MDG Progress Assessment 2010

This report is a review of progress toward the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in selected small and island states, including the 32 Commonwealth small states and 14 non-Commonwealth countries classified by the UN as small island developing states (SIDS).

League tables obtained from the UN MDG database outline the performance of the 46 small states in comparison with 10 benchmark states: two small island states, Iceland and New Zealand; three large states, France, the UK and the USA; the four BRIC states, Brazil, Russia, India and China; and South Africa.

The data shows that despite their many commonalities, a ‘big divide’ separates these countries across the range of MDG economic, social and environmental indicators. The report also highlights aspects of the MDG system that are not well attuned to the interests of small states, and recommends how these issues can be resolved. The analysis and recommendations presented in this study will be very useful in the context of on-going international discussions on the MDGs in the light of their conclusion in 2015, and in consideration of successor goals.

For those wishing to undertake further analysis, the complete data sets, featuring detailed results on each indicator for each of the 46 small states and the 10 benchmark states covered in this report, are available to download below.

Purchase a copy of The Big Divide from the Commonwealth Bookstore.