The Latin American and the Caribbean region brings important lessons learned and key positive progress to the global evaluation of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) implementation. At the same time, significant challenges remain in the region.

Of particular note, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026 indicates that, in Latin America and the Caribbean, the poorest 40 percent of the region’s population recorded income or consumption growth that exceeded the national average in nearly two-thirds of countries. Meanwhile, air quality improved regionally, although these gains were mostly made before 2020; progress since then has flattened. And internet use now extends to 89% of the population, placing the region second only to Western countries in Europe, North America, and Australasia in terms of overall internet use.

Individual countries have also achieved some noteworthy successes. Among those countries submitting their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in 2026, Jamaica reported major strides in strengthening institutional governance and mainstreaming data systems. Even as hurricanes and other extreme weather events have buffeted the region, the country has shown resilience, cutting poverty from 21.4% in 2015 to 7.8% in 2024. Meanwhile, unemployment has fallen, public debt has reduced, and primary school enrolments have risen. Forest coverage has actually grown, along with marine protected areas.

On the other side of the Caribbean, Saint Kitts and Nevis reports that it has expanded social protection, strengthened its water security, invested in infrastructure, and diversified its economy, while at the same time starting to address growing vulnerabilities to climate change.

Uruguay’s 2026 VNR notes that it now enjoys historically-low levels of extreme poverty, almost universal access to electricity, and high standards in terms of safe water and sanitation, as well as stronger environmental governance.

Meanwhile, Brazil has taken steps across a range of SDGs, from climate action to social protection, support for cities and local governments, and solidarity with Indigenous Peoples. Unemployment and extreme poverty have both fallen as well.

Key Challenges: Violence and Rights Under Attack

The Latin America and the Caribbean region accounts for 60% of all global killings since 2015. Connected to this, the protection of labor rights has weakened globally, with Latin America and the Caribbean experiencing the greatest decline.

When it comes to peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16), the region’s efforts have been marred by its high homicide rates. With 19.3 killings per 100,000 people, it has the highest rate globally. Sub-Saharan Africa (11.7) has the second highest rate, while Eastern and South-Eastern Asia have the lowest rate (0.9).

Latin America and the Caribbean’s overall number masks some significant differences, however. For instance, Haiti has experienced a dramatic upsurge due to violent gangs in the capital, Port-au-Prince. Meanwhile, El Salvador has experienced a steep decline since 2015, and Argentina’s homicide rate is also low.

Jamaica, which presented its latest VNR at the HLPF in New York earlier this month, reported a modest decline in the country’s murder rate since the SDGs were first agreed in 2015. However, it has only fallen from 44 per 100,000 to 42.3 in 2024—still a high number when compared to the global average of 5.1 per 100,000.

Those who stand up for people’s rights are more at risk in Latin America and the Caribbean than anywhere else on Earth. Activists such as environmentalists, land advocates, journalists, and trade unionists were targeted in large numbers. Between 2015 and 2024, at least 5,307 were either killed or disappeared, a rise of 61% over the previous decade. A disproportionate number—3 in every 10—were from Indigenous or minority groups.

Clearly, a transformation is needed. In its 2026 VNR, Brazil highlights recent efforts to place human rights, social protection, equity and justice at the heart of its plans, including putting Indigenous rights “at the center of government action.” Brazil has proposed a voluntary “SDG 18” focused on ethnic, racial and social equality, fighting structural racism, and eliminating violence and xenophobia. In 2024, it had some early success in reducing homicides. However, it is clear stronger efforts will be needed across the region if progress is to be made in meeting the SDGs’ ambitions in this critical area.

Lagging in Industry and Innovation

When it comes to industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), the world has witnessed considerable progress since 2015. However, some of those successes have not been seen or enjoyed in Latin America and the Caribbean. While manufacturing has risen globally, the gains have been felt mostly across Asia. Not so in Latin America and the Caribbean, where manufacturing output has actually fallen by 16.7 percent since 2015.

Research and development spending—which is a major predictor of long-term economic growth—has also risen globally. Europe and North America have been leading the way for many years and now invest an estimated 2.55% of their GDP. Meanwhile, eastern and southeastern Asia are narrowing that lead, with spending rising from 2.02% to 2.42% between 2015 and 2023. However, Latin America and the Caribbean still spend less than one per cent of their GDP on research and development.

Gains and Challenges for the Next Four Years

Water and sanitation (SDG 6) were key topics on the agenda for the HLPF’s 2026 session. Here, much of the news from around the world has been positive. Since 2015, 961 million people gained access to safe drinking water, 1.2 billion to safe sanitation and 1.6 billion to basic hygiene services. By 2024, fully 74% of the world’s population had access to safe drinking water, compared with 68% in 2015.

This is to be welcomed. However, for Latin America and the Caribbean, there are risks ahead. Unlike some other regions, Latin America and the Caribbean saw river flows decline, in some cases significantly. The result of rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns, this decline is likely to create greater water stress across much of the region.  

On other SDG-related matters, such as forest protection, the region has seen a relative improvement. However, while the rate of forest loss has slowed, overall forest coverage continues to shrink. Meanwhile, the Caribbean has witnessed a rapid loss of its coral due to climate change, pollution, and unsustainable fishing. This loss of biodiversity also affects the livelihoods of people who rely on these environments for fisheries, tourism, and coastal protection.

In spite of these individual successes, the region has a great deal of work to do to meet its SDG goals by the 2030 target date. According to a recent report from the UN’s Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the region is on pace to achieve only 19% of SDG targets by 2030. It is moving in the direction (although too slowly) on a further 41%, and is actually stalled or going backwards on 39%. Those estimates are bleaker than those produced in 2025.

Successes in areas like energy and safe water show progress is possible. Striking a positive note, Konris Maynard, the Minister of Public Infrastructure of St. Kitts and Nevis, told delegates at the recent HLPF that “Sustainable development is measured by the hope it creates for the next generation.” Urging countries to remain committed to the SDGs, he invited them to consider the impact their efforts can have on so many individual lives.

In the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2026, UN Secretary-General António Guterres agreed. He urged countries to make a “decisive final push” from now through 2030. The prize, he says, would be a “healthy, prosperous future for all.”

Chris Spence is an associate of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and writes regularly about the UN, sustainable development, and climate change.