Empowering SDG actions with new tools for tracking SDG progress

During the SDG Summit, the UN DESA’s Statistics Division, partnering with Google.org, launched the UN Data Commons for the SDGs. This new platform integrates authoritative SDG data and insights from across the UN System into a publicly available tool with AI-powered search functionality and an innovative, user-friendly interface. Its aim is to put high-quality datasets and digital public goods at the users’ fingertips, allowing for seamless exploration of diverse statistical datasets, the annual global SDG report, and analytics, to ultimately facilitate informed data-driven decisions.

This new tool will allow policymakers, NGOs and interested members of the public to easily access relevant insights and visualizations, gain valuable perspectives on SDG progress, and facilitate the formulation of data-driven strategies and decisions. The tool incorporates a natural language interface that allows users to ask questions like: How many people go hungry in the World? How do literacy rates compare to poverty in sub-Saharan Africa? How much have infant mortality rates improved over time in Ethiopia?

Key features of this platform include the effortless exploration and downloading of SDG data based on a specific country, region, or Goal. It offers advanced search capabilities for in-depth insights conveniently bringing together SDG data and narratives from The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023 in a single, accessible location. Users can utilize tools for exploring and visualizing SDG data, making it more comprehensible and actionable

During the UNGA high-level week, UN DESA also published The SDG Progress Chart 2023 that offers a comprehensive overview of global advancements toward the targets outlined in the 17 Goals of the 2030 Agenda. It complements The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2023: Special Edition. Using a stoplight colour system, it assesses trends for 138 out of 169 targets based on data and agency analysis. Among the assessable targets, only 15% are on track for 2030, with 48% showing moderate or severe deviation from the desired trajectory and 37% showing no progress or regression from 2015. This highlights the urgent need for increased efforts to keep the SDGs on course.

Watch the session in the SDG Media Zone on 19 September 2023: Announcing UN Data Commons for the SDGs