Overview

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a global framework to eradicate poverty, protect the environment, and enhance well-being by 2030. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has integrated these goals into its national statistical and development systems, enabling systematic monitoring of progress and international comparability. This approach is closely aligned with Saudi Vision 2030 and is supported by collaboration among government bodies, the private sector, civil society, and academic institutions to ensure the availability and quality of sustainability data. This report covers 159 out of 248 global indicators, representing a completion rate of 64.1%, and reflects the Kingdom’s strong commitment to the 2030 Agenda. The data demonstrate notable progress in several goals, particularly health, education, infrastructure, and partnerships, while also highlighting areas that require continued focus to ensure balanced and inclusive sustainable development for present and future generations.

Recommendations

Strengthen data collection and reporting systems for timely, disaggregated, and high-quality data.
Enhance policy coherence across sectors and government levels for sustainable development.
Promote inclusive governance, increasing participation of women, youth, and persons with disabilities.
Expand fiscal and economic diversification, reducing reliance on oil revenues.
Improve social protection and access to basic services for vulnerable populations.
Strengthen environmental sustainability and resource efficiency in line with global targets.
Enhance transparency, public access to information, and accountability mechanisms.
Increase digital connectivity and adoption of technology to support innovation and inclusion.
Encourage international cooperation, FDI, and trade integration for economic growth.
Monitor and address emerging inequalities, discrimination, and social exclusion systematically.

Conclusion

As of the 2024 SDG report submission, Saudi Arabia has made notable progress across multiple SDGs, demonstrating strong economic growth, fiscal stability, inclusive governance, and social development, while ensuring legal identity, safety, and digital connectivity for its population. Continued focus on data quality, policy coherence, diversification, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion will be key to achieving remaining targets and sustaining long-term development outcomes.

Social Networks

SDGs Progress Tracker

Voluntary National Reports

Country Focal Point

General focal point:
Hajar Algosair
General Supervisor for Sustainable Development Affairs
Ministry of Economy & Planning

VNR focal Point:
Yara Sindi
General Manager for Sustainability Analytics & Policy Integration
Ministry of Economy & Planning

Location

Ministry of Economy and Planning, وزارة الإقتصاد والتخطيط - Granda Business Park, Riyadh, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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Region

No Poverty

Score 4
Justification	- Indicator 1.3.1 shows wide social protection coverage, exceeding 11.1 million beneficiaries in 2024. - Indicator 1.4.1 reflects near-universal access to basic services (water, electricity, sanitation, mobile networks). - Disaster risk indicators (1.5.x) confirm low human and economic losses. - Strong commitment shown through 100% national and local DRR strategy adoption. - Significant ODA contributions and sustained government spending on essential services.
Progress/ Solutions	- Social protection coverage remained stable and balanced by gender. - Access to electricity and clean fuels maintained at 100% nationwide. - Drinking water and sanitation coverage exceeded 99%. - Disaster-related deaths and losses remain very low relative to population and GDP. - Continued expansion of education, health, and social spending supports SDG 1 targets.
Challenges	- Data gaps for Indicator 1.3.1 beyond gender, children, and persons with disabilities. - Declining trend in children social protection coverage since 2022. - Land tenure coverage remains low (1.88% of adults in 2022). - Learning outcomes show mixed progress, especially in intermediate education. - Some indicators rely on administrative data only, limiting depth.
Unsolved Challenges	- Limited disaggregation for vulnerable groups such as the unemployed and elderly. - Perception-based land tenure security (Part B) not yet reported. - Some education indicators show declining performance. - Economic loss data extremely small, requiring careful interpretation. - Absence of time-series data for some environmental components.
Data Quality Analysis	- Data sourced from official ministries, ensuring reliability. - Clear methodologies aligned with UN SDG metadata. - Regular updates up to 2024 for most indicators. - High consistency across years for infrastructure and services data. - Main limitation: coverage gaps and limited disaggregation, not data accuracy.

Zero Hunger

Score: 4
Justification	- Child nutrition and food systems are central to food security and human capital. - Indicators align with WHO, UNICEF and FAO methodologies. - Data supports monitoring malnutrition, productivity, sustainability and food prices.
Progress/ Solutions	- Decline in stunting from 11.1% (2017) to 7% (2018) before 2020 increase. - Wasting remained low (4.1% in 2020). - Overweight in children declined to 7.5% in 2020. - Growth in plant genetic resources from 1,315 (2020) to 3,301 (2024). - Expansion of organic farming areas maintained above 23,000 ha. - Stable access to food markets despite price volatility.
Challenges	- Stunting fluctuated, rising again to 10.3% in 2020. - Anaemia among women remains high at 27.5% (2019). - Limited gender and subnational disaggregation for some indicators. - Some agricultural data are estimated (2024).
Unsolved Challenges	- Persistent anaemia among women of reproductive age. - Rising male stunting in 2020 (12.6%). - Limited data on animal genetic resources at risk. - Food price volatility remains, especially for consumers.
Data Quality Analysis	- Data sourced from official ministries (Health, General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) and Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. - Internationally standardised methods applied (World Health organisation (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). - Some gaps in timeliness and disaggregation. - Overall data reliability is moderate to high, with clear metadata.

Good Health

Score: 4
Justification	- Maternal and child health indicators reflect overall health system performance. - Disease incidence and mortality trends support SDG 3 monitoring. - High service coverage confirms health system accessibility.
Progress/ Solutions	- Skilled birth attendance consistently high (~99.6–99.8%). - Neonatal mortality remained low despite slight rise (5.2 in 2023). - Malaria nearly eliminated (0 since 2021). - Hepatitis B incidence in under-5s very low (0.116 in 2024). - Road traffic deaths declined (14.64 → 12.13). - Tobacco use reduced significantly (19.8% → 12.4%). - Vaccination coverage sustained above 96%. - Health workforce density increased across all categories. - Emergency preparedness improved (69% in 2018 → 93% in 2022).
Challenges	- Fluctuation in maternal mortality (rose to 15.9 in 2023). - Increase in under-five mortality (11.79 in 2023). - Rising NCD mortality (16% in 2022). - Gender gap in HIV infections (higher among males). - Limited recent data for some indicators (e.g. WASH, hepatitis).
Unsolved Challenges	- Rising maternal and child mortality in recent years. - NCD mortality trend requires sustained prevention efforts. - Adolescent birth rate still present (4.15 in 2024). - HIV incidence showing gradual increase. - Limited disaggregation for some indicators.
Data Quality Analysis	- Data sourced from official national institutions. - Standard WHO and UN methodologies applied. - High reliability for routinely collected indicators. - Some indicators rely on estimates or older data.

Quality Education

Score: 4
Justification	- Strong policy focus on learning outcomes, completion, equity and early childhood. - High completion rates in 2024 (primary 99.16%, secondary 96.03%). - Near-universal literacy and qualified teachers (≈100%).
Progress/ Solutions	- Improved primary reading proficiency (63.30% in 2016 to 71.07% in 2021). - Strong gains in intermediate mathematics (15.12% in 2019 to 29.98% in 2022). - Expansion of early childhood participation (~9 percentage points since 2022). - Universal access to school basic services and ICT skills rising to near 100%.
Challenges	- Low and uneven learning outcomes, especially mathematics. - Decline in intermediate reading proficiency (47.64% in 2018 to 37.40% in 2022). - Gender gaps persist, often favouring females. - Early learning participation still below full coverage (64.03% in 2024).
Unsolved Challenges	- Weak mathematics foundations at early stages. - Learning outcomes not fully aligned with high completion rates. - Limited recent data for grades 2/3 and lower secondary proficiency. Global Citizenship Education (GCED)/ Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) not fully covered across all system components.
Data Quality Analysis	- Reliable administrative and survey sources used. - Good gender disaggregation across most indicators. - Gaps in time series and learning-stage coverage. - Some indicators based on older data (e.g. 2020–2022), limiting trend analysis.

Gender Equality

Score: 4
Justification	- Strong legal and policy alignment with Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Platform for Action. - Clear improvement in legal frameworks (86% in 2022 to 94.7% in 2023). - Comprehensive coverage of SDG 5 indicators using official national sources.
Progress/ Solutions	- Legal equality frameworks significantly strengthened by 2023. - Very low prevalence of child marriage (0.4% before 15; 3.4% before 18). - Rising proportion of women in managerial positions, especially in the private sector. - Universal mobile phone ownership achieved for both genders since 2021.
Challenges	- Persistent gender gaps in unpaid care work and leadership roles. - Low female representation in local government (1.2%). - Limited autonomy indicators rely on household survey responses.
Unsolved Challenges	- Unequal distribution of unpaid childcare time between men and women. - Slow progress in women’s political participation at local levels. - Joint decision-making dominates reproductive health, limiting full autonomy.
Data Quality Analysis	- Data sourced from authoritative national institutions and ministries. - Standardised UN methodologies applied across indicators. - Regular updates (2023–2024) enhance reliability and comparability.

Water & Sanitation

Score: 4
Justification	- Access to safe drinking water and sanitation essential for health, environment, and economic productivity. - Reduces disease, supports hygiene, and enables sustainable development. - Integrated water resources management ensures long-term availability and efficiency.
Progress/ Solutions	- Safely managed drinking water coverage nearly universal: 99.75% (2023). - Basic sanitation access increased to 99.7%; handwashing facilities 98.42% (2023). - Integrated water resources management improved from 57% (2020) to 83% (2023). - Water-use efficiency tracked across sectors; governance, policies, and funding in place. - Operational policies exist for community participation in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).
Challenges	- Water stress extremely high: 2021 freshwater withdrawal 199.88% of resources. - Wastewater treatment coverage at 88.89%, leaving gaps in pollution control. - Community participation and local water management require ongoing strengthening. - Transboundary water management: only 71% of shared basins covered by operational agreements.
Unsolved Challenges	- Water stress remains critical due to high withdrawal vs. renewable resources. - Wastewater treatment not fully comprehensive; some areas untreated. - Gaps in reaching 100% of transboundary basins with operational cooperation. - Maintaining sustainability in urban and rural water provision under high demand.
Data Quality Analysis	- Data sourced from General Authority for Statistics, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, JMP, and household surveys. - Coverage mostly national; some historical gaps in 2018–2020 for certain indicators. - Calculations follow international standards (WHO/UNICEF, Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP), SDG methodology). - Time-use and operational data verified through administrative and survey reports; generally high reliability.

Clean Energy

Score: 5
Justification	- Electricity and clean fuels essential for health, development, and income-generating activities. - Facilitates education, household tasks, and economic growth. - Supports SDG 7 goal of universal access to modern energy.
Progress/ Solutions	- 100% of the population has access to electricity (2020–2024). - 100% of the population relies primarily on clean fuels and technology (2020–2024). - National energy policies ensure universal coverage and modern fuel adoption.
Challenges	- Maintaining continuous electricity supply for all areas. - Ensuring long-term reliance on clean fuels despite population growth. - Monitoring usage patterns and quality of energy technologies.
Unsolved Challenges	- Sustainability of energy infrastructure under increasing demand. - Potential rural or remote area service interruptions. - Continuous promotion of efficient and safe clean fuel technologies.
Data Quality Analysis	- Data sourced from Ministry of Energy, household surveys, (World Health Surveys WHS), Demography Surveys (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). - National-level data only; no urban-rural breakdown provided. - Methods follow international standards; high reliability with complete coverage.

Decent Work

Score: 4
Justification	- Measures economic growth, productivity, employment, and financial inclusion. - Tracks labour market health, youth employment, and tourism contribution. - Supports SDG 8 targets for sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth.
Progress/ Solutions	- GDP per capita recovering (2024: 2.8% growth). - Average hourly earnings increasing overall (2024: SAR 6,143.4), female wages higher than males in 2024 (SAR 6,403.7 vs 6,101). - Tourism GDP rising (2023: 3.823% of total GDP). - Financial inclusion expanding (2024: 47.1 million adult bank accounts). - National youth employment strategy operational, aiming to reduce unemployment to 7% by 2030.
Challenges	- Volatile GDP per capita growth (2020: -8.34%, 2023: -4.01%). - Youth unemployment remains high, especially for females (2024: 19.8%). - Occupational injuries significant in high-risk sectors (e.g., manufacturing, construction). - Ensuring gender equality in wages and employment opportunities.
Unsolved Challenges	- Fluctuating productivity per employed person; negative growth in some years. - Persistent youth unemployment and NEET rate (2024: 15.6%). - Workplace safety still a concern in mining, manufacturing, and construction. - Decline in bank branches and ATMs per 100,000 adults affecting access in some areas.
Data Quality Analysis	- Data from General Authority for Statistics, Saudi Central Bank, Ministry of Human Resources, and other official sources. - Covers national, gender, and age disaggregation. - Methods follow international standards; some preliminary data (e.g., tourism GDP 2023) should be updated for recent years. - Labour statistics and earnings based on standardised surveys; high reliability.

Industry & Infrastructure

Score: 4
Justification	- Measures infrastructure, industrialisation, innovation, and technology access. - Tracks rural accessibility, transport volumes, manufacturing, R&D, and mobile network coverage. - Supports SDG 9 targets for resilient infrastructure, inclusive industrialisation, and innovation.
Progress/ Solutions	- Manufacturing value added per capita increasing (2023: SAR 20,429). - Manufacturing employment rising (2024: 12.18% of total employment). - R&D researchers per million increased (2023: 1,093). - Mobile network coverage full for 3G and 4G (2023: 100%). - Transport volumes increasing across rail, air, land, and maritime.
Challenges	- Rural access to all-season roads not yet universal (2022: 91.77%). - Transport volumes growing rapidly, may stress infrastructure. - Manufacturing employment and small-scale industry shares fluctuating. - Medium and high-tech industry share declining (2022: 26.17%). - R&D spending low (2023: 0.49% of GDP), researcher density still modest.
Unsolved Challenges	- Small-scale industry contribution variable, dipped in 2022 (7.45%). - High-tech industry shares below 30%, limiting technological advancement. - Freight and passenger transport growth may exceed capacity. - Some rural areas still lack full road access.
Data Quality Analysis	- Data from General Authority for Statistics, Transport, Communications and other official bodies. - National-level, with geospatial and sectoral disaggregation. - Indicators follow international standards International Standard Industrial Classification (ISIC) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). - Some data preliminary or updated annually (e.g., GDP and transport). - High reliability for mobile coverage and R&D data.

Inequality

Score: 3
Justification	- Measures equality, social protection, financial inclusion, and international support. - Tracks discrimination, labour share, financial soundness, tariffs, development flows, and remittance costs. - Supports SDG 10 targets for reducing inequalities within and among countries.
Progress/ Solutions	- Non-performing loans decreasing (2024: 1.2%), Return on Assets (ROA) stable (2.2%). - Capital adequacy ratios largely stable (2024: 19.6% to 18.3%). - Total outward development resource flows increasing (2023: SAR 65bn). - Remittance flows to resident labour rising (2024: SAR 171bn).
Challenges	- Very low reported discrimination, but likely underreported (2024: 14 people). - Labour share of GDP declining (2024: 34.4%). - Tariff-free imports from developing countries decreasing (2022: 13%). - Remittance costs remain significant; outward flows growing. - Financial soundness indicators show declining liquidity and volatility in foreign currency positions.
Unsolved Challenges	- Labour share of GDP highly variable; dropped from 44.3% in 2022 to 34.4% in 2024. - Discrimination data very low, may not reflect reality. - Tariff-free imports for Least developed countries (LDCs) still low. - Some financial indicators, e.g., liquid assets to short-term liabilities, declining (2024: 36.5%).
Data Quality Analysis	- Data from Human Rights Commission, General Authority for Statistics, Saudi Central Bank, Zakat & Tax Authority. - National-level, uses official records, surveys, and mystery shopping for remittances. - Indicators follow international methodologies international human rights law (IHRL), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Trade Organisation (WTO). - Some data prone to underreporting (discrimination) or annual revision (Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and tariffs. - Reliable for financial and remittance flows; limited sample for personal experiences.

Sustainable Cities

Score: 4
Justification	- Tracks urbanisation, land use, civil participation, heritage, disaster resilience, air quality, and public spaces. - Supports planning for sustainable cities, hazard reduction, and inclusive urban governance. - Helps monitor resource allocation for cultural and natural heritage.
Progress/ Solutions	- Built-up area per capita increasing (e.g., Riyadh 226.61 m² in 2023). - All 13 regions implementing national and local Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) strategies. - Heritage expenditure per capita recorded (2024: SAR 40,998,900). - Particulate Matter (PM)2.5 and PM10 levels declining nationally (2024 avg: 25 µg/m³ and 66 µg/m³). - Public open spaces and streets share in urban areas improving.
Challenges	- Land consumption often exceeds population growth in major cities (e.g., Riyadh land consumption rate to population growth rate (LCRPGR) >2). - Participation of civil society limited in some planning stages. - Open public spaces limited; access within 400m low (average 31%). - Air pollution remains high in some regions (PM10 Riyadh 74.61 µg/m³, PM2.5 23.38 µg/m³). - Disaster economic losses rising (2022: 0.000000903% GDP).
Unsolved Challenges	- Rapid urban land expansion in Makkah, Jeddah, Madinah. - Some cities lack regular, democratic civil society participation. - Disaster impacts remain; deaths/missing persons increasing (2022: 1.34 per 100,000). - Limited access to open spaces for residents in Riyadh, Makkah, Jeddah.
Data Quality Analysis	- Data from Ministries of Municipalities, Finance, Interior, Environment. - Uses satellite imagery, censuses, surveys, Likert-scale expert assessments, spatial analysis. - National and provincial coverage; city-level data for open space, land use, participation. - Some gaps in urban population grids and minor missing built-up area data. - Reliable for DRR, air quality, heritage expenditure; land consumption ratios need careful interpretation.

Responsible Consumption

Score: 3
Justification	- Measures food loss (production to retail) and food waste (retail and consumption). - Reduces food insecurity and environmental impact. - Covers cereals, fruits/vegetables, roots, animal products, fish.
Progress/ Solutions	- Baseline study for Saudi Arabia done (2019). - Loss estimates: wheat 5%, rice 3%, fruits/vegetables up to 32%. - Waste estimates: rice 31%, wheat 25%, camel meat 20%. - Targeted interventions can reduce high-loss commodities. - Ministry of Food Security collects data for monitoring.
Challenges	- Limited data availability. - Variations by commodity, region, and supply chain stage. - Food waste measurement at retail/consumer stage still under development. - Identification of critical loss points is complex.
Unsolved Challenges	- Retail/consumer waste data incomplete. - Need for continuous monitoring across all supply chain stages. - Regional and commodity-level variability complicates interventions. - Harmonised methodology for food waste index not fully established.
Data Quality Analysis	- Percentage-based measurement; reliable for production stage. - Weighted by production value at international prices. - Limited historical data; 2019 baseline used. - Ongoing efforts needed to improve accuracy and expand coverage.

Climate Action

Score: 3
Justification	- Tracks deaths, missing persons, and affected by disasters per 100,000. - Monitors adoption of national and local disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies. - Measures implementation of nationally determined contributions (NDCs), adaptation plans, and climate actions. - Supports Sendai Framework and Paris Agreement commitments.
Progress/ Solutions	- All 13 provinces adopted national DRR strategies and local plans (100%). - Kingdom submits NDCs, long-term strategies, adaptation communications to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). - Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) implements renewable energy and Reverse Osmosis (RO) desalination, supporting Saudi Green Initiative (5 million trees by 2030). - GCED and ESD mainstreamed in education policy (0.75) and student assessment (1.00).
Challenges	- Disaster impacts rising: 2022 total affected 1.34 per 100,000. - Gender disparity: male 1.06, female 0.28 (2022). - Coordination across national and local levels complex. - Climate adaptation requires long-term planning and reporting.
Unsolved Challenges	- Disaster risk reduction integration varies in implementation at local level. - Data gaps for affected persons by disaster type and severity. - Continuous monitoring of NDCs and adaptation measures needed. - Full integration of climate education into curricula and teacher training incomplete.
Data Quality Analysis	- National and gender disaggregation available. - Disaster data from Ministry of Interior; NDC and DRR data from relevant ministries. - Units: per 100,000 population, proportion (0–1), number of strategies/communications. - Historical data limited; latest updates 2022–2024. - Reliant on government reporting; verification and coverage vary by indicator.

Life Below Water

Score: 3
Justification	- Protects marine biodiversity and ensures sustainable fisheries. - Supports livelihoods, food security, and coastal ecosystem health. - Reduces illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing impacts. - Promotes small-scale fisheries rights and contribution to GDP.
Progress/ Solutions	- Marine protected areas increased from 12,216 km² (2020) to 14,382.69 km² (2024). - National strategies recognising and protecting small-scale fisheries rights applied. - Use of sustainability multipliers to assess fisheries’ contribution to GDP.
Challenges	- Low coverage of protected marine areas (6.49% in 2024). - Partial implementation of international instruments to combat IUU fishing. - Small contribution of fisheries to GDP (0.08%). - Need for stronger legal, policy, and institutional support for small-scale fisheries.
Unsolved Challenges	- Coverage of protected areas remains below global targets. - Some international instruments for IUU fishing not fully applied. - Limited economic contribution from sustainable marine fisheries. - Continuous need for institutional mechanisms to support small-scale fisheries.
Data Quality Analysis	- Data sourced from Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. - National level, using official area records and fishery production statistics. - Indicator calculation methods well-defined but limited by national reporting. - Data updated to 2024; includes spatial (km²) and percentage coverage, scores, and GDP values.

Life on Land

Score: 3
Justification	- Forests and biodiversity crucial for ecosystem services and climate regulation. - Protection of terrestrial and freshwater sites supports species survival. - Preventing invasive alien species preserves ecological balance.
Progress/ Solutions	- Mountain’s biodiversity coverage improved from 25% to 38%. - 163,546.44 ha under verified forest management certification (2023). - Legal and institutional frameworks exist for Invasive Alien Species (IAS) management; high NGO involvement. - Protected area coverage stable at 21%.
Challenges	- Low forest coverage: only 1.38% of land area. - Freshwater biodiversity protection declined from 25% to 16% (2023–2024). - Land degradation at 27.8% of total land area. - Partial implementation of invasive species strategies.
Unsolved Challenges	- Freshwater biodiversity coverage declining. - Full implementation of IAS action plans not achieved. - Limited data for forest census; gaps in temporal monitoring. - Some protected areas missing designation years (~12%).
Data Quality Analysis	- Most data from Ministry of Environment, Water & Agriculture and Saudi Wildlife Authority. - Methods rely on satellite/ geographic information systems (GIS), (FAO) forest management reports, and national surveys. - Some indicators partial or approximate (IAS budget, exact forest census). - Red List data exclude taxonomic revisions and data-deficient species.

Peace & Justice

Score: 3
Justification	- Tracks intentional homicide per 100,000 population to measure public safety. - Indicator captures people’s perception of safety after dark. - Indicators 16.6.1 and 16.7.1 assess government expenditure efficiency and representation in public institutions. - 16.9.1 monitors civil registration of children. - 16.10.2, 16.a.1 and 16.b.1 measure access to information, human rights institutions, and discrimination.
Progress/ Solutions	- Homicide rates remain low and relatively stable. - High perception of safety overall (92.6%), increasing with age. - Government expenditure aligned with approved budgets; major sectors funded adequately. - Birth registration nearly universal (99.9%). - National human rights institution exists and is compliant with Paris Principles. - Public access to information shows strong adoption and partial implementation (score 8.2/9).
Challenges	- Low homicide numbers make trend analysis sensitive to small changes (0.59–0.81 per 100,000). - Public perception varies by age and gender; females feel less safe (87.6%) than males (95.2%). - Full coverage of public sector representation is complex due to age, gender, disability considerations. - IAS implementation and budget allocation may be partial or unclear. - Reporting discrimination relies on self-reports, potentially underestimating cases.
Unsolved Challenges	- Female and youth perception of safety still lower than male and older population. - Partial implementation of national policies for invasive species and information access. - Discrimination reporting is very low; may reflect underreporting. - Legislative representation gaps persist in some demographic groups.
Data Quality Analysis	- Data sourced from Ministries of Interior, Finance, Human Resources, and Statistics; generally reliable. - Some indicators rely on surveys and self-reporting (safety, discrimination), which may be biased. - Birth registration and expenditure data are robust. - Small numbers in homicide and discrimination indicators can exaggerate year-to-year variation. - Coverage gaps exist in sub-populations for public sector and human rights data.

Partnerships

Score: 5
Justification	- Government revenues and domestic tax funding are tracked to ensure fiscal sustainability. - Financial resources mobilised for development, including foreign direct investment and remittances, are monitored. - Debt service is assessed relative to exports to gauge external obligations. - Adoption of investment promotion regimes is tracked to support economic growth. - Connectivity, trade, macroeconomic stability, policy coherence, and statistical capacity are measured to strengthen overall development planning.
Progress/ Solutions	- Non-oil revenues steadily increased (369→502 SAR bn). - Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) growing (570,720→977,363 SAR mn). - Broadband subscriptions ≥10 MB/s rising (16.63→42.8 per 100). - Internet usage saturated (100% male/female 15–74). - Weighted global tariffs stable at 3.5%; developing countries face 3.5% average. - Policy coherence mechanisms established nationally; investment promotion regimes adopted.
Challenges	- Revenue and tax collection vary across sectors; income taxes fluctuate (18–39 SAR bn). - Remittance flows volatile; % of GDP declined 2020–2023 (4.5%→3.17%). - Debt service rising as % of exports (1.04%→3.3%). - Broadband adoption uneven by speed tier; slower subscriptions decreasing. - Global trade share of developing countries fluctuates; tariffs remain low but non-zero. - Data gaps exist for policy coherence and investment promotion implementation.
Unsolved Challenges	- Income tax revenues fluctuate; domestic tax funding needs strengthening. - Remittances sensitive to external shocks; GDP proportion unstable. - Debt service increasing faster than export growth. - Slower broadband tiers still underdeveloped. - Limited public data on actual implementation of investment promotion regimes. - Policy coherence and macroeconomic vulnerabilities persist.
Data Quality Analysis	- Sources: Ministry of Finance, Saudi Central Bank, General Authority for Statistics, Zakat, Tax & Custom Authority, Communications Commission. - Most data national and sectoral; currency values in SAR. - Some indicators rely on IMF/World Bank estimations (FDI, remittances, GDP). - Trade and tariff data robust; broadband and Internet use from official surveys. - Policy coherence and investment regime data partially qualitative, affecting comparability. - Overall high reliability, with minor gaps in implementation detail and time lags.

SDGs World Progress: Achieved

SDG17
SDG7

SDGs World Progress: On-Track

SDGs World Progress: Moderately Off-Track

Country Challenges

Data gaps and inconsistencies across indicators, especially for experimental or emerging metrics (e.g., private finance mobilisation, policy coherence).
Limited disaggregation for certain indicators, restricting detailed analysis by region or sub-population.
Reliance on estimates or gap-filling for some indicators (e.g., remittances, GDP, Internet usage), affecting precision.
Slow updates or outdated data for some SDGs (e.g., tariffs 2022, broadband 2023, trade indicators 2024).
Challenges in measuring qualitative indicators (policy coherence, investment regimes, human rights compliance) due to lack of standardised global metrics.
Limited real-time tracking of progress in social indicators, e.g., discrimination, perceived safety, and public access to information.
Variability in definitions and methodologies across SDGs may hinder comparability with other countries.
Ensuring accurate reporting of private sector contributions (FDI, private grants) remains difficult.
Monitoring vulnerable groups (women, youth, persons with disabilities) is uneven across SDGs.
Integration of macroeconomic indicators with social and environmental SDGs is limited, reducing holistic policy assessment.
Some fiscal and budgetary indicators show complexity in calculating domestic financing proportions and sectoral expenditures.
Challenges in capturing informal economic activities and social practices in official statistics.
Seasonal, cultural, and regional variations affect perception-based indicators (safety, Internet usage, access to services).
Risk of overreliance on aggregated national data, which may mask regional disparities and inequalities.
Limited longitudinal data for trend analysis in certain SDGs, affecting policy evaluation and forecasting.
Technical limitations in measuring environmental and trade-related SDGs (weighted tariffs, global export shares, remittances).

World Challenges

Country Lessons Learned

Strong institutional coordination improves data collection and reporting.
Combining multiple data sources ensures more comprehensive monitoring.
Regular updates and standardised methodologies enhance comparability.
Disaggregated data by gender, age, and region aids targeted policy making.
Integrating fiscal, social, and economic indicators supports holistic planning.
Transparency in public access to information strengthens accountability.
Experimental indicators (e.g., private finance mobilisation) provide early policy insights.
Focus on vulnerable groups improves inclusivity and equity in development.
Leveraging technology (Internet, broadband, digital tools) enhances statistical capacity.
Clear definitions and adherence to international standards improve reliability.

World Lessons Learned

Country Contribution

Non-oil government revenues: Increased from SAR 369B (2020) → SAR 502B (2024), supporting fiscal sustainability.
Foreign direct investment (FDI): Grew from SAR 570.7B (2020) → SAR 977.4B (2024), enhancing economic diversification.
Personal remittances: Total inflows SAR 129.7B (2020) → SAR 174.6B (2024); share of GDP 4.5% → 3.8%, reflecting stable household financial flows.
Public debt service: Low as % of exports, 2.11% (2020) → 3.3% (2024), indicating manageable external obligations.
Birth registration (under five): Nearly universal at 99.9% (2024), ensuring legal identity coverage.
Population feeling safe walking alone after dark (2023): Overall 92.6%, males 95.2%, females 87.6%.
Public sector employment (2024): Total 1,191,736, including 20,415 persons with disabilities, promoting inclusive governance.
Public access to information: Framework adoption scored 8.2/9 (2024), demonstrating transparency.
Fixed broadband subscriptions (>10 MB): Increased from 16.6 per 100 (2019) → 42.8 per 100 (2023), enhancing digital connectivity.
Weighted average tariffs: Remained low at 3.5% (2022), supporting trade openness.
Developing countries’ share of global exports: 53.3% (2020) → 52.9% (2024), showing strong global trade integration.
Human rights and policy coherence: Independent national institutions and mechanisms in place (2024), ensuring compliance with international standards.

Saudi Arabia