estimated to be chronically undernourished as of 2017,
often as a direct consequence of environmental degradation, drought and biodiversity loss.
Over 90 million children under five are dangerously underweight. Undernourishment and
severe food insecurity appear to be increasing in almost all regions of Africa, as well as in
South America.

The SDGs aim to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, making sure all people–
especially children–have sufficient and nutritious food all year. This involves promoting
sustainable agricultural, supporting small-scale farmers and equal access to land, technology
and markets. It also requires international cooperation to ensure investment in infrastructure
and technology to improve agricultural productivity.

Facts and figures

821 million

The number of undernourished people reached 821 million in 2017.

63%

In 2017 Asia accounted for nearly two thirds, 63 percent, of the world’s hungry.

22%

Nearly 151 million children under five, 22 percent, were still stunted in 2017.

1 in 8

More than 1 in 8 adults is obese.

1 in 3

1 in 3 women of reproductive age is anemic.

26%

26 percent of workers are employed in agriculture.

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

We have made great progress against several leading causes of death and disease. Life
expectancy has increased dramatically; infant and maternal mortality rates have declined,
we’ve turned the tide on HIV and malaria deaths have halved.

Good health is essential to sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda reflects the
complexity and interconnectedness of the two. It takes into account widening economic and
social inequalities, rapid urbanization, threats to the climate and the environment, the
continuing burden of HIV and other infectious diseases, and emerging challenges such as
noncommunicable diseases. Universal health coverage will be integral to achieving SDG 3,
ending poverty and reducing inequalities. Emerging global health priorities not explicitly
included in the SDGs, including antimicrobial resistance, also demand action.
But the world is off-track to achieve the health-related SDGs. Progress has been uneven, both
between and within countries. There’s a 31-year gap between the countries with the shortest
and longest life expectancies. And while some countries have made impressive gains, national
averages hide that many are being left behind. Multisectoral, rights-based and gender-
sensitive approaches are essential to address inequalities and to build good health for all.

Facts and figures

400 million

At least 400 million people have no basic healthcare, and 40 percent lack social protection.

1.6 billion

More than 1.6 billion people live in fragile settings where protracted crises, combined with
weak national capacity to deliver basic health services, present a significant challenge to
global health.

15 million

By the end of 2017, 21.7 million people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy.
Yet more than 15 million people are still waiting for treatment.

2 seconds

Every 2 seconds someone aged 30 to 70 years dies prematurely from noncommunicable

diseases - cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes or cancer.

7 million

7 million people die every year from exposure to fine particles in polluted air.

1 in 3

More than one of every three women have experienced either physical or sexual violence at
some point in their life resulting in both short- and long-term consequences for their physical,
mental, and sexual and reproductive health.

Goal 4: Quality education

Since 2000, there has been enormous progress in achieving the target of universal primary
education. The total enrolment rate in developing regions reached 91 percent in 2015, and the
worldwide number of children out of school has dropped by almost half. There has also been a
dramatic increase in literacy rates, and many more girls are in school than ever before. These
are all remarkable successes.

Progress has also been tough in some developing regions due to high levels of poverty, armed
conflicts and other emergencies. In Western Asia and North Africa, ongoing armed conflict has
seen an increase in the number of children out of school. This is a worrying trend. While Sub-
Saharan Africa made the greatest progress in primary school enrolment among all developing
regions – from 52 percent in 1990, up to 78 percent in 2012 – large disparities still remain.
Children from the poorest households are up to four times more likely to be out of school than
those of the richest households. Disparities between rural and urban areas also remain high.

Achieving inclusive and quality education for all reaffirms the belief that education is one of the
most powerful and proven vehicles for sustainable development. This goal ensures that all
girls and boys complete free primary and secondary schooling by 2030. It also aims to provide
equal access to affordable vocational training, to eliminate gender and wealth disparities, and
achieve universal access to a quality higher education.

Facts and figures

91%

Enrollment in primary education in developing countries has reached 91 percent.

57 million

Still, 57 million primary-aged children remain out of school, more than half of them in sub-
Saharan Africa.

1 in 4

In developing countries, one in four girls is not in school.

50%

About half of all out-of-school children of primary school age live in conflict-affected areas.

103 million

103 million youth worldwide lack basic literacy skills, and more than 60 percent of them are
women.

6 of 10

6 out of 10 children and adolescents are not achieving a minimum level of proficiency in
reading and math.

Goal 5: Gender equality

Ending all discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, it’s crucial
for sustainable future; it’s proven that empowering women and girls helps economic growth
and development.

UNDP has made gender equality central to its work and we’ve seen remarkable progress in
the past 20 years. There are more girls in school now compared to 15 years ago, and most
regions have reached gender parity in primary education.

But although there are more women than ever in the labour market, there are still large
inequalities in some regions, with women systematically denied the same work rights as men.
Sexual violence and exploitation, the unequal division of unpaid care and domestic work, and
discrimination in public office all remain huge barriers. Climate change and disasters continue
to have a disproportionate effect on women and children, as do conflict and migration.

It is vital to give women equal rights land and property, sexual and reproductive health, and to
technology and the internet. Today there are more women in public office than ever before, but
encouraging more women leaders will help achieve greater gender equality.

Facts and figures

77 cents

Women earn only 77 cents for every dollar that men get for the same work.
 1 in 3

35 percent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence.

13%

Women represent just 13 percent of agricultural landholders.

750 million

Almost 750 million women and girls alive today were married before their 18th birthday.

2 of 3

Two thirds of developing countries have achieved gender parity in primary education.

24%

Only 24 percent of national parliamentarians were women as of November 2018, a small

increase from 11.3 percent in 1995.

Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation

Water scarcity affects more than 40 percent of people, an alarming figure that is projected to
rise as temperatures do. Although 2.1 billion people have improved water sanitation since
1990, dwindling drinking water supplies are affecting every continent.

More and more countries are experiencing water stress, and increasing drought and
desertification is already worsening these trends. By 2050, it is projected that at least one in
four people will suffer recurring water shortages.

Safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030 requires we invest in adequate
infrastructure, provide sanitation facilities, and encourage hygiene. Protecting and restoring
water-related ecosystems is essential.

Ensuring universal safe and affordable drinking water involves reaching over 800 million
people who lack basic services and improving accessibility and safety of services for over two
billion.

In 2015, 4.5 billion people lacked safely managed sanitation services (with adequately
disposed or treated excreta) and 2.3 billion lacked even basic sanitation.

Facts and figures

5.2 billion

71 percent of the global population, 5.2 billion people, had safely-managed drinking water in
2015, but 844 million people still lacked even basic drinking water.

2.9 billion

39 percent of the global population, 2.9 billion people, had safe sanitation in 2015, but 2.3
billion people still lacked basic sanitation. 892 million people practiced open defecation.

80%

80 percent of wastewater goes into waterways without adequate treatment.

2 billion
 Water stress affects more than 2 billion people, with this figure projected to increase.

80%

80 percent of countries have laid the foundations for integrated water resources management.

70%

The world has lost 70 percent of its natural wetlands over the last century.

Goal 7: Affordable and clean energy

Between 2000 and 2016, the number of people with electricity increased from 78 to 87
percent, and the numbers without electricity dipped to just below one billion.

Yet as the population continues to grow, so will the demand for cheap energy, and an economy
reliant on fossil fuels is creating drastic changes to our climate.

Investing in solar, wind and thermal power, improving energy productivity, and ensuring energy
for all is vital if we are to achieve SDG 7 by 2030.

Expanding infrastructure and upgrading technology to provide clean and more efficient energy
in all countries will encourage growth and help the environment.

Facts and figures

1 in 7

One in 7 people still lacks electricity, and most of them live in rural areas of the developing
world.

60%

Energy is the main contributor to climate change, it produces around 60 percent of greenhouse
gases.

14%

More efficient energy standards could reduce building and industry electricity consumption by
14 percent.

3 billion

More than 40 percent of the world’s population—3 billion—rely on polluting and unhealthy
fuels for cooking.

20%

As of 2015, more than 20 percent of power was generated through renewable sources.

10.3 million

The renewable energy sector employed a record 10.3 million people in 2017.

Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth

Over the past 25 years the number of workers living in extreme poverty has declined
dramatically, despite the lasting impact of the 2008 economic crisis and global recession. In
developing countries, the middle class now makes up more than 34 percent of total
employment – a number that has almost tripled between 1991 and 2015.
However, as the global economy continues to recover we are seeing slower growth, widening
inequalities, and not enough jobs to keep up with a growing labour force. According to the
International Labour Organization, more than 204 million people were unemployed in 2015.

The SDGs promote sustained economic growth, higher levels of productivity and technological
innovation. Encouraging entrepreneurship and job creation are key to this, as are effective
measures to eradicate forced labour, slavery and human trafficking. With these targets in
mind, the goal is to achieve full and productive employment, and decent work, for all women
and men by 2030.

Facts and figures

5%

An estimated 172 million people worldwide were without work in 2018 - an unemployment rate
of 5 percent.

1 million

As a result of an expanding labour force, the number of unemployed is projected to increase

by 1 million every year and reach 174 million by 2020.

700 million

Some 700 million workers lived in extreme or moderate poverty in 2018, with less than
US$3.20 per day.

48%

Women’s participation in the labour force stood at 48 per cent in 2018, compared with 75
percent for men. Around 3 in 5 of the 3.5 billion people in the labour force in 2018 were men.

2 billion

Overall, 2 billion workers were in informal employment in 2016, accounting for 61 per cent of
the world’s workforce.

85 million

Many more women than men are underutilized in the labour force—85 million compared to 55
million.

Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Investment in infrastructure and innovation are crucial drivers of economic growth and
development. With over half the world population now living in cities, mass transport and
renewable energy are becoming ever more important, as are the growth of new industries and
information and communication technologies.

Technological progress is also key to finding lasting solutions to both economic and
environmental challenges, such as providing new jobs and promoting energy efficiency.
Promoting sustainable industries, and investing in scientific research and innovation, are all
important ways to facilitate sustainable development.

More than 4 billion people still do not have access to the Internet, and 90 percent are from the
developing world. Bridging this digital divide is crucial to ensure equal access to information
and knowledge, as well as foster innovation and entrepreneurship.

Facts and figures

 2.3 billion

Worldwide, 2.3 billion people lack access to basic sanitation.

40%

In some low-income African countries, infrastructure constraints cut businesses’ productivity by

around 40 percent.

2.6 billion

2.6 billion people in developing countries do not have access to constant electricity.

90%

More than 4 billion people still do not have access to the Internet; 90 percent of them are in
the developing world.

2.3 million

The renewable energy sectors currently employ more than 2.3 million people; the number
could reach 20 million by 2030.

30%

In developing countries, barely 30 percent of agricultural products undergo industrial

processing, compared to 98 percent high-income countries.

Goal 10: Reduced inequalities

Income inequality is on the rise—the richest 10 percent have up to 40 percent of global income
whereas the poorest 10 percent earn only between 2 to 7 percent. If we take into account
population growth inequality in developing countries, inequality has increased by 11 percent.

Income inequality has increased in nearly everywhere in recent decades, but at different
speeds. It’s lowest in Europe and highest in the Middle East.

These widening disparities require sound policies to empower lower income earners, and
promote economic inclusion of all regardless of sex, race or ethnicity.

Income inequality requires global solutions. This involves improving the regulation and
monitoring of financial markets and institutions, encouraging development assistance and
foreign direct investment to regions where the need is greatest. Facilitating the safe migration
and mobility of people is also key to bridging the widening divide.

Facts and figures

22%

In 2016, 22 percent of global income was received by the top 1 percent compared with 10
percent of income for the bottom 50 percent.

16%

In 1980, the top one percent had 16 percent of global income. The bottom 50 percent had 8
percent of income.

33%

Economic inequality is largely driven by the unequal ownership of capital. Since 1980, very
large transfers of public to private wealth occurred in nearly all countries. The global wealth
share of the top 1 percent was 33 percent in 2016.
 39%

Under "business as usual", the top 1 percent global wealth will reach 39 percent by 2050.

2x

Women spend, on average, twice as much time on unpaid housework as men.

60%

Women have as much access to financial services as men in just 60 percent of the countries
assessed and to land ownership in just 42 percent of the countries assessed.

Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities

More than half of us live in cities. By 2050, two-thirds of all humanity—6.5 billion people—will
be urban. Sustainable development cannot be achieved without significantly transforming the
way we build and manage our urban spaces.

The rapid growth of cities—a result of rising populations and increasing migration—has led to
a boom in mega-cities, especially in the developing world, and slums are becoming a more
significant feature of urban life.

Making cities sustainable means creating career and business opportunities, safe and
affordable housing, and building resilient societies and economies. It involves investment in
public transport, creating green public spaces, and improving urban planning and management
in participatory and inclusive ways.

Facts and figures

4.2 billion

In 2018, 4.2 billion people, 55 percent of the world’s population, lived in cities. By 2050, the
urban population is expected to reach 6.5 billion.

3%

Cities occupy just 3 percent of the Earth’s land but account for 60 to 80 percent of energy
consumption and at least 70 percent of carbon emissions.

828 million

828 million people are estimated to live in slums, and the number is rising.

33

In 1990, there were 10 cities with 10 million people or more; by 2014, the number of mega-
cities rose to 28, and was expected to reach 33 by 2018. In the future, 9 out of 10 mega-cities
will be in the developing world.

90%

In the coming decades, 90 percent of urban expansion will be in the developing world.

80%

The economic role of cities is significant. They generate about 80 percent of the global GDP.

Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production

Achieving economic growth and sustainable development requires that we urgently reduce our
ecological footprint by changing the way we produce and consume goods and resources.
Agriculture is the biggest user of water worldwide, and irrigation now claims close to 70
percent of all freshwater for human use.

The efficient management of our shared natural resources, and the way we dispose of toxic
waste and pollutants, are important targets to achieve this goal. Encouraging industries,
businesses and consumers to recycle and reduce waste is equally important, as is supporting
developing countries to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption by 2030.

A large share of the world population is still consuming far too little to meet even their basic
needs. Halving the per capita of global food waste at the retailer and consumer levels is also
important for creating more efficient production and supply chains. This can help with food
security, and shift us towards a more resource efficient economy.

Facts and figures

1.3 billion

1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year, while almost 2 billion people go hungry or
undernourished.

22%

The food sector accounts for around 22 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, largely
from the conversion of forests into farmland.

2 billion

Globally, 2 billion people are overweight or obese.

3%

Only 3 percent of the world’s water is fresh (drinkable), and humans are using it faster than
nature can replenish it.

US$120 billion

If people everywhere switched to energy efficient lightbulbs, the world would save US$120
billion annually.

20%

One-fifth of the world’s final energy consumption in 2013 was from renewable sources.

Goal 13: Climate action

There is no country that is not experiencing the drastic effects of climate change. Greenhouse
gas emissions are more than 50 percent higher than in 1990. Global warming is causing long-
lasting changes to our climate system, which threatens irreversible consequences if we do not
act.

The annual average economic losses from climate-related disasters are in the hundreds of
billions of dollars. This is not to mention the human impact of geo-physical disasters, which are
91 percent climate-related, and which between 1998 and 2017 killed 1.3 million people, and
left 4.4 billion injured. The goal aims to mobilize US$100 billion annually by 2020 to address
the needs of developing countries to both adapt to climate change and invest in low-carbon
development.

Supporting vulnerable regions will directly contribute not only to Goal 13 but also to the other
SDGs. These actions must also go hand in hand with efforts to integrate disaster risk
measures, sustainable natural resource management, and human security into national
development strategies. It is still possible, with strong political will, increased investment, and
using existing technology, to limit the increase in global mean temperature to two degrees
Celsius above pre-industrial levels, aiming at 1.5°C, but this requires urgent and ambitious
collective action.

Facts and figures

+1°C

As of 2017 humans are estimated to have caused approximately 1.0°C of global warming
above pre-industrial levels.

+20cm

Sea levels have risen by about 20 cm (8 inches) since 1880 and are projected to rise another
30–122 cm (1 to 4 feet) by 2100.

2050

To limit warming to 1.5C, global net CO2 emissions must drop by 45% between 2010 and
2030, and reach net zero around 2050.

1/3

Climate pledges under The Paris Agreement cover only one third of the emissions reductions
needed to keep the world below 2°C.

$26 trillion

Bold climate action could trigger at least US$26 trillion in economic benefits by 2030.

18 million

The energy sector alone will create around 18 million more jobs by 2030, focused specifically
on sustainable energy.

Goal 14: Life Below Water

The world’s oceans – their temperature, chemistry, currents and life – drive global systems
that make the Earth habitable for humankind. How we manage this vital resource is essential
for humanity as a whole, and to counterbalance the effects of climate change.

Over three billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods.
However, today we are seeing 30 percent of the world’s fish stocks overexploited, reaching
below the level at which they can produce sustainable yields.

Oceans also absorb about 30 percent of the carbon dioxide produced by humans, and we are
seeing a 26 percent rise in ocean acidification since the beginning of the industrial revolution.
Marine pollution, an overwhelming majority of which comes from land-based sources, is
reaching alarming levels, with an average of 13,000 pieces of plastic litter to be found on
every square kilometre of ocean.

The SDGs aim to sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems from
pollution, as well as address the impacts of ocean acidification. Enhancing conservation and
the sustainable use of ocean-based resources through international law will also help mitigate
some of the challenges facing our oceans.

Facts and figures

75%

The ocean covers three quarters of the Earth’s surface and represents 99 percent of the living
space on the planet by volume.
 200,000

The ocean contains nearly 200,000 identified species, but actual numbers may lie in the
millions.

40%

As much as 40 percent of the ocean is heavily affected by pollution, depleted fisheries, loss of
coastal habitats and other human activities.

30%

The ocean absorbs about 30 percent of carbon dioxide produced by humans, buffering the
impacts of global warming.

3 billion

More than 3 billion people depend on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods.

US$3 trillion

The market value of marine and coastal resources and industries is estimated at US$3 trillion
per year, about 5 percent of global GDP.

Goal 15: Life on land

Human life depends on the earth as much as the ocean for our sustenance and livelihoods.
Plant life provides 80 percent of the human diet, and we rely on agriculture as an important
economic resources. Forests cover 30 percent of the Earth’s surface, provide vital habitats for
millions of species, and important sources for clean air and water, as well as being crucial for
combating climate change.

Every year, 13 million hectares of forests are lost, while the persistent degradation of drylands
has led to the desertification of 3.6 billion hectares, disproportionately affecting poor
communities.

While 15 percent of land is protected, biodiversity is still at risk. Nearly 7,000 species of
animals and plants have been illegally traded. Wildlife trafficking not only erodes biodiversity,
but creates insecurity, fuels conflict, and feeds corruption.

Urgent action must be taken to reduce the loss of natural habitats and biodiversity which are
part of our common heritage and support global food and water security, climate change
mitigation and adaptation, and peace and security.

Facts and figures

1.6 billion

Around 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihoods.

80%

Forests are home to more than 80 percent of all terrestrial species of animals, plants and
insects.

2.6 billion

2.6 billion people depend directly on agriculture for a living.

33%
 Nature-based climate solutions can contribute about a third of CO2 reductions by 2030.

$125 trillion

The value of ecosystems to human livelihoods and well-being is $US125 trillion per year.

60-80%

Mountain regions provide 60-80 percent of the Earth's fresh water.

Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

We cannot hope for sustainable development without peace, stability, human rights and
effective governance, based on the rule of law. Yet our world is increasingly divided. Some
regions enjoy peace, security and prosperity, while others fall into seemingly endless cycles of
conflict and violence. This is not inevitable and must be addressed.

Armed violence and insecurity have a destructive impact on a country’s development, affecting
economic growth, and often resulting in grievances that last for generations. Sexual violence,
crime, exploitation and torture are also prevalent where there is conflict, or no rule of law, and
countries must take measures to protect those who are most at risk

The SDGs aim to significantly reduce all forms of violence, and work with governments and
communities to end conflict and insecurity. Promoting the rule of law and human rights are key
to this process, as is reducing the flow of illicit arms and strengthening the participation of
developing countries in the institutions of global governance.

Facts and figures

68.5 million

By the end of 2017, 68.5 million people had been forcibly displaced as a result of persecution,
conflict, violence or human rights violations.

10 million

There are at least 10 million stateless people who have been denied nationality and its related
rights.

US$1.26 trillion

Corruption, bribery, theft and tax evasion cost developing countries US$1.26 trillion per year.

49

49 countries lack laws protecting women from domestic violence.

46

In 46 countries, women now hold more than 30 percent of seats in at least one chamber of
national parliament.

1 billion

1 billion people are legally ‘invisible’ because they cannot prove who they are. This includes
an estimated 625 million children under 14 whose births were never registered.

Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals

The SDGs can only be realized with strong global partnerships and cooperation. Official
Development Assistance remained steady but below target, at US$147 billion in 2017. While
humanitarian crises brought on by conflict or natural disasters continue to demand more
financial resources and aid. Many countries also require Official Development Assistance to
encourage growth and trade.

The world is more interconnected than ever. Improving access to technology and knowledge is
an important way to share ideas and foster innovation. Coordinating policies to help
developing countries manage their debt, as well as promoting investment for the least
developed, is vital for sustainable growth and development.

The goals aim to enhance North-South and South-South cooperation by supporting national
plans to achieve all the targets. Promoting international trade, and helping developing
countries increase their exports is all part of achieving a universal rules-based and equitable
trading system that is fair and open and benefits all.

Facts and figures

US$5 trillion

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) says achieving SDGs will require
US$5 trillion to $7 trillion in annual investment.

US$147.2 billion

Total official development assistance reached US$147.2 billion in 2017.

US$613 billion

In 2017, international remittances totaled US$613 billion; 76 percent of it went to developing

countries.

In 2016, 6 countries met the international target to keep official development assistance at or
above 0.7 percent of gross national income.

US$18.2 trillion

Sustainable and responsible investments represent high-potential sources of capital for SDGs.
As of 2016, US$18.2 trillion was invested in this asset class.

US$155.5 billion

The bond market for sustainable business is growing. In 2018 global green bonds reached
US$155.5billion, up 78 percent from previous year.