SDG Pulse 2025 is UN Trade and Development’s annual flagship report on progress towards the 2030 Agenda.
With five years remaining, the data shows the world is off track – especially for those most in need.
A global snapshot: Progress off track
The global debt crisis is deepening. In 2024, developing countries’ external debt hit $11.7 trillion, with LDCs facing the steepest rise in debt service. Official Development Assistance fell 7.1%, marking its first drop in five years.
Trade remains highly concentrated. Developing economies accounted for 30% of , but excluding the top five performers the share stood at just 13%. The LDCs’ share of services exports declined to 0.5%, down from 0.7% in 2019.
Digital divides persist. In 2024, only 51% of the global population had access to 5G networks, and mobile broadband cost 5% of GNI per capita in LDCs. Yet digitally deliverable services made up over half of all global services exports.
The “In focus” section of the 2025 edition provides new data and analysis of critical minerals .
Critical minerals are booming, but the benefits are uneven
The energy transition is fuelling a surge in mineral demand – but many resource-rich countries are missing out. In 2023, trade in critical minerals reached $2.5 trillion, with Asia importing over half. Minerals tied directly to the transition – like lithium, cobalt and copper – made up over 40% of total critical mineral exports, worth $773 billion.
Yet value addition remains limited. Africa supplies 12% of global mineral exports but captures just 4% of the value in green supply chains.
UN Trade and Development’s new list of critical minerals helps developing countries analyse and align production and trade with development goals, not just global demand – unlocking more value, greener industries and more equitable growth.
Illicit financial flows undermine development gains
Illicit financial flows (IFFs) in the critical minerals sector are draining public revenues, distorting trade, and weakening countries’ ability to invest in infrastructure, education and health.
In 2023, exports of cobalt, chromium, thallium and lithium were among the most concentrated globally – heightening risks of market manipulation and illicit activity.
Weak data systems and a lack of harmonized reporting continue to hamper effective responses. UN Trade and Development supports countries in developing reliable, harmonized systems to track IFFs and improve reporting on SDG indicator 16.4.1.
A critical moment
The upcoming 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4) is a critical moment to scale up action, close data gaps and curb IFFs.
The panel on IFFs, fiscal space and fair taxation on 1 July 2025 will take this discussion forward.