ASEAN Rankings for SDG Index 2025: Thailand emerges as leader due to decline in poverty rates and advancements in education
In the recently released 2025 Sustainable Development Report (SDR), Thailand has once again claimed the top spot among Southeast Asian countries, marking its seventh consecutive year as the region's leader in sustainable development. However, the report also highlights several areas for improvement in Thailand's pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) introduced a new index, the SDG Index (headline version) or SDGi, which includes 17 key indicators to measure progress on each goal for countries and regions. With a total score of 75.34 and a Spillover Score of 89.73, Thailand ranked 43rd out of 167 countries evaluated in the SDG Index.
Despite its strong performance, Thailand faces challenges in certain areas. Poverty reduction efforts in specific provinces such as Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat have been slow, with poverty levels in these regions remaining higher than the national average. This indicates the need for targeted regional development efforts.
Thailand is also in the final stages of approving its first Climate Change Act, which will legally mandate emission reductions, climate adaptation, and the establishment of a Climate Fund. However, the formal policy and financing frameworks are still being finalized, suggesting that more action is needed to effectively address climate-related SDGs.
The report also reveals that 23% of SDG indicators show regression and 17% remain unchanged, signifying that progress is uneven across different goals and indicators. This suggests that areas such as environmental sustainability, social protection, or others may need renewed focus and strategies.
Thailand's 2025 Voluntary National Review emphasizes the urgency of accelerated progress in the final five years toward 2030. The review incorporates multi-stakeholder assessments to overcome these remaining challenges and sustain momentum achieved so far.
In other news, Thailand officially joined the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2024. On the sports front, Thailand's women's football team thrashed Cambodia 7-0 in the ASEAN Women's Championship group stage.
The top 10 countries in the SDG Index 2025 are Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Austria, Norway, Croatia, Poland, and Czechia. The bottom of the index, largely affected by war, instability, and social fragility, includes countries such as South Sudan, Central African Republic, Chad, Somalia, Yemen, and Cambodia.
[1] Thailand's 2025 Voluntary National Review [2] SDSN's 2025 Sustainable Development Report (SDR) [3] Report on Thailand's SDG progress (Thai Government sources) [4] Climate Change Act draft (Thai Government sources)
- The Sustainable Development Solutions Network's (SDSN) 2025 Sustainable Development Report (SDR) has acknowledged Thailand's leading position in sustainable development among Southeast Asian countries, maintaining this status for seven consecutive years.
- Despite Thailand's strong performance, the SDR has identified specific areas requiring improvement, particularly in poverty reduction efforts in certain provinces like Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat.
- Thailand is set to legally mandate emission reductions, climate adaptation, and the establishment of a Climate Fund with the imminent approval of its first Climate Change Act.
- The 2025 Voluntary National Review underscores the necessity of accelerated progress in the final five years toward 2030 to sustain momentum achieved so far.
- Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Thailand is uneven, with 23% of SDG indicators showing regression and 17% remaining unchanged.
- In the sports sector, Thailand's women's football team demonstrated an impressive performance, winning against Cambodia 7-0 in the ASEAN Women's Championship group stage.
- The SDG Index 2025 ranks Thailand 43rd out of 167 countries evaluated, with a total score of 75.34 and a Spillover Score of 89.73.
- The report also reveals that countries such as South Sudan, Central African Republic, Chad, Somalia, Yemen, and Cambodia occupy the bottom of the SDG Index due to war, instability, and social fragility.
- In a significant move, Thailand officially became a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in 2024.
