Overview

The 2022 Voluntary National Review (VNR) of the Kingdom of the Netherlands presents the country’s progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) both within the European Netherlands and the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom, including Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten. Since adopting the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda in 2015, the Netherlands has integrated the SDGs into national and international policies, while strengthening cooperation with the European Union, civil society, private sector and international organisations. The VNR highlights significant progress in areas such as climate action, digitalisation, sustainable tourism and institutional cooperation, while also recognising major challenges linked to climate change, biodiversity loss, inequality, poverty and the socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The report emphasises the importance of integrated policies, partnerships and resilience-building to ensure sustainable and inclusive development for all parts of the Kingdom.

Recommendations

Strengthen long-term investment in climate adaptation, coastal protection and disaster risk reduction, particularly for vulnerable island communities.
Expand economic diversification beyond tourism through innovation, digitalisation, agriculture and sustainable industries.
Improve social protection systems, poverty reduction measures and equal opportunities for vulnerable populations, including women, migrants and young people.
Increase investment in education, lifelong learning and advanced digital skills to strengthen resilience and future labour markets.
Strengthen institutional capacity, governance systems and implementation mechanisms for SDGs across all parts of the Kingdom.
Enhance regional and international cooperation to improve access to finance, technology transfer and capacity building for small island developing states.
Promote circular economy practices, sustainable tourism and biodiversity conservation to ensure environmentally sustainable growth.

Conclusion

The Kingdom of the Netherlands has demonstrated strong commitment towards the implementation of the SDGs through climate policies, sustainable tourism initiatives, disaster preparedness strategies, digital transformation and international partnerships. Important measures such as the strengthened Climate Act target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, the establishment of resilience and sustainability programmes across the Caribbean islands, and the expansion of circular economy and biodiversity initiatives reflect positive progress. However, considerable challenges remain, particularly for the Caribbean countries, which continue to face vulnerabilities related to climate change, tourism dependence, poverty, inequality, limited institutional capacity and restricted access to development financing. The VNR concludes that achieving the SDGs by 2030 will require stronger partnerships, long-term investments in resilience and governance, enhanced social inclusion, and integrated approaches that balance economic, environmental and social priorities across the entire Kingdom.

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SDGs Progress Tracker

Voluntary National Reports

Country Focal Point

Ms Sandra Pellegrom
Focal Point Sustainable Development Goals
Multilateral Affairs Department
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Hague

Location

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Hague, Netherlands

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Region

No Poverty

Score: 3
Justification	Spain identified poverty and inequality as a structural challenge under “Country Challenge 1” in the 2024 VNR. In 2023, 26.5% of the population remained at risk of poverty or social exclusion (AROPE), while child poverty reached 34.5%.
Challenges	Severe inequalities persist among vulnerable groups. In 2023, the AROPE rate was 57% for non-EU foreign populations and 52.7% for single-parent households with dependent children. In 2021, 98% of the Roma population in Spain was at risk of poverty. Rising housing and energy costs also increased material deprivation.
Progress/ Solution	Spain reduced the overall AROPE rate from 28.7% in 2015 to 26.5% in 2023. The Gini coefficient declined from 34.6 in 2015 to 31.5 in 2023, showing lower income inequality. Spain also strengthened social protection through the Minimum Vital Income (Ingreso Mínimo Vital), anti-poverty strategies, and housing reforms under Law 12/2023 on the right to housing.
Unsolved Challenges	Child poverty worsened from 34% in 2015 to 34.5% in 2023. Housing affordability remains critical, with rental prices increasing by 25.2% between 2015 and 2022, while public social housing represented only 2.5% of households.

Zero Hunger

Score: 3
Justification	Spain linked SDG 2 with sustainable agriculture, rural revitalisation, and food system resilience within its Sustainable Development Strategy 2030. The VNR highlights the importance of transforming production systems and supporting rural populations.
Challenges	Rural depopulation, ageing populations, and unequal access to public services continue to affect food security and sustainable agricultural development. Climate change and water stress also threaten agricultural productivity and ecosystems.
Progress/ Solution	Spain advanced ecological transition policies, circular economy measures, and sustainable agricultural reforms aligned with the European Green Deal and Agenda 2030. The country also promoted rural revitalisation policies and sustainable food production systems.
Unsolved Challenges	Persistent demographic decline in rural areas, environmental pressures, and climate-related risks continue to challenge long-term food sustainability and agricultural resilience.

Good Health

Score: 3
Justification	Spain prioritised strengthening public health services, mental health care, and social protection under “Country Challenge 6”. The VNR recognised health and well-being as central to rebuilding social cohesion after COVID-19.
Challenges	Mental health pressures increased after the pandemic, while regional inequalities in healthcare access and demographic ageing continue to strain public services. The VNR also notes persistent care-related challenges and pressure on welfare systems.
Progress/ Solution	Spain reinforced healthcare and mental health policies, expanded welfare protections, and implemented measures to strengthen long-term care systems. The VNR highlights Spain’s recovery strategy after COVID-19, which focused on social protection rather than austerity.
Unsolved Challenges	The country still faces major challenges linked to mental health, ageing, care provision, and ensuring equal access to quality public healthcare across all territories.

Quality Education

Score: 3
Justification	Spain recognised education as a core welfare priority and integrated inclusive, equitable, and quality education into the Sustainable Development Strategy 2030.
Challenges	Educational inequalities remain linked to poverty, disability, territorial disparities, and socio-economic background. Child poverty and intergenerational inequality continue to affect educational outcomes.
Progress/ Solution	Spain implemented policies to guarantee inclusive and quality education, strengthen vocational training, and improve professional development opportunities. The VNR also highlights investment in education and digital transformation of public services.
Unsolved Challenges	Spain still faces persistent inequalities in educational access and outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged children, rural populations, and vulnerable social groups. Greater long-term investment in inclusive education remains necessary.

Gender Equality

Score: 3
Justification	Spain identified gender inequality and discrimination as “Country Challenge 3” within its Sustainable Development Strategy 2030. The VNR highlights persistent gender gaps in income, labour participation, care responsibilities, and gender-based violence.
Challenges	Women continued to face higher poverty risks than men in 2023, with the female AROPE rate at 27.5% compared with 25.5% for men. Women also experienced higher housing cost burdens, with housing overexposure 0.8 percentage points above men in 2022. Gender violence and discrimination remained structural concerns.
Progress/ Solution	Spain strengthened equality policies, gender violence legislation, and anti-discrimination measures under Axis 4 of the Sustainable Development Strategy. Income inequality declined for both sexes between 2015 and 2023, with the Gini index falling from 34.3 to 31.7 for women and from 34.9 to 31.4 for men.
Unsolved Challenges	Gender inequalities persist in unpaid care work, labour precarity, income distribution, and exposure to poverty. The VNR also identifies the continuing crisis of care and violence against women as unresolved issues.

Water & Sanitation

Score: 4
Justification	Spain addressed SDG 6 within its environmental and climate transition agenda, emphasising sustainable resource management and adaptation to climate change.
Challenges	Climate change, drought risks, and environmental degradation continue to pressure water resources and ecosystems. Spain acknowledged growing ecological stress linked to rising temperatures and unsustainable resource consumption.
Progress/ Solution	Spain advanced climate adaptation strategies, ecological transition policies, and circular economy measures aimed at sustainable environmental management. The VNR highlights integrated climate frameworks and sustainable urban planning initiatives.
Unsolved Challenges	Long-term water sustainability remains vulnerable to climate change, ecosystem degradation, and increasing environmental pressures affecting agriculture, biodiversity, and public services.

Clean Energy

Score: 4
Justification	Spain prioritised energy transition under “Country Challenge 2”, focusing on renewable energy expansion and decarbonisation aligned with the Paris Agreement and climate neutrality targets for 2050.
Challenges	Energy inflation linked to the war in Ukraine increased material deprivation and energy poverty. In 2021, 14.3% of the population experienced inadequate indoor temperatures, while 9.5% reported delays in paying utility bills.
Progress/ Solution	Spain achieved significant progress in renewable energy and emissions reduction. According to the VNR, 59.5% of the national electricity mix came from renewable sources in April 2024. Emissions covered by the EU Emissions Trading System fell by 56% between 2005 and 2022, reaching 81.1 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2022.
Unsolved Challenges	Energy poverty, unequal energy access, and dependence on external market shocks remain major concerns despite renewable energy expansion.

Decent Work

Score: 3
Justification	Spain identified labour precarity and weaknesses in the economic model as “Country Challenges 4 and 5”. The VNR emphasised the need for quality employment, fair wages, and sustainable economic transformation.
Challenges	Spain continued to face structural unemployment, labour instability, and economic dependency on vulnerable sectors. Young people, women, and low-income workers remained particularly exposed to precarious employment.
Progress/ Solution	Spain implemented labour reforms to improve employment quality and stability. The VNR states that Spain recovered pre-pandemic GDP levels within two and a half years after the COVID-19 crisis. Policies also strengthened vocational training, labour rights, and fair wages.
Unsolved Challenges	Persistent labour precarity, regional inequalities, and demographic pressures continue to affect long-term inclusive growth and employment stability.

Industry & Infrastructure

Score: 3
Justification	Spain identified weaknesses in its productive structure under “Country Challenge 4”, highlighting excessive economic concentration and dependency. The VNR emphasised sustainable industrial transformation, digitalisation, and innovation as priorities.
Challenges	Spain continued to face structural dependence on low-productivity sectors and unequal industrial development. The VNR also noted the need to accelerate ecological and digital transformation across the productive system.
Progress/ Solution	Spain advanced sustainable industrial and digital transformation policies under Axis 2. The VNR highlights investment in ecological transition, digital innovation, and sustainable mobility infrastructure. Spain also reported a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 11.7% between 2015 and 2022.
Unsolved Challenges	Persistent productivity gaps, regional inequalities, and dependence on vulnerable economic sectors continue to affect industrial resilience and sustainable innovation capacity.

Inequality

Score: 3
Justification	Reducing poverty and inequality forms the core of “Country Challenge 1” in Spain’s Sustainable Development Strategy 2030. The VNR highlights inequality as a structural issue affecting social cohesion and equal opportunities.
Challenges	Strong inequalities persist among migrants, children, Roma communities, persons with disabilities, and single-parent households. In 2023, the AROPE rate reached 57% for non-EU foreigners and 52.7% for single-parent households with children. In 2021, 98% of the Roma population in Spain was at risk of poverty.
Progress/ Solution	Spain reduced income inequality between 2015 and 2023. The Gini coefficient declined from 34.6 to 31.5, while the S80/S20 income ratio fell from 6.9 to 5.5. Social protection measures, including the Minimum Vital Income, contributed to reducing inequality.
Unsolved Challenges	Child poverty remained extremely high at 34.5% in 2023, while inequality linked to origin, disability, gender, and housing access persists. The VNR stresses the need for stronger structural reforms and public investment.

Sustainable Cities

Score: 3
Justification	Spain prioritised sustainable urban planning, housing rights, and territorial cohesion under its Sustainable Development Strategy 2030 and the Spanish Urban Agenda.
Challenges	Housing affordability has become a major social challenge. Between 2015 and 2022, rental prices increased by 25.2%, while 30.6% of market-rent households in 2023 spent over 40% of their income on housing costs. Public social housing covered only 2.5% of households.
Progress/ Solution	Spain introduced Law 12/2023 on the right to housing and declared the first stressed residential market zones in March 2024. Housing cost overexposure for the total population declined from 10.3% in 2015 to 8.2% in 2023.
Unsolved Challenges	Young people and low-income households continue to face severe barriers to accessing affordable housing. In 2023, 48.7% of people aged 16–29 lived in market rental housing, compared with 25.5% in 2006.

Responsible Consumption

Score: 3
Justification	Spain integrated SDG 12 into its ecological transition strategy, promoting sustainable production, circular economy policies, and responsible resource use.
Challenges	Unsustainable consumption patterns, material use, biodiversity pressures, and environmental degradation continue to threaten sustainable development. Climate-related pressures also affect production systems.
Progress/ Solution	Spain implemented circular economy initiatives, sustainable mobility measures, and ecological transition frameworks. The VNR reported an 11.7% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 2015 and 2022 and a renewable electricity share of 59.5% in April 2024.
Unsolved Challenges	Spain acknowledged that stronger structural changes are still required to reduce environmental pressures, improve sustainable resource management, and fully transition to sustainable production and consumption systems.

Climate Action

Score: 4
Justification	Spain identified the climate emergency as “Country Challenge 2”, focusing on a fair ecological transition towards climate neutrality by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement and Agenda 2030.
Challenges	Spain continues to face increasing climate risks, including rising temperatures, biodiversity loss, droughts, and environmental degradation. The VNR notes that climate change is occurring at an unprecedented speed due to greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities.
Progress/ Solution	Spain reduced emissions covered by the EU Emissions Trading System by 56% between 2005 and 2022, reaching 81.1 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in 2022. The VNR also reports that Spain achieved an 11.7% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 2015 and 2022 and that renewable sources represented 59.5% of electricity generation in April 2024.
Unsolved Challenges	Spain acknowledged that stronger structural transformation is still required to fully decarbonise the economy, adapt to climate impacts, and ensure a socially just ecological transition.

Life Below Water

Score: 3
Justification	Spain incorporated marine protection and sustainable use of marine ecosystems into its ecological transition policies under “Country Challenge 2”.
Challenges	Marine ecosystems continue to face pressure from climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and unsustainable resource use. Spain recognised the growing environmental risks affecting oceans and coastal ecosystems.
Progress/ Solution	Spain advanced biodiversity conservation, sustainable environmental governance, and ecological transition measures aligned with European and international climate commitments. Marine protection actions were integrated into broader sustainability and climate frameworks.
Unsolved Challenges	The VNR highlights the need for stronger ecosystem protection and more sustainable management of marine resources to address long-term environmental pressures and biodiversity decline.

Life on Land

Score: 3
Justification	Spain recognised biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection as essential elements of its ecological transition and sustainable development agenda.
Challenges	Spain faces continued land degradation, biodiversity loss, desertification risks, and ecosystem pressures linked to climate change and unsustainable resource use. Rural depopulation also affects sustainable land management.
Progress/ Solution	Spain strengthened climate adaptation policies, circular economy measures, and environmental governance frameworks to support ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation. The VNR also highlights integrated approaches to sustainable territorial development.
Unsolved Challenges	Environmental degradation and biodiversity loss remain major concerns. Spain acknowledged that stronger and faster action is necessary to protect ecosystems and ensure sustainable land use in the long term.

Peace & Justice

Score: 3
Justification	Spain identified democratic strengthening, social cohesion, and institutional trust as central priorities within its Sustainable Development Strategy 2030. The VNR highlights the importance of human rights, transparency, participation, and effective public institutions for sustainable development.
Challenges	Spain acknowledged increasing political polarisation, disinformation, hate speech, and declining public trust in institutions as significant democratic challenges. The VNR also highlights persistent inequalities affecting access to rights and justice for vulnerable groups.
Progress/ Solution	Spain strengthened governance frameworks linked to Agenda 2030 implementation through institutional coordination, participatory mechanisms, and multi-level governance. The VNR highlights the role of the Sustainable Development Strategy 2030 and improved policy coherence across ministries and territories.
Unsolved Challenges	The VNR stresses that stronger institutional trust, democratic resilience, social dialogue, and protection against discrimination and hate speech are still required to ensure inclusive governance and equal rights.

Partnerships

Score: 4
Justification	Spain recognised SDG 17 as essential for implementing the 2030 Agenda through international cooperation, policy coherence, multi-stakeholder partnerships, and financing for sustainable development.
Challenges	Global crises, including COVID-19, geopolitical instability, inflation, and the war in Ukraine, created major pressures on international cooperation, public finances, and sustainable development progress.
Progress/ Solution	Spain strengthened partnerships between government institutions, civil society, academia, local authorities, and the private sector to support SDG implementation. The VNR highlights Spain’s commitment to multilateralism, the European Union framework, and international development cooperation.
Unsolved Challenges	Spain acknowledged that stronger global cooperation, financing mechanisms, and coordinated international action remain necessary to accelerate progress towards the SDGs and address interconnected global crises.

SDGs World Progress: On-Track

SDGs World Progress: Moderately Off-Track

Country Challenges

Climate change remains one of the greatest threats to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, particularly for the Caribbean islands that are highly vulnerable to hurricanes, sea-level rise, droughts and coastal erosion.
In September 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria caused an estimated US$2.7 billion in damage in Sint Maarten, severely affecting infrastructure, livelihoods and economic recovery.
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed structural vulnerabilities in Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten, especially due to their heavy economic dependence on tourism and imports.
Aruba experienced a 68% decline in tourist arrivals in 2020, while GDP declined by an estimated 23% compared with 2019. Many Caribbean Island economies contracted by at least 10% in 2020.
Poverty and inequality remained serious concerns. In Aruba, 8.3% of the population lived below the international poverty line of US$21.70 per day in 2019. In Curaçao, 25.1% of households lived below the poverty line in 2011, while at least 36% of households were financially fragile in 2018.
Small island geography, limited institutional capacity and insufficient public funding restricted implementation of SDGs and climate adaptation initiatives.
Biodiversity loss, environmental degradation and uncontrolled coastal development continued to threaten marine and terrestrial ecosystems across the Caribbean islands.

Country Lessons Learned

Integrated approaches linking climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, economic resilience and social inclusion are essential for sustainable development.
Small island states can strengthen resilience through regional cooperation, South-South cooperation and partnerships with international organisations.
Sustainable tourism can support economic growth while simultaneously promoting biodiversity conservation, circularity and climate action when supported by coherent policies.
Digitalisation can improve public services, economic diversification and governance efficiency even in countries with limited resources.
Disaster preparedness systems should include early warning mechanisms, institutional coordination and disaster financing strategies to improve resilience to future crises.
Inclusive policymaking through national dialogues, stakeholder participation and youth engagement strengthens implementation of the SDGs and promotes social cohesion.
Climate adaptation and environmental protection should be integrated into economic planning and infrastructure development, particularly in coastal and tourism-dependent economies.

Country Contribution

The Netherlands strengthened its Climate Act target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030, with an ambition of around 60% reduction by 2030.
Aruba launched the Destination Development Plan in 2017 to promote innovative and sustainable tourism for the benefit of society.
Aruba expanded its national park, which covers almost 18% of the island, and established Aruba Parke Marino as the island’s first Marine Protected Area.
Aruba’s Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort became the Caribbean’s first carbon-neutral certified hotel and received the UN Global Climate Action Award in 2020 under the Climate Neutral Now category.
Since April 2020, the Netherlands has provided liquidity support to Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten to reduce the socioeconomic impacts of COVID-19 and strengthen public finances and economic resilience.
Curaçao adopted the National Ordinance on Disaster Management on 1 October 2021 to improve disaster prevention, risk management and crisis preparedness.
Aruba, UNDP and the Kingdom of the Netherlands established a Centre of Excellence for the Sustainable Development of SIDS in Aruba to support innovation and resilience in small island developing states.
The six Caribbean islands participated in the EU-funded RESEMBID programme launched on 1 January 2019 for a duration of 58 months to strengthen resilience, sustainable energy and marine biodiversity.
Aruba introduced an innovation and digital transformation strategy in 2018, followed by the eGovernment Road Map 2020–2025 and Digital ID strategy.

Spain