Kingston, March 18, 2022

The Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) in its role as national focal point for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has released the 2019/2020 Progress Report on the Sustainable Development Goals. The report highlights the progress against the goals and targets of the SDGs and reviews the policies and actions of the Government of Jamaica and partners to advance the 2030 Agenda.

The period under review highlighted Jamaica’s performance globally, as reported in the annual Sustainable Development Report and global SDG dashboard. Jamaica’s 2020 ranking of 84th out of 166 countries, with an index score of 68.7, may be interpreted as the estimated percentage achievement of the SDGs. Regionally, Jamaica was ranked highest in the Caribbean sub region, and 12th overall in Latin America and the Caribbean. The 2021 report (published after the time of writing) noted an improvement in Jamaica’s rank to 81st and index score of 68.9.

The 2019/2020 Progress Report on the SDGs was compiled with input from the SDGs Core Group, comprising representation from the PIOJ; the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (data and statistics); and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade which leads on foreign policy and diplomacy. Data for the report was gathered primarily from secondary sources inter alia, administrative data from ministries; the Economic and Social Survey Jamaica; the Jamaica Survey of Living Conditions and thematic studies. The report uses the latest available data.

The progress report precedes the Voluntary National Review 2022 report, which will be submitted and presented July 2022, at the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council.