Uzbekistan climbs 19 positions to rank 62nd in global Sustainable Development Index

Uzbekistan has risen by 19 positions in the Global Sustainable Development Index, reaching 62nd place, according to a report from the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The country scored 73 points in the 2025 edition of the Sustainable Development Report, published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The report indicates that Uzbekistan has either achieved or is on track to achieve nearly 45% of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Prepared through independent evaluation by SDSN, the annual report assesses countries’ progress toward the SDGs. The network was founded by Professor Jeffrey Sachs, a Columbia University economist and Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on the SDGs.

Uzbekistan’s 19-place leap from the previous year marks the country as the fastest-growing nation in terms of sustainable development across Central Asia and Eastern Europe since 2015.

An online presentation of the report was held on June 24, featuring participation from prominent experts including Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Umid Abidkhodjayev, Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, Kevin Chika Urama, Vice President of the African Development Bank, Professor David Li of Tsinghua University, Professor Eugénie Birch of the University of Pennsylvania, Guillaume Lafortune, Vice President of SDSN, and others.

During the event, Deputy Minister Umid Abidkhodjayev highlighted Uzbekistan’s efforts to meet the SDGs and discussed the country’s domestic financial mechanisms. The event also featured dialogue on reforming the global financial system and expanding access to long-term, affordable financing for low- and middle-income countries.

In his speech, Professor Sachs emphasized: “Achieving sustainable development starts with strong political leadership. It requires not only channeling internal and external resources but also ensuring their effective use.”

Both Sachs and Kevin Chika Urama praised Uzbekistan’s ongoing progress toward the SDGs, citing political will and decisive leadership as critical factors behind the country’s achievements.

International experts also acknowledged progress made in reducing poverty. Reforms under the leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev – particularly institutional and structural initiatives aimed at poverty alleviation, food security, social protection, decent job creation, improved healthcare and education, gender equality, and the development of a digital and green economy – as well as efforts to enhance transparency in statistics, were cited as key drivers of Uzbekistan’s strong upward momentum in the index and earned high international recognition.