As the High-level Political Forum meets in July to review progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and hear presentations on voluntary national reviews (VNRs) from 47 countries, it is increasingly clear that progress is insufficient to meet the ambitions of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
This report examines global progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and highlights the growing inequalities that threaten the 2030 Agenda. Drawing on evidence from 47 countries’ Voluntary National Reviews, it shows that the poorest 20% of people are being left behind across income, health, education, and data inclusion. The document calls for urgent action to reverse declining aid to least developed countries, strengthen inclusive data systems, and prioritize investments in human capital to ensure no one is excluded from global progress.