Considerations of Inequality within the Sustainable Development Goals

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development included a standalone goal (SDG 10) to “Reduce inequalities within and among countries”. Inequality, however, is a broad and multidimensional concept that is also present across the rest of the goals. This research analyses the different ways in which the concept of inequality is considered within the Sustainable Development Goals. This is done through a systematic approach based on an inequality mapping matrix that establishes key categorization and is used to map the concept throughout the 17 goals and 169 targets. Comprehensive and comparable results that illustrate the full extent of inequality within the SDGs are provided. The results show inequality is implicitly and explicitly considered under different conceptual considerations and multidimensional ways across 64 targets. Economic and non-economic inequality are considered, however, non-economic dimensions are dominant. Horizontal targeting approaches and universal framings are widely present compared to vertical ones. Inequality of opportunities and outcomes are also comprehended. Eight insights are provided based on a critical assessment of the results, and overall recommendations for the use of clearer, and more explicit language towards inequality are made. Additionally, the strengthening of the consideration in particular dimensions (environment, global inequality and extreme economic inequality) is suggested.