Estimated overall SDG3 progress

Globally, there have been significant strides towards achieving SDG 3. Notable achievements include a reduction in global maternal and child mortality rates, and progress in combating infectious diseases such as HIV, malaria and tuberculosis. Immunisation coverage has also improved, contributing to the decline in vaccine-preventable diseases, and efforts to combat NCDs have intensified, focusing on prevention, early detection and treatment.
However, progress towards SDG 3 – impeded by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing crises – is not sufficient: in 2023, the WHO estimated that only 15 % of health-related SDGs were on track, and less than a third of them were likely to achieve their 2030 targets. In addition, progress varies significantly across regions. For instance, Sub-Saharan Africa, despite progress made over the last two decades, lags behind in achieving many targets. It faces substantial challenges, including high, although decreasing, rates of maternal and child mortality, a heavy burden of communicable diseases, and limited access to healthcare services.