While extreme poverty under the international poverty line (target 1.1) is rare in the UNECE region, gaps remain in reducing poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions. In 15 out of the 44 countries with data, over 20 per cent of the population lives below the nationally defined poverty threshold (indicator 1.2.1). Measures of multidimensional poverty (indicator 1.2.2) consider various aspects of deprivation beyond income. Fewer countries reported on this indicator, and among those that did, one in five had over 30 per cent of the population facing multidimensional poverty.

The region has strong social protection coverage overall (indicator 1.3), but support for the unemployed remains insufficient, with an average of less than 40 per cent of the unemployed receiving benefits. The region is nearing universal access to basic drinking water and sanitation but requires focused efforts on the few who still do not have access (target 1.4.1). As climate change intensifies natural disasters which can significantly set back developmental gains, the region must accelerate implementing national disaster risk reduction strategies (indicator 1.5.3). To achieve goal 1, official development assistance for poverty reduction needs to scale up in most countries (indicator 1.a.1) and decreasing government spending on essential services need to be reversed (indicator 1.a.2).

Access to sufficient and nutritious food (target 2.1) is not universal in the UNECE region. Although undernourishment is rare (indicator 2.1.1), in one third of the countries, more than 10 per cent of people experience food insecurity and this number is on the rise in more than half of the countries with data (indicator 2.1.2). Food security and good nutrition concerns both the quantity and quality of food. Efforts to reduce childhood obesity (indicator 2.2.2) and anaemia in reproductive-age women (indicator 2.2.3) need to be accelerated.

Progress is being made towards maintaining a diverse and nutritious food supply for future generations as the number of animal breeds and plants for which genetic resources are stored is growing (indicator 2.5.1). To preserve the local produce diversity in the region, increase in local breeds at risk of extinction in almost half of UNECE countries (indicator 2.5.2) must be reversed. The proportion of agriculture area under productive and sustainable practice has been improving while projected to fall short of the 2030 targets (indicator 2.4.1). The region has witnessed a continuous decrease in the orientation of government expenditures towards agriculture (indicator 2.a.1).

Progress assessment is possible for all the 13 targets under goal 3. The region is set to achieve targets on the reduction of child and maternal mortality as well as mortality from non-communicable diseases (targets 3.1, 3.2 and 3.4).

Death rate from road traffic injuries is on a modest decline (indicator 3.6.1). The pace of progress on sexual and reproductive health (target 3.7) is sluggish and the situation is regressing in some countries. Across the UNECE region, one quarter of women still have an unmet need for modern methods of family planning (indicator 3.7.1). Relative cost of healthcare is on the rise, with an average of 1.7 per cent of households spending over 25 per cent of their total household income or expenditure on healthcare (indicator 3.8.2). Most children in the region receive recommended vaccinations (indicator 3.b.1), but the region is not on track to achieve universal coverage by 2030, and for two vaccines the coverage is regressing.

In the region, school completion rate is high but not universal, especially for lower and upper secondary schools where a decrease was observed in 30 and 16 per cent of countries, respectively (indicator 4.1.2). Near-universal enrolment in preschool (indicator 4.2.2) in most countries is at risk from a downward enrolment trend observed in over one third of the countries in the region. Slow and bumpy progress towards universal and quality education (target 4.1) is related to persisting inequalities between advantaged and disadvantaged students. While gender parity in proficiency in mathematics and reading (indicator 4.5.1) has been achieved, stark gaps remain between urban and rural students, the native-born and the foreign-born, and the rich and the poor.

The share of youth and adults with information and communication technology skills is increasing slowly (indicator 4.4.1). Participation in education and training (indicator 4.3.1) of working age population regressed in 40 per cent of countries. Most of the region is on track to ensure minimum required qualifications for teachers at all levels (indicator 4.c.1) but there are considerable differences between countries.

Schools in the region are well equipped, and most countries are already providing universal access to computers and the internet as well as other basic services in schools (indicator 4.a.1).

Progress on gender equality can only be measured for less than half of targets. Improvements continue to be slow on policy and legal frameworks that combat discrimination and support gender equality, and there is big variation in progress between countries (target 5.1). Domestic task distribution between women and men (target 5.4) would also have to narrow much faster. The share of women participating in political and economic life (target 5.5.) is increasing in nearly every country in the region. The proportions of elected seats held by women in parliaments and especially in local governments (indicator 5.5.1) have seen greater growth, albeit with considerable country differences. The current trend, if sustained, would lead to levels above one third by 2030, hence still short of parity. In technology, the target of women’s empowerment measured through universal mobile phone ownership (indicator 5.b.1) is well on track to be achieved.

Access to safe drinking water (target 6.1) is widespread in the UNECE region, and 30 per cent of countries would cover all the population with this essential service if the current trend continues. However, big regional discrepancies persist, especially in sanitation where in 8 per cent of countries, less than half the population has access to safe sanitation (target 6.2). The trend on water quality needs to be reversed as the proportion of safely treated domestic wastewater flows remains low at a regional average of 65 per cent (indicator 6.3.1).

Water use across the region is becoming more efficient, but unevenly and insufficiently (indicator 6.4.1). Alarmingly, stress on freshwater resources is increasing in almost half of countries (indicator 6.4.2). In the region, 70 per cent of transboundary basin area has an operational cooperation mechanism (indicator 6.5.2), but implementing integrated water resources management (indicator 6.5.1) is not expected to meet the target at the current rate and there are large differences in progress between countries.

Access to electricity is universal, and nearly all people in the region use clean fuels for cooking, heating and lighting (target 7.1). The region is expected to have an average renewable energy share of 27 per cent given the current trend. Although this is an increase compared to 2015, reverse trend is observed in 10 countries (indicator 7.2.1). Acceleration of efforts is critical to ensure continued access to affordable and sustainable energy.

The rate of growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita (indicator 8.1.1) in the UNECE countries on average is above 2 per cent. The growth rate per employed person (indicator 8.2.1) has been slowing, below that level (indicator 8.2.1). Informal employment (indicator 8.3.1) has been decreasing, and recently, unemployment (indicator 8.5.2) has turned downwards in nearly all countries, but these reductions would need to pick up pace to reach 2030 targets.

Most countries in the region have enacted dedicated strategies for youth employment, and this target is on track to be achieved (target 8.b). Nonetheless, the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training is not coming down quickly enough and its increase in 10 countries would need to be reversed (target 8.6). Occupational injuries are on a decreasing trend overall in the region (indicator 8.8.1) but national compliance with labour rights is slightly regressing (indicator 8.8.2). Countries must also accelerate efforts around resource use efficiency (target 8.4), access to financial services (8.10) and aid for trade (target 8.a) to achieve employment and economic growth that leaves no one behind.

Data is available for assessing seven out of the eight targets under goal 9. The share of medium- and high-tech manufacturing value added is on average over 30 per cent and given the regressing trend observed in almost half the countries, it is not expected to increase significantly by 2030 (indicator 9.b.1). To accelerate progress, investments in research and development (target 9.5) need to accelerate in all member countries and access to finance for small-scale industries (target 9.3) needs to improve. The declining trend in the proportion of freight transported by rail (indicator 9.1.2) needs to be reversed to achieve sustainable and resilient infrastructure (target 9.1).

The region has progressed well with sustainable and inclusive economic development where carbon emissions from production (target 9.4) are decreasing and access to information and communications technology (target 9.c) is widespread.

The number of people living below 50 per cent of the country’s median income level (indicator 10.2.1) has been increasing in 30 per cent of the countries. At the current rate, in half of the UNECE countries, over 10 per cent of people are expected to live below 50 per cent of median income by 2030. Discrimination and harassment remain high in the region as over 10 per cent of the population reported such experience in the last 12 months in most of the countries with recent data (indicator 10.3.1). Financial soundness and regulation (target 10.5) have shown mixed results where return on assets has fallen short of desired range in most countries, regulatory capital to assets requirement is falling and the nonperforming loans risk is showing significant variation amongst countries. Official development assistance (target 10.b) has been stagnant and will need to pick up pace to get on track.

More work is needed to achieve safe migration and mobility (target 10.7) and to reduce costs of migrant remittances (target 10.c).

Data is available to assess five out of ten targets under goal 11. Although the region is gradually alleviating urban housing problems, at the current pace, almost a quarter of the countries in the region are projected to have over 10 per cent of urban population in inadequate dwellings (target 11.1). Air pollution in cities has rapidly decreased in nearly all countries and almost half the region is expected to meet the target on air quality if the current trend continues (target 11.6). The region is increasingly implementing national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework (target 11.b). The pressing need to prepare for climate hazards is echoed by proactive local governments in developing subnational level disaster risk reduction strategies.

The impact of such strategies is yet mixed. The economic impact of disasters is becoming less severe (indicator 11.5.2). However, as disasters increase due to climate change, the region must continue to invest in building resilience to save lives and reduce loss and damage. Improving the preservation, protection and conservation of cultural and natural heritage (target 11.4) must also accelerate.

Subsidies related to consumption and production of fossil fuels (target 12.c) have recently begun to increase in more than half of the countries. This makes it unlikely that the region can get on track with cutting greenhouse gas emissions (target 13.2), which are increasing in 30 per cent of the countries with data. While disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework have been increasing on both national and local levels (indicators 13.1.2 and 13.1.3), the number of people impacted by disasters (indicator 13.1.1) has continued to increase. The region must accelerate progress on sustainable use of natural resources (target 12.2) as well as waste reduction and treatment (targets 12.4 and 12.5). Countries of the region are already party to the Montreal Protocol on ozone-depleting substances and are progressing on Rotterdam Convention on cross-border trade on hazardous chemicals. Accession to the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants and the Basel Convention on hazardous waste needs to accelerate. The amount of hazardous waste generated per person is overall on the decline but in over 30 per cent of countries this trend is reversing (indicator 12.4.2). Although the recycling rate is generally on the rise in the region, in almost 60 per cent of countries, there has been regression in electric waste recycling (indicator 12.5.1). On sustainable energy, the region is faring better and generating more renewable energy (indicator 12.a.1).

Recent data indicate that progress towards reducing marine pollution, including waste from land-based sources, requires acceleration (target 14.1). All countries in the region are accelerating efforts to increase protected areas for marine biodiversity (target 14.5). The region must reverse the decreasing trends in sustainable fishing (target 14.7), and research and development on marine technology (target 14.a), which are moving in the wrong direction.

On sustainable resource management, the pace of progress is on track on combating unreported and unregulated fishing (target 14.6) and legal protection of access rights for small-scale fisheries (target 14.b). On land, the region is progressing towards sustainable forest management, and forest area is increasing in most countries in the region (target 15.2), but not quickly enough to reach the 2030 targets. Faster improvement is also needed in protecting terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity areas (indicator 15.1.2) and mountain ecosystems (target 15.4). Unfortunately, the region is failing to halt land degradation (target 15.3) and the loss of biodiversity (target 15.5). To protect native flora and fauna, more countries need to invest in national plans to reduce the impact of alien invasive species (target 15.8) and increase long-term management plans for forests (indicator 15.2.1). In over two thirds of countries, the extinction risk of endangered species is increasing (indicator 15.5.1).

Countries in the UNECE region are experiencing turbulent times in peace and safety. Homicide is rare in most countries (indicator 16.1.1) but over 20 per cent of countries have seen a rise in violent crime and robberies in recent years (indicator 16.1.3). Half the countries in the region are regressing in ensuring sense of personal safety and one quarter of people across countries with data do not feel safe walking alone in their neighbourhoods after dark (indicator 16.1.4).

The region falls short in reducing corruption and bribery—in over 30 per cent of countries, one in ten people encountered bribe incidents (target 16.5). The region must also reduce human trafficking which is increasing in over half the countries (target 16.2).

The number of countries in the region with an independent national human rights institution in compliance with the Paris Principles (indicator 16.a.1) is not growing. Decision-making bodies across the region are attracting more young members (target 16.7), but acceleration is needed to achieve proportionate representation of women in parliaments and judiciaries by 2030.

In over half of the countries, the proportion of domestic budget funded by domestic taxes is falling, which reduces government’s fiscal space for public policy (target 17.1). In almost half of the countries, an increasing proportion of exports went to service debt, meaning that less export revenue could be dedicated for investment and development purposes (target 17.4). Connectivity enhances cooperation and helps create more even grounds for development. Fixed broadband subscriptions are on the rise and the region is on track to meet this target by 2030 (target 17.6). Internet connectivity is almost universal in all countries (17.8)

The region has returned to positive economic growth; however, public sector debt is increasing (indicator 17.13.1). Many countries are still far from meeting inflationary targets and over 20 per cent of countries have suffered from double digit inflation in recent years (indicator 17.13.1). The use of country-owned results frameworks in development interventions is decreasing in the region (target 17.15) and public-private partnerships for infrastructure have been stagnant (target 17.17).

Progress towards providing development assistance to least developed countries (target 17.2) and improved market access for developing countries (target 17.12) is slow. On average, worldwide tariffs have reduced, but this fragile trend may reverse given the growing uncertainty and increasing risk of global trade wars (target 17.10). In 2022, the downward trend in financial and technical development assistance for SDGs (target 17.9) came to a halt and a rapid reversal would be needed to attain the 2030 ambition.

Almost all the countries in the region have national statistics legislation and national plans with funding from government. The region overall has good statistical capacity but there are considerable differences between countries (target 17.18). The region is on track in conducting population and housing censuses and with the completeness of death registration, while falling still short with the birth registration target in one country (indicator 17.19.2).

Data availability for monitoring the SDGs is improving. The number of global SDG indicators that could be assessed in the UNECE region rose from 160 in 2024 to 171 in the present assessment.