Sustainable Development Goal 10.Reduced Inequalities
Sustainable Development Goal 10 (SDG 10) is about reduced inequality and is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations in 2015. The full title is: "Reduce inequality within and among countries".
The Goal has ten targets to be achieved by 2030. Progress towards targets will be measured by indicators.
10.1: Reduce income inequalities
10.2: Promote universal social, economic and political inclusion
10.3: Ensure equal opportunities and end discrimination
10.4: Adopt fiscal and social policies that promotes equality
10.5: Improved regulation of global financial markets and institutions
10.6: Enhanced representation for developing countries in financial institutions
10.7: Responsible and well-managed migration policies
10.a: Special and differential treatment for developing countries
10.b: Encourage development assistance and investment in least developed countries
10.c: Reduce transaction costs for migrant remittances
The international community has made significant strides towards lifting people out of poverty. The most vulnerable nations – the least developed countries, the landlocked developing countries and the small island developing states – continue to make inroads into poverty reduction. However, large disparities remain in access to health and education services and other assets within these countries. While income inequality between countries may have been reduced, inequality within countries has risen.
In 2017, the richest 1% of the world’s population held 50.1% of the world’s wealth, while the poorest 70% of the world’s working age population people together hold only 2.7% of the global wealth. The imbalance is put into stark relief when one considers that a total of 36 million millionaires, who account for 0.7% of the world’s adult population – control 46% of total global wealth that now stands at $280tn.
The international community has made significant strides towards lifting people out of poverty. The most vulnerable nations – the least developed countries, the landlocked developing countries and the small island developing states – continue to make inroads into poverty reduction. However, large disparities remain in access to health and education services and other assets within these countries. While income inequality between countries may have been reduced, inequality within countries has risen.
In 2017, the richest 1% of the world’s population held 50.1% of the world’s wealth, while the poorest 70% of the world’s working age population people together hold only 2.7% of the global wealth. The imbalance is put into stark relief when one considers that a total of 36 million millionaires, who account for 0.7% of the world’s adult population – control 46% of total global wealth that now stands at $280tn.
In 2021 The United Nations did a report on the progress of the Sustainable Development Goals which showed how badly the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the progress of Sustainable Development Goal 10. It is predicted that the pandemic has caused the least developed countries around the world to be delayed on hitting the Sustainable Development Goals for as much as 10 years.
By the middle of 2020 the number of people who have tried to run away from their country has increased to 24 million which is the highest it has ever been. Due to border restrictions and mobility restrictions that were caused from the pandemic with an all-time high amount of refugees, it has caused a large spike of deaths and disappearances of refugees in 2020 totalling 4186 people.
SDG 10 presents to the international community the following task: ensure that the income growth of the bottom 40% of their population is higher than the national average by the year 2030. To reduce inequality, policies should be universal in principle, paying attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalised populations. Inclusion has to be promoted actively, in social as well as political spheres, for all ages, sexes, races, religions and ethnicities to create conditions of equity within countries. To create a fairer international system globally, global financial markets will require improved regulation, and developing countries will have to have a greater voice in international decision making.
Links to other SDGs
SDG 10 is linked to many of the other SDGs, such as peaceful and inclusive societies (SDG 16), gender equality (SDG 5), poverty (SDG 1), zero hunger (SDG 2), good health and wellbeing (SDG 3), clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11).
