UN Sustainable Development Goals Index 2025: Top 10 best and worst countries; India breaks into top 100 for the first time

While notable improvements have been seen in access to basic services and infrastructure, backsliding has occurred in several areas, including rising obesity rates, declining press freedom, worsening corruption perception, and setbacks in sustainable nitrogen management (SDG 2).

Despite a strong global commitment to the SDGs, the global averages have obscured the stark disparities in progress across various regions and nations.

The world’s 10 best and worst performing countries in the UN Sustainable Development Goals Index 2025

Europe dominates the SDG 2025 Index, with Europe dominating the top 10, and Nordic countries ranking the top, with Finland standing first this year, followed by Sweden and Denmark.

East and South Asian countries have made remarkable strides in achieving their socioeconomic goals, showcasing the most significant progress since 2015 in Nepal, which improved by 11.1 points; Cambodia, which gained 10 points; and the Philippines, which increased by 8.6 points, among others.

The countries affected by conflict, security issues, political or socio-economic instabilities, and limited fiscal space, like South Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, and Chad, sit at the bottom of the SDG Index.

Top 10 countries leading in the UN Sustainable Development Goals Index 2025

Source: 10th Edition of Sustainable Development Report 2025 (SDR) by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

Bottom 10 countries lagging in the UN Sustainable Development Goals Index 2025

Source: 10th Edition of Sustainable Development Report 2025 (SDR) by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

Where does India rank, and how does it compare to its peers?

Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (Source: UN)

India has achieved a significant milestone by entering the top 100 for the first time in the history of the index. Ranking 99th in 2025 with a score of 67.0, India has improved steadily over the past four years, rising from 109th in 2024, 112th in 2023, 121st in 2022, and 120th in 2021.

In regional comparison, India still trails several of its neighbours. Bhutan is ranked 74th (70.5), Nepal 85th (68.6), and the Maldives 53rd. Sri Lanka stands at 93rd, while Bangladesh and Pakistan lag behind at 114th and 140th, respectively.

Globally, China ranks 49th with a score of 74.4, and the United States stands at 44th with 75.2.

Note:
The index measures overall progress toward achieving the 17 SDGs adopted by United Nations member states in 2015, with a score of 100 indicating full achievement of all goals.

Stay updated with the latest – Click here to read more Top 10 exclusive reports!