The report Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals in the Arab Region in 2026 was published by ESCWA in 2026. It assesses the Arab region’s progress across the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, showing where countries are advancing, where they are falling behind, and where data gaps remain a major barrier to policymaking and accountability.
Key insights:
SDG data availability improved from 38% in 2020 to 58% in 2025, but major gaps remain.
Poverty is rising, with 14% of the Arab population living on less than $3 per day in 2024.
Food insecurity remains high, affecting 40.2% of the population and 58.7% in conflict-affected countries.
The region records the highest unemployment rate globally, at 10.2% in 2024, with youth unemployment at 25.2%.
Women’s participation remains very low, with female labour force participation at only 18.1% in 2024.
Water stress is critical, with freshwater withdrawals reaching 114% of available resources.
Climate action is lagging, with emissions rising by 83% between 2000 and 2023 and renewable energy still only around 5% of final energy consumption.
The report concludes that faster progress requires stronger data systems, better financing, job creation, social protection, climate resilience, and stronger regional cooperation.
