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The disparities and development trajectories of nations in achieving the sustainable development goals

Author

Listed:
  • Fengmei Ma

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Corvinus University of Budapest
    Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO))

  • Heming Wang

    (Corvinus University of Budapest
    Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
    Northeastern University)

  • Asaf Tzachor

    (Reichman University (IDC Herzliya)
    University of Cambridge)

  • César A. Hidalgo

    (Corvinus University of Budapest
    Toulouse School of Economics & Université de Toulouse Capitole
    University of Manchester)

  • Heinz Schandl

    (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
    Nagoya University)

  • Yue Zhang

    (Northeastern University)

  • Jingling Zhang

    (les Politiques et les Systèmes Sociaux; Institut d’Études Politiques [IEP])

  • Wei-Qiang Chen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yanzhi Zhao

    (Shenyang University)

  • Yong-Guan Zhu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Bojie Fu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a comprehensive framework for societal progress and planetary health. However, it remains unclear whether universal patterns exist in how nations pursue these goals and whether key development areas are being overlooked. Here, we apply the product space methodology, widely used in development economics, to construct an ‘SDG space of nations’. The SDG space models the relative performance and specialization patterns of 166 countries across 96 SDG indicators from 2000 to 2022. Our SDG space reveals a polarized global landscape, characterized by distinct groups of nations, each specializing in specific development indicators. Furthermore, we find that as countries improve their overall SDG scores, they tend to modify their sustainable development trajectories, pursuing different development objectives. Additionally, we identify orphaned SDG indicators — areas where certain country groups remain under-specialized. These patterns, and the SDG space more broadly, provide a high-resolution tool to understand and evaluate the progress and disparities of countries towards achieving the SDGs.

Suggested Citation

  • Fengmei Ma & Heming Wang & Asaf Tzachor & César A. Hidalgo & Heinz Schandl & Yue Zhang & Jingling Zhang & Wei-Qiang Chen & Yanzhi Zhao & Yong-Guan Zhu & Bojie Fu, 2025. "The disparities and development trajectories of nations in achieving the sustainable development goals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56076-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56076-6
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