Sustainable Development Goal 9
"Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation"
Linkage with other SDGs
Investments in infrastructure, sustainable industrialisation, and innovation are essential for economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. SDG 9 acts as a catalyst for progress across other goals, enabling countries to modernise and create equitable opportunities.
The following direct and indirect interlinkages exist between SDG 9 and all other SDGs:
SDG 1 - No Poverty: Infrastructure development creates jobs, improves connectivity, and enables access to markets and services, lifting people out of poverty. Sustainable industries drive inclusive economic growth. Example: Infrastructure projects like Kenya’s LAPSSET Corridor Program have created job opportunities and improved regional connectivity.
SDG 2 - Zero Hunger: Infrastructure supports food security by improving supply chains, storage, and transportation systems. Innovations in agriculture boost productivity and resilience. Example: Cold chain infrastructure in Nigeria has reduced post-harvest losses, ensuring food availability in underserved areas.
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being: Reliable infrastructure enables access to healthcare facilities, clean water, and sanitation systems, improving public health outcomes. Technological innovation drives advancements in medical services. Example: Telemedicine systems in India have improved healthcare access for rural populations.
SDG 4 - Quality Education: Infrastructure investments in schools, including digital connectivity, enable access to quality education and modern learning tools. Example: Broadband expansion programs in rural Mexico have connected schools to online resources, enhancing education quality.
SDG 5 - Gender Equality: Infrastructure projects and innovation empower women by improving access to transportation, energy, and communication systems. Gender-sensitive design ensures equal benefits for women and girls. Example: Women-led digital skills training programs in Bangladesh have empowered women to enter the workforce.
SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation: Infrastructure development ensures water treatment and distribution systems reach underserved communities, improving sanitation and hygiene. Example: Large-scale water infrastructure projects in Egypt have improved access to clean drinking water in rural areas.
SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy: Energy infrastructure supports access to affordable and sustainable energy, driving industrial growth and innovation while reducing emissions. Example: Hydropower infrastructure in Bhutan has provided reliable energy to industries while ensuring environmental sustainability.
SDG 8 - Decent Work and Economic Growth: Industrialisation creates decent jobs and boosts economic growth. Innovation fuels entrepreneurship and competitiveness, further driving economic progress. Example: India’s "Make in India" initiative has encouraged industrial development, creating millions of jobs.
SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities: Infrastructure projects reduce inequalities by connecting remote and marginalised communities to essential services and markets. Example: Bridge-building initiatives in rural Vietnam have improved mobility and access to economic opportunities.
SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities:Sustainable infrastructure enhances urban resilience and liveability. Innovation in public transportation, waste management, and housing reduces environmental impacts. Example: Curitiba’s urban planning innovations have made the city a model for sustainable transportation and waste management.
SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production: Industrial innovation drives resource efficiency, enabling sustainable production practices. Infrastructure ensures responsible supply chain management. Example: Germany’s industrial energy efficiency programs have reduced waste and minimised resource consumption.
SDG 13 - Climate Action: Infrastructure development that prioritises sustainability mitigates climate impacts while fostering climate-resilient systems. Innovation in renewable energy reduces carbon emissions. Example: Solar energy infrastructure in Morocco has contributed significantly to global climate mitigation efforts.
SDG 14 - Life Below Water: Sustainable infrastructure and innovation reduce marine pollution by improving wastewater treatment and reducing runoff from industries. Example: Coastal waste treatment plants in Indonesia have reduced water pollution, protecting marine biodiversity.
SDG 15 - Life on Land: Sustainable infrastructure minimises habitat destruction and supports land conservation. Innovations like precision agriculture preserve biodiversity while boosting crop yields. Example: Reforestation projects supported by drone technology in Canada have accelerated land restoration efforts.
SDG 16 - Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: Infrastructure development fosters stability by promoting social cohesion and reducing inequalities. Transparent governance in industrial projects ensures equitable distribution of benefits. Example: Infrastructure-sharing agreements in East Africa have strengthened regional cooperation and reduced conflict risks.
SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals: Global partnerships drive investments and knowledge-sharing for infrastructure and innovation, enabling countries to modernise sustainably. Example: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has mobilised resources for projects that promote sustainable industrialisation.
Consquence of failing to reach targets
The consequences of not achieving SDG 9 are far-reaching:
- Hunger and malnutrition (SDG 2) persist, reducing productivity and economic potential
- Poor communities remain vulnerable to health crises (SDG 3), perpetuating cycles of illness and financial strain
- Education (SDG 4) becomes inaccessible for millions, perpetuating intergenerational poverty.
- Climate resilience (SDG 13) remains elusive, as impoverished communities cannot afford adaptation strategies.
Industry, innovation, and infrastructure serve as the backbone of sustainable development, driving progress across economic, social, and environmental dimensions.
SDG 9: Targets, Indicators, Progress and Data
Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
9.1.1: Proportion of the rural population who live within 2 km of an all-season road.
9.1.2: Passenger and freight volumes, by mode of transport.
No information provided on the UN SDG website.
Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and, by 2030, significantly raise industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries.
9.2.1: Manufacturing value added as a proportion of GDP and per capita.
9.2.2: Manufacturing employment as a proportion of total employment.
- The manufacturing sector rebounded strongly in 2021 post-COVID, but growth has plateaued at around 2.7% since 2022, expected to continue in 2024. Despite this, global manufacturing value added per capita rose by 16% from 2015 to 2023, reaching $1,922 per capita. Regional gaps are stark, with Europe and Northern America hitting a record $4,986 per capita, contrasting with stagnant levels of $163 in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Since 2015, global manufacturing employment has fluctuated. Starting at 14.3% in 2015, it dipped to 14.2% in 2020 but saw a marginal recovery in 2021. However, by 2022, it declined to 14.1%, with notable regional disparities. While sub-Saharan Africa and Central and Southern Asia saw slight increases, other regions experienced declines, with Australia and New Zealand recording the highest fall of 0.5 percentage points from 2021 to 2022. These trends highlight the ongoing impact of crises on manufacturing employment growth.
Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their integration into value chains and markets.
9.3.1: Proportion of small-scale industries in total industry value added.
9.3.2: Proportion of small-scale industries with a loan or line of credit.
Small enterprises face heightened vulnerability, particularly in low income countries. According to survey data spanning from 2006 to 2023, only 16.9% of small-scale manufacturing industries in sub-Saharan Africa had access to loans or lines of credit, compared to 45.4% in Latin America and the Caribbean. This underscores how global uncertainty hampers investment flow and financial access for small businesses, hindering their resilience and adoption of new technologies.
By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in accordance with their respective capabilities.
9.4.1: CO2 emission per unit of value added.
Globally, CO2 emissions per unit of GDP have steadily declined by 11.5% from 2015 to 2021, with a reduction of 16% observed in the manufacturing sector. Despite these positive trends, global CO2 emissions from fuel combustion hit a record high of 33.6 gigatonnes in 2021, with manufacturing emissions also reaching their highest level since 2014 at 6.1 gigatonnes. These figures highlight the insufficient rate of reduction in CO2 emissions intensity to achieve a significant overall decrease in worldwide CO2 emissions.
Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.
9.5.1: Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP.
9.5.2: Researchers (in full-time equivalent) per million inhabitants.
After a slowdown in 2020, global research and development (R&D) expenditure appeared to return to pre-pandemic levels in 2021, climbing from 1.72% of GDP in 2015 to 1.93% in 2021. However, many developing economies have R&D expenditure relative to GDP below 1%.
The number of researchers per million inhabitants globally increased from 1,143 in 2015 to 1,352 in 2021, with Europe and Northern America, and Australia and New Zealand employing three times higher than the global level (i.e. 4,050 and 4,696 respectively in 2021). On the other hand, sub-Saharan Africa has been substantially lower, standing at 96 researchers per million inhabitants. Additionally, women remain underrepresented, comprising only 31.5% of all researchers worldwide in 2021.
Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States.
9.A.1: Total official international support (official development assistance plus other official flows) to infrastructure.
No information provided on the UN SDG website.
Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia, industrial diversification and value addition to commodities.
9.B.1: Proportion of medium and high-tech industry value added in total value added.
The gradual upward trend of medium and high-tech manufacturing value added in total value added, rising from 46.3% in 2015 to 46.9% in 2019, was briefly interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, dropping to 46.8%. Despite uncertainties and economic challenges, the sector displayed resilience with a slight decline of 0.67 percentage points in 2021. In Eastern and South Eastern Asia, this sector accounted for approximately 50.6% of total manufacturing in 2021, whereas in sub-Saharan Africa, it represented just 18.3%.
Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed countries by 2020.
9.C.1: Proportion of population covered by a mobile network, by technology.
Mobile broadband (3G or higher) is accessible to 95% of the world's population, up from 78% in 2015. In most developing countries, this type of access is the main way – and often the only way – to connect to the Internet. However, addressing the remaining 5% coverage gap poses challenges. Notably, in Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand), the gap remains significant at 31%. Although the gap in sub-Saharan Africa is shrinking, it still stands relatively high at 17%, particularly impacting central and western Africa.