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Data gaps

Countries own the monitoring and reporting of the SDGs, and the 2030 Agenda clearly specifies that global follow-up and review ‘will be primarily based on national official data sources’. In this portal, most of the SDG 6 data are coming from countries themselves, compiled and verified by the responsible United Nations organizations.

The capacity of countries to report on the SDG 6 global indicators varies, and efforts are needed to incorporate the global SDG indicator framework into national monitoring systems. Although a large quantity of water and sanitation data exist at the country level, it may be scattered across stakeholders, and substantial resources and capacity-building may be required to close data gaps and harmonize reporting.

Below you can see how many of the SDG 6 global indicators each country (or area) are reporting on (map), which countries (or areas) are reporting on each indicator (map), and how many UN Member States are reporting on each indicator (chart). If country data have been reported to the respective custodian agency, but do not appear on the map, it is likely that the SDG 6 Data Portal has not yet been updated with the latest data from the custodian agencies.

In 2017, the average UN Member State had reported on 5 out of 12 SDG 6 global indicators, and only 5.7 per cent had reported on nine or more indicators. This represents an important knowledge gap. To learn more about ongoing efforts to support countries monitor and report on SDG 6, visit our website: www.sdg6monitoring.org

SDG 6 global indicators reported on in the last five years (2019 - 2023)

Note that two of the indicators are not applicable to all countries (or areas): indicator 6.5.2 is applicable only for those sharing transboundary waters and indicator 6.a.1 is applicable only for those receiving official development aid.

Number of SDG 6 global indicators reported on at least once in the last five years