Far from equal

The Sustainable Development Goals Gender Index serves not only as a diagnostic tool but is also a rallying cry for the international community to prioritise and protect gender equality

The SDG Gender Index, published by Equal Measures 2030, a coalition of NGOs, provides a comprehensive evaluation of the global progress toward achieving gender equality as outlined in the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. However, the findings of the 2024 report deliver a stark message: not a single country is on track to meet gender equality by 2030.

One of the most alarming findings of the report is that, at the current pace, gender equality will not be achieved globally until another century. This prediction reflects deep structural issues in the way gender equality is pursued globally, compounded by intersecting crises such as economic inequality, the rise of anti-democratic movements, and post-pandemic recovery challenges.

Between 2019 and 2022, nearly 40% of the countries included in the SDG Gender Index either stagnated or saw a decline in gender equality progress. This decline affects over one billion women and girls globally. The Index finds that 74% of the SDG targets cannot be achieved without addressing these gender gaps.