The United Nations has reported strong global development results for 2025, despite rising debt pressures, climate shocks, conflicts and a decline in development financing. According to reports presented to Member States in New York, UN-backed efforts helped expand access to essential services and supported progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.
The reports show that UN support helped deliver food assistance to 121 million people, return 27 million children to school, expand healthcare access for 567 million people, and provide electricity to 284 million people. Millions more benefited from justice services, social protection measures and climate resilience initiatives.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said reforms launched in 2017 have made the UN development system more coherent, accountable and better aligned with national priorities. The reports also point to high levels of government satisfaction with UN support, with 94% of governments assessing it as effective and 90% recognizing Resident Coordinators as strengthened entry points to the UN system.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group, emphasized the value of dedicated, independent and impartial development coordination. The reports also highlighted the Joint SDG Fund, which helped unlock more than $8 billion in financing for country-led priorities, including social protection, health systems and climate-smart agriculture.
However, the reports warned that growing resource constraints could threaten continued progress. The Resident Coordinator system faced a $46 million funding shortfall in 2025, while global development financing continues to decline. As the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals approaches, the UN stressed that predictable funding and sustained political support will be essential to protect development gains.
