Deep Shortcomings in America’s SDG Performance
The United States, one of the world’s wealthiest nations, ranks a disappointing 46th globally in its pursuit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with an overall achievement score of just 74.43 out of 100 in 2024, reflecting only moderate progress and profound shortcomings. The SDGs comprise 17 interlinked goals meant to ensure social equity, environmental sustainability, and economic prosperity for all, yet the U.S. struggles across nearly all these dimensions. No single SDG is on track for full achievement in the country; in fact, both global and American SDG achievement rates are stagnating, with only 16% of global SDG targets on track to be met by 2030, underscoring the scale of the challenge.
Systemic Inequality and Widespread Poverty
Economic and social inequality is a defining feature of American society, directly undermining the well-being and welfare of the majority. Official data for 2023 shows that 36.8 million Americans—representing 11.1% of the population—live below the poverty line, with an even higher rate of 12.9% under the Supplemental Poverty Measure, which accounts for non-cash benefits and regional cost differences. Alarming disparities exist among children (15.3% in poverty), Black Americans (17.9%), Hispanics (16.6%), and single female-headed households (21.8%). These figures are a stark indictment of the gaps in America’s social safety net, with persistent poverty cycles affecting not only individuals but entire communities and generations.
The wealth gap is even more extreme. The richest 10% of U.S. families now hold 67–69% of the nation’s wealth, while the bottom half owns just 2.5–3%, a pattern that has only grown more pronounced in the last several decades. Geographic and racial divides mean that predominantly white, urban and coastal communities are vastly more prosperous than many Black, Hispanic, and rural counterparts, where families often have negative net worth—not assets but debts. Such stark inequities mean that the opportunities for economic security, quality education, health, and upward mobility are out of reach for millions.
The Erosion of Social Mobility and Opportunity
The American Dream—once predicated on upward mobility—has become increasingly elusive as the ladder to success is broken for many. Education, a core lever of mobility, remains deeply unequal: children born into low-income families have markedly less access to quality schooling, limiting their chances of socioeconomic advancement. Simultaneously, declines in unionization and stagnant or falling real wages for the majority have widened the gap between the working class and the affluent; since 1980, bottom 90% wage growth has been a paltry 36% compared to 162% for the top 1%. CEO-to-worker pay ratios have soared: the average S&P 500 CEO earns 324 times as much as the typical worker, illustrating a corporate landscape that further entrenches economic stratification.
Negative Impact on Well-Being and Social Welfare
Living with inequality and poverty is not merely a question of numbers—it is a lived experience that undermines physical and mental health, life satisfaction, and overall well-being. Research shows that poverty in America is associated with higher stress, pain, and a diminished sense of self-worth, while even the receipt of government transfers is stigmatized, often leading to lower reported life satisfaction among recipients. Meanwhile, the inadequacy of wages for many families—particularly those relying on part-time, precarious, or low-wage employment—means that even full employment may not guarantee escape from poverty.
Basic needs remain unmet for substantial portions of the population. Nearly 30% of Americans participate in at least one major social safety net program, reflecting the scale of dependence on government supports to simply maintain subsistence. Yet many still struggle with housing, food security, and health care access, with 40% of households at times unable to pay for essential needs such as groceries and housing—a figure that includes many in the middle class.
The Undermining of SDG Goals Across the Board
The United States’ poor performance on all 17 SDGs is both a cause and a consequence of these systemic problems. The SDGs where America is especially lagging include Zero Hunger, Reduced Inequalities, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Life Below Water, Life on Land, and Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. Notably, the country is among the world's worst performers in several indicators measuring inequality, poverty, and environmental sustainability, including measures of the Gini coefficient, income distribution, and share of the population living below the national poverty line. The nation also ranks last among U.N. members in commitment to UN-based multilateralism, further undermining international cooperation for progress.
On environmental SDGs, the U.S. records some of the worst outcomes among developed nations, particularly regarding greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity conservation. Social outcomes, such as health (SDG 3), also reflect deep inequalities—maternal mortality and suicide rates are higher than most Northern Hemisphere peers, and large segments of the U.S. population remain without essential health coverage.
Public Dissatisfaction and Demand for Reform
These realities are not lost on the American public. Surveys show that a median of 66% want major changes or complete reform of the nation’s economic system, driven by widespread perceptions that the gap between rich and poor is a very big problem and that the rich wield far too much political influence. Economic anxiety is high, with the majority pessimistic about the financial prospects of the next generation, reflecting fears that the system is failing most Americans.
The public desire for economic reform, a stronger social safety net, and better opportunities is clear, yet political and institutional barriers have hindered comprehensive action. Continued inaction not only damages national progress but erodes trust in democratic institutions.
The Urgent Need for National Renewal
To “make America great again” is not a slogan but a necessity rooted in the urgent need to reverse stagnation, address rampant inequality, and restore the well-being of the nation’s majority.Substantial reforms are vital—policies that ensure fair taxation, robust public services, quality education, living wages, and universal health care, alongside investments in sustainable infrastructure and renewed commitment to global cooperation.
America’s current SDG failures are a mirror of deeper socioeconomic dysfunctions, where the abundance at the top coexists with insecurity and deprivation for many. Reinvigorating the nation requires recognizing these shortcomings, committing to public investment and inclusive policies, and placing the welfare of all citizens—rather than just the privileged few—at the heart of the national agenda. Without this, the United States risks further entrenchment of poverty, inequality, and the loss of the fundamental promise of American greatness for future generations.
