ASIAANDTHEPACIFICSDGPROGRESSREPORT

Engagingcommunitiestoclosetheevidencegap

2025

V

ESCAP

EconomicandsocialcommissionforAsiaandthepacific

TheshadedareasofthemapindicateESCAPmembersandassociatemembers.*

TheEconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific(ESCAP)isthemostinclusiveintergovernmentalplatformintheAsia-Pacificregion.TheCommissionpromotescooperationamongits53memberStatesand9associatemembersinpursuitofsolutionstosustainabledevelopmentchallenges.ESCAPisoneofthefiveregionalcommissionsoftheUnitedNations.

TheESCAPsecretariatsupportsinclusive,resilientandsustainabledevelopmentintheregionbygeneratingaction-orientedknowledge,andbyprovidingtechnicalassistanceandcapacity-buildingservicesinsupportofnationaldevelopmentobjectives,regionalagreementsandtheimplementationofthe2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment.

*ThedesignationsemployedandthepresentationofmaterialonthismapdonotimplytheexpressionofanyopinionwhatsoeveronthepartoftheSecretariatoftheUnitedNationsconcerningthelegalstatusofanycountry,territory,cityorareaorofitsauthorities,orconcerningthedelimitationofitsfrontiersorboundaries.

ASIAANDTHEPACIFICSDGPROGRESSREPORT2025

Engagingcommunitiestoclosetheevidencegap

UnitedNationsPublication

Salesno:E.25.II.F.1

Copyright?2025UnitedNationsAllrightsreserved

PRINTISBN:9789210034739

PDFISBN:9789211071559PrintISSN:2618-1053

OnlineISSN:2618-1061

Barcode:ean-13_9789210034739

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IV

Foreword

EachneweditionoftheAsiaandthePacificSDGProgressReportfeaturesthebestavailabledataandinsightstotrackprogresstowardstheSustainableDevelopmentGoals.WecelebrateregionalandnationalexcellenceandachievementsintheproductionofstatisticsanddatatomonitortheGoalsaswellasoutstandingperformanceandprogressagainstthetargetsandindicators.Wecallattentiontofactorsthatmayhelptoimproveoutcomesformarginalizedgroupsaswecontinuetoworktowardscreatingamoreequitableworld.Weareremindedofourpledgetoleavenoonebehindasweconsiderthatthemostvulnerablepopulationsarealsofacingthegreatestrisks.Importantly,yearuponyear,wereaffirmourcommitmenttothe2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopmentandtheSustainableDevelopmentGoals.

Thereportprovidesacomprehensiveassessmentofprogresstowardsthe17SustainableDevelopmentGoalsandtheir169

targetsaswellasthechallengesandcrisesthatareholdingbackprogressintheregion.Climatechangeandtheimpactofdisasterscontinuetobesignificantobstaclestoprogress.Atthesametime,datagapspersistandleavesomeofthemostvulnerablepopulationsinvisibleinofficialstatistics,limitingpolicymakersabilitytoaddresstheirneedseffectively.Meanwhile,constrainedresourcestomodernizestatisticalsystemsposeadditionalhurdles.Withouturgentactiontoaccelerateprogress,manyoftheGoalswillremainoutofreach,andnothingshortofthemosturgentaccelerationofprogresswillclosethegap.

Yetaswelooktothefuture,wecontinuetofindsignsofhopeinoursharedandenduringcommitments,ourinterconnectedness,andourstrengththroughregionalcooperation.AsweaimtosignificantlyaccelerateprogresstowardsachievingtheSustainableDevelopmentGoals,thisreporthighlightscasestudiesshowcasinginnovativesolutionsandregionalcooperation,demonstratingthatsharedcommitmentandcollaborationcanyieldtransformativeresults.AcrossAsiaandthePacific,newpartnershipsandcreativeapproachesofferhopeandactionablepathwaystoovercomethemostpersistentchallenges.

TheEconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacificwillcontinuetoplayitsroleintheregionasatrustedpartner.Together,throughboldactionandcollectiveresolve,wecanbuildaprosperous,equitableandsustainablefutureforall.

ArmidaSalsiahAlisjahbana

Under-Secretary-GeneraloftheUnitedNationsandExecutiveSecretaryofESCAP

V

ExecutiveSummary

Progresstowardeachofthe17SustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)inAsiaandthePacificremainssignificantlyofftrack,withmosttargetsadvancingtooslowlyorstagnatingdespiteongoingeffortstoimplementthe2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment.Progresstowardsseveralgoalsisfartooslow,particularlyonresponsibleconsumptionandproduction(Goal12),qualityeducation(Goal4),anddecentworkandeconomicgrowth(Goal8).Keydriversofthisstagnationincludeincreasesinfossilfuelsubsidies,poorproficiencyinreadingandmathematics,andunsustainableproductionpatterns.Inaddition,negativetrendsonenvironmentalindicators,suchastheeconomicbenefitsfromsustainablefisheriesandtheextentoflanddegradationhinderprogressonlifebelowwater(Goal14)andlifeonland(Goal15).

Alarmingregressiononclimateaction(Goal13)hasbeendrivenbytheregion'svulnerabilitytodisastersandcontinuedgreenhousegasemissions,whichaccountforhalfofsuchpollutionworldwide.

Incontrasttheregionhasmadenotableprogressonindustry,innovationandinfrastructure(Goal9)andgoodhealthandwell-being(Goal3),drivenbyexpandedaccesstomobilenetworksandremarkableimprovementsinmaternal,infantandchildhealth,demonstratingthattargetedinvestmentsandeffectivepoliciescanyieldsignificantgains.

Lackofprogresstowardsenvironmentalsustainabilityisakeyobstacleforregionalprogresstowardsthe2030targets.Amongthe117targetswithsufficientdata,only16areontracktobeachievedby2030and18showanegativetrendinneedofurgentreversal.Themajorityofthe18targetsarerelatedtoclimate-relatedchallengesanddisasterrisk.

Comparedtotherestoftheworld,theAsia-Pacificregionhasshownnotablystrongperformanceonseveralgoalsandtargets.

Forexample,theregionleadsinprogressonGoal1(mainlyforprogressonreducingincomepoverty),Goal2(forreducingtheprevalenceofundernourishment),Goal9(forpassengerandfreightvolumeandsmall-scaleindustrieswithaloanorlineofcredit),Goal12(forreducinghazardouswastegenerated),Goal15(foraslowerlanddegradation)andGoal16(forreducingdetectedvictimsofhumantraffickingandintentionalhomicide).However,theregionfallssignificantlybehindtherestoftheworldinprogressingonGoals8,13,14,and17.

Countriesinspecialsituationsaremorelikelytoshowregressiononresponsibleconsumptionandproduction(Goal12),decentworkandeconomicgrowth(Goal8)andsustainablecitiesandcommunities(Goal11).Theleastdevelopedcountries,landlockeddevelopingcountries,andsmallislanddevelopingStatesintheAsia-PacificregionrequirespecialattentiontoachievethegoalsandmaybenefitfromfutureactiononGoal12orothersharedpriorityareas,suchasclimateaction(Goal13).

Progressassessmentsatthenationallevelrevealthediversityofprogressacrosstheregion,withemergingandregressingtrendsprovidingcriticalearlywarningsforpolicymakers.WhilestrongprogressisevidentoverallonGoal9andGoal3,somecountriesarelaggingbehindandneedtargetedattentiontoaccelerateprogress.Conversely,althoughtheregionshowsregressionorstagnationonGoals12and13,somecountriesareleadingintheseareas,offeringvaluablelessonsforotherstofollow.Theemergingregressingtrendsareparticularlynoteworthyinareasofhighachievement,wheresafeguardingpastgainsonsustainabledevelopmentisessential.

VI

Developmentbenefitsoftenbypassvulnerablegroups,withintersectingfactorslikeage,gender,education,locationandwealthexacerbatinginequalities.

Householdsurveydatarevealsthatpovertyisthemostsignificantfactorcontributingtoinequalityofopportunity.Educationlevelfollowsasthesecondmostcriticalfactor.Thesetwocircumstancesoftenintersectwithothers,suchaslocation,sexandage,toexacerbateinequalities.Forexample,householdsthatarepoorer,locatedinruralareas,andhavelowerlevelsofeducationarethemostdisadvantagedinaccessingbasicservicessuchaswater,sanitation,andcleanenergy.Policymakersrequirenuanced,granulardatatocapturetherealitiesofspecificpopulationgroups.

Partnershipsbetweengovernments,developmentpartnersandlocalcommunitiesintheAsia-PacificregionhavedeployedinnovativeapproachestofillinformationgapsandimproveSDGmonitoring.Theseinitiativeshaveamplifiedthevoicesofvulnerableanddiversegroupsindecision-makingprocessesandgiventhemaroleingeneratingdatasothatpolicymakers

arebetterabletorespondtotheirneeds.Examplesfromaroundtheregionfocusonabroadrangeofthematicissuesandpopulationgroups,includinglivingconditions;education;health;youth,womenandgirls;andrefugees.

DataavailabilityacrosscountriesintheAsia-Pacificregionshowsaslowyetpositivetrendwithanaverageof54percentofindicatorshavingatleasttwodatapointsin2024,asmallincreasefromthepreviousyear.Notably,theregionoutpacestherestoftheworldby6percent.However,substantialdatagapsremainacrosskeydisaggregationdimensions,includingage,migratorystatus,disability,sexandlocation(urban/rural).

AchievingtheSDGsforeveryoneandeverywhererequiresatransformativeshiftinstatisticalsystems.Thisincludesfosteringstrongpoliticalleadership,mobilizinginvestments,andstrengtheningpartnerships.GovernmentsintheAsia-Pacificregioncanleadthistransformationbyadoptingawhole-of-societyapproachandinvestinginthedigitaltransformationoftheirstatisticalsystems.

VII

AbbreviationsandAcronyms

ASEANAssociationofSoutheastAsianNations

COVID-19

coronavirusdisease

CSOCivilSocietyOrganization

DRRdisasterriskreduction

ESCAPEconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific

FAOFoodandAgricultureOrganization

GDPgrossdomesticproduct

GHGgreenhousegases

ILOInternationalLabourOrganization

IOMInternationalOrganizationforMigration

LDCsleastdevelopedcountries

LLDCslandlockeddevelopingcountries

ODAofficialdevelopmentassistance

SDGsSustainableDevelopmentGoals

SIDSsmallislanddevelopingStates

UNEPUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme

UNESCOUnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganization

UNFPAUnitedNationsPopulationFund

UNHCROfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees

UNICEFUnitedNationsChildren’sFund

WHOWorldHealthOrganization

VIII

Acknowledgments

TheAsiaandthePacificSDGProgressReport2025waspreparedbytheStatisticsDivisionoftheUnitedNationsEconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacific(ESCAP)undertheoverallguidanceofArmidaSalsiahAlisjahbana,Under-Secretary-GeneralandExecutiveSecretaryofESCAP,andLinYang,DeputyExecutiveSecretaryofESCAP,withsupportfromtheEditorialBoardofESCAP.RachaelJoanneBeaven,DirectoroftheStatisticsDivisionprovidesoverallleadershipinpreparationofthisflagshippublication.

This2025editionofthereportwaspreparedbyateamledbyArmanBidarbakhtNia,includingAnisaHussein,DayyanShayani,KrisanaBoonpriroje,MarisaLimawongpranee,PakkapornVisetsilpanon,PatriciaWongBiYi,QiaofangChen,Tsend-AyushGanbaatarandXianJi.

ESCAPstaffwhoprovidedvaluableinputs:SelahattinSelsahPasali,ZiluZhouandOmarSiddique.

ThereportbenefitedfromsubstantivecontributionsprovidedbyUnitedNationsagenciesandnon-governmentalorganizationsintheAsia-Pacificregion:EmployersConfederationofthePhilippines:JoseRolandA.MoyaandDaniellaReyes;InternationalOrganizationforMigration:

foreverychild

AnindyaDutta,BradleyMellicker,BarbaraPorrovecchio,LaurianeMarieWolfeandAnnyYip-ChingYu;LeaveNoOneBehindPartnership:AditiAnand,AdrianD’Cruz,PeterKoblowskyandAnnieNamala;OfficeoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees:ChaoHuang,MuhammadSaadImtiaz,AnnaGesineKneifelandSuYuenTay;UnitedNationsChildren’sFund:DellaAyuAnandita,BlandinaRosalinaBait,YulianGressando,W.JohnHowe,SuhaeniKudus,MaraitaListyasari,LyPhatVietLinh,SyarifahMarlina,YayuMukaromah,KannanNadar,MamadouNdiaye,NguyenQuynhTrang,NguyenThiThanhAn,AirinRoshitaandJuliaSuryantan;UnitedNationsEducational,

ScientificandCulturalOrganization:Bajracharya,Roshan;UnitedNationsPopulationFund:JessicaGardner;VanuatuWomen’sCentre:SharonFrank,JulietHuntandTatavolaMatas;WorldVisionEastAsia:DanMtonga,ArielOdtojanandLindseyRuffolo.

ThereportwassubstantivelyeditedbyMaryAnnPerkins.LayoutandgraphicdesignwereimplementedbyMagdalenaDolna.

NikitaPanovandRattanaDuangrapruenfromtheStatisticsDivisionprovidedvaluableadministrativesupport.

MitchellHsieh,RaggieJohansenandKavitaSukanandan,allfromtheESCAPCommunicationsandKnowledgeManagementSection,coordinatedthemedialaunchanddisseminationofthereport.

Photocredit

Abbreviationsandacronyms:shutterstock_639450937,shutterstock_429909262

Chapter1:shutterstock_757399609,shutterstock_637469563,

UNICEF_Bangladesh_hi,shutterstock_228545347,

shutterstock_212550220,8Aug_SDD_fromCEDAWphotocontest,12011_Dhaka_KibaePark_SipaPress,443538-UNPhotoUNICEFZAK,

537244_UNPHOTO_DavidOhana,451874-kibaePark,

shutterstock_149314007,shutterstock_762619681,311671-UNPhoto-JPLafonte,shutterstock_39936034,403452-UNPhoto-MarkGarten,shutterstock_608459744,shutterstock_208937023,

shutterstock_586341557,shutterstock_178427081,246-1-ruida-PUBLICChapter2:shutterstock_247533223,shutterstock_615402767,

UNPhoto_OCHA_537246,shutterstock_438065446,

shutterstock_379336681,shutterstock_281044208

Chapter3:5225324648_eacfa6eb0e_o,shutterstock_268921493,shutterstock_345087080

Annexes:StreetgirlbyNickRainImages

SpecialthankstothefollowingUnitedNationspartnersandNon-GovernmentalOrganizations

UNHCR

TheUNRefugeeAgency

VV

IX

Contents

ForewordV

ExecutiveSummaryVI

AbbreviationsandAcronymsVIII

AcknowledgmentsIX

ContentsX

ListoffiguresandtableXII

Chapter1

Regionalprogress1

1.1SDGprogresssince20153

1.2Targettracking:acloserlookatprogress6

1.3Goalprofilesbyindicators10

1.4Asia-PacificRegionandtheworldcompared26

1.5Progressofcountriesinspecialsituations27

1.6NationalSDGtrends29

Chapter2

Empoweringlivesthroughdata32

2.1Leveraginghouseholdsurveydatatoidentifydisparities33

2.2Leveragingcommunitypartnershipstobridgedatagaps36

Chapter3

Strengtheningnationalstatisticalsystems48

3.1SDGdataavailability49

3.2Statisticalsystemsfitforthefuture52

Annexes

Annex1:Technicalnotes-methodologytomeasureprogress55

Annex2:Indicatorsusedforprogressassessment60

Annex3:Subregionalgraphs72

ThePacific72

EastandNorth-EastAsia75

NorthandCentralAsia78

SouthandSouth-WestAsia81

South-EastAsia84

Annex4:CountriesandcountrygroupsintheAsia-Pacificregion87

Listoffiguresandtable

Figure1.1

SnapshotofregionalSDGprogresssince2015

3

Figure1.2

Dashboardofexpectedachievements

6

Figure1.3

Figure1.4

Targetsshowingnegativetrends

ComparisonofprogressbetweentheAsia-Pacificregionandtherestof

theworld

8

26

Figure1.

5

Topregressingandprogressinggoalsincountriesinspecialsituations

28

Figure1.

6

Dashboardofnationaltrendsandcomparisonwithregionalaverages

30

Figure2.1

IntersectionalityofcircumstancesthatleavepeoplebehindinSDGs

34

Figure3.1

ibilityofSDGindictorsintheAsia-PacificRegionandtherest

ald

50

Figure3.2

DisparatedataavailabilityacrossgoalsinAsia-Pacificregion

51

Figure3.3

Figure3.4

Availabilityofindicatorsbydisaggregation

Proportionofresourcesmadeavailabletostrengthenstatistical

capacitiesindevelopingcountries

52

53

XII

Regionalprogress

1

IX

Chapter1Regional

progress

1

AttheSummitoftheFuture,on22September2024,worldleadersadoptedthePactfortheFuture,inwhichtheyexpressedtheirbeliefinapathtoabrighterfutureforallofhumanity.Theyrecognizedtheincreasingcatastrophicandexistentialthreatstransformingtheworldandpledgedtotakeactiontostrengthenmultilateralism.Theyrenewedtheircommitmenttothe2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopmentandpledgedtourgentlyaccelerateprogresstowardsachievingtheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsbystrengtheninginternationalcooperationforconcretepoliticalstepsandmobilizingsignificantadditionalfinancialresources.Withnearlyhalfoftheglobalgrossdomesticproduct(GDP)and60percentoftheworld’spopulation,theAsia-Pacificregioniscentraltoshapingfutureoutcomesandremainsadrivingforceofglobaldevelopment.Theactionstakeninthisregion-byindividuals,governmentsandthroughregionalcooperation–holdthepotentialtoaddresstheinvestmentchallengesforsustainabledevelopment,

digitaltransformation,andenergytransition.However,withoutsustainedcommitmenttheseambitionsmayfallshort,perpetuatingharmfulpracticesthatthreatenplanetaryecosystems.

EmergingtechnologiesaretransformingtheAsia-Pacificregion.Ontheonehandtheyoffernewpathwaystoaccelerateprogresstowardsustainability.Ontheotherhand,governmentsandsocietiesaregrapplingwithunprecedentedrisksandchallenges,includingtheproliferationofdisinformation,andviolationofcitizens’privacyrights.Atthesametime,thedigitaldivideisexacerbatingdisparitiesinsustainabledevelopmentgainsacrosstheregion.

DespiteongoingeffortsacrosstheAsia-Pacificregiontoimplementthe2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopmentandensurenooneisleftbehind,progresstowardeachofthe17SustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)remainssignificantlyofftrack,tooslow,orstagnant(

figure1.1

).

1.1SDGprogresssince2015

Figure1.1SnapshotofregionalSDGprogresssince2015

Target2030

20152024

andproduction

Nopoverty

Zerohunger

Goodhealth

andwell-being

Quality

education

Genderequality

Cleanwater

andsanitation

Affordable

andcleanenergy

Decentwork

andeconomicgrowth

Industry,innovation

andinfrastructure

Reduced

inequalities

Sustainablecities

andcommunities

consumption

Responsible

Climateaction

Lifebelowwater

Lifeonland

Peace,justice

andstrong

institutions

forthegoals

Partnerships

Progress

Regression

Insufficientindicators

Evidencestrength

Chapter1Regional

progress

3

4

AsiaandthePacificSDGProgressReport2025

Adetailedexaminationoftheregion’sprogressacrossthegoalsshowsnotableadvancementsinsomeareas,whileprogressinothershasbeensloworhasevenregressed.

Significantachievementshavebeenmadeonindustry,innovationandinfrastructure(Goal9)andgoodhealthandwell-being(Goal3),drivenbyexpandedaccesstomobilenetworksandremarkableimprovementsinmaternal,infantandchildhealth.Furthermore,notableprogressonnopoverty(Goal1)isevidentasaresultofreducingincomepoverty,whileprogressonzerohunger(Goal2)ismarkedbysubstantialstridesincombatingmalnutrition.

Whiletheregionhasmadeprogressindevelopingnationaldisasterriskreduction(DRR)strategiesandplans,itcontinuestofaceahightollfromdisasters.Additionally,theregionremainsoneofthelargestpollutersintheworld,accountingformorethanhalfoftheglobalgreenhousegas(GHG)emissions.Bothissuescontributetoanalarmingregressiononclimateaction(Goal13).Otherareasofconcernincluderegressioninseveralindicatorsunderothergoals.Forexample,increasesinfossilfuelsubsidieshashinderedprogressinsustainableconsumptionandproduction(Goal12).Learningoutcomes,suchaspoorproficiencyinreadingandmathematics,contributetoslowprogressonqualityeducation(Goal4).Furthermore,unsustainableproduction

patterns,asmeasuredbythematerialfootprint,continuetorise,impedingprogressindecentworkandeconomicgrowth(Goal8).Meanwhile,environmentalindicators,suchastheshareofsustainablefisheriesinGDPandproportionoflanddegradationshowregression,slowingprogressinlifebelowwater(Goal14)andlifeonland(Goal15).

Insufficientdataintheregionpresentsamajorobstacletounderstandingprogressincriticalareas,includinggenderequality(Goal5)andpeace,justiceandstronginstitutions(Goal16),bothessentialtorealizingthe2030Agenda’scommitmentofleavingnoonebehind.

Tofullyunderstandandaddressthechallengesfacinggroupsinvulnerablesituations,itiscrucialtoengageallstakeholders,especiallycommunitiesandcivilsociety,togatherinsightsandevidence,whereofficialstatisticsmaybelacking.Thiswillbediscussedfurtherin

Chapter2

.

ThefivesubregionsofAsiaandthePacificareexperiencinguniquetrajectoriesinsustainabledevelopment.Thediversityinprogressunderscorestheneedfortargetedstrategiesandregion-specificsolutionstoensurenooneisleftbehind.

See

Annex2

forsubregionalsnapshotsofprogressanddashboardsofexpectedachievements.

Chapter1Regional

progress

5

PARTNERSHIPSFORTHEGOALS

17.3Additional?nancialresources

17.1Taxandotherrevenuecollection

17.4Debtsustainability

17.6Scienceandtechinternationalcooperation

17.7Transferoftechnologies

17.8Capacity-buildingforICT

17.9Capacity-buildingforSDGs

17.10Multilateraltradingsystem(WTO)

17.11Exportsofdevelopingcountries

17.12Duty-freemarketaccessforLDCs

17.17Partnerships(public/private)

17.18Nationalstatisticsavailability

17.19Statisticalcapacity

17.2ODAcommitmentbydevelopingcountries

17.5InvestmentpromotionforLDCs

17.13Globalmacroeconomicstability

17.14PolicycoherenceforSD

17.15Respecteachcountry’spolicyspace

17.16GlobalpartnershipforSD

INDUSTRY,INNOVATIONANDINFRASTRUCTURE

9.cAccesstoICTandtheInternet

9.1Infrastructuredevelopment

9.2Sustainable/inclusiveindustrialization

9.3Small-scaleindustriesaccesto?nance

9.4Sustainableandcleanindustries9.5Researchanddevelopment

9.aResilientinfrastruc