Kazakhstan Moved Up Three Positions in the SDG Ranking

It is important to note that the SDSN report places particular emphasis on the need for practical mechanisms to implement the SDGs as the 2030 Agenda approaches its final stage.

Overall, Kazakhstan demonstrates mixed progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. While steady advancement and improvements are observed in a number of areas, certain sectors still require additional attention. The country has virtually eliminated poverty and remains on track to achieve the corresponding goal. Positive developments have also been recorded in food security, clean energy, water supply and sanitation, infrastructure, and innovation.

For example, under SDG 1 “No Poverty,” Kazakhstan consistently demonstrates results comparable to those of several OECD countries. According to the indicator “Proportion of the population living below USD 3.00 per day,” the country’s value stands at 0.8%, which is close to the levels observed in Latvia (0.5%), Hungary (0.6%), and Norway (0.1%).

Under SDG 2 “Zero Hunger,” exports of hazardous pesticides decreased from 3.8 to 3.5 tonnes per one million population. Under SDG 3 “Good Health and Well-being,” the under-five mortality rate declined from 9.6 to 9.4 per 1,000 live births.

Under SDG 6 “Clean Water and Sanitation,” access to basic drinking water services improved from 95.4% to 97.8%. At the same time, freshwater withdrawals decreased from 34.6% to 33.6%, while the volume of water embedded in imported goods whose production requires scarce water resources fell from 2,248.3 m³ to 2,165.8 m³ per capita.

Under SDG 9 “Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure,” the number of mobile broadband subscriptions increased significantly, from 91.6 to 119 per 100 people. The average score of Kazakhstani universities in the Times Higher Education ranking rose from 30.1 to 32.1, while the number of patent applications increased from 79.7 to 82.1 per one million population.

Reference: The UN-Mi Index presented in the SDSN report assesses countries’ support for the principles of multilateralism within the United Nations system. The index covers all 193 UN Member States and is based on six key indicators: ratification of UN treaties, voting patterns in the UN General Assembly, participation in UN syste.organizations, militarization, the use of unilateral coercive measures, and contributions to the UN budget. In 2026, the average UN-Mi score stood at 65 out of 100. Kazakhstan ranked 31st with a score of 77.4, placing it among the countries demonstrating very strong support for the principles of multilateralism within the UN system.

Reference: When interpreting the SDG Index results, a number of limitations should be taken into account. The final scores depend on the availability, quality, and comparability of data across countries. Indicator values are derived from both official and non-official sources, while detailed source information is not always provided in the report. Furthermore, methodological factors, including indicator normalization and the use of estimated values for certain indicators, may influence the results. Therefore, the SDG Index should primarily be viewed as a tool for monitoring and international comparison rather than as a definitive assessment of a country’s sustainable development achievements.