Sustainable Development Goal 10: Reduced inequality

Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 10 (SDG 10), which focuses on reducing inequality within and between countries, remains a major challenge. Although some progress has been made—in two-thirds of 128 countries, fewer people now live on less than half the median income—nearly 12% of the global population still falls below this line. Regions like Latin America and the Caribbean are among the hardest hit.

At the same time, the share of income going to workers continues to shrink worldwide, hitting low-income earners the hardest. The COVID-19 pandemic made things worse, triggering the largest increase in inequality between countries in the past 30 years and slowing income growth for the poorest within nations.

The concentration of wealth and power remains significant. Nearly half of the world’s wealth is held by a small group, while the bottom 50% of the population owns just 2%. Corruption, tax evasion, and illegal money flows cost developing countries about $1.26 trillion each year—funds that could otherwise support education, healthcare, and social protection.

Adding to the challenge, developing countries are under-represented in global financial and economic institutions, limiting their influence over key decisions. At the same time, the world is rapidly going digital, but billions of people are being left behind. This growing digital divide is creating new layers of inequality and widening the gap in access to opportunity.

It is everyone's job to help achieve SDG 10. This includes governments, international organisations, civil society, businesses, and individuals.

The UN says that to reduce inequalities within and between countries, we need to work together to keep income growth going for the bottom 40% of the population, encourage social, economic, and political inclusion, and get rid of discrimination based on age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, or economic status.

This shared responsibility means that no one can reach the goal on their own; instead, people from all sectors and countries need to work together.

At the government level, national, regional, and local authorities must make sure that marginalised groups have the same opportunities and social protections as everyone else. Local governments are especially important because they are close to communities and can implement policies that are specific to them.

Also, to fix systemic inequalities, governments need to make their fiscal policies better, control financial markets, and make sure that developing countries have a fair say in international economic decision-making.

Companies and the private sector also have a lot of responsibility.

For instance, sustainable tax governance is a shared duty that requires businesses to pay their fair share of taxes in a clear way to help fund public services and social programs that lower inequality. Corporate social responsibility (CSR) goes beyond just following the rules.

It also means doing things that help sustainable development by promoting fair economic growth and social inclusion.

Lastly, countries must collaborate to assist the least developed nations, reduce the cost of remittances for migrants, and ensure that migration is managed safely and responsibly. Global solidarity and a shared commitment to leaving no one behind are essential for the implementation of development assistance, investment, and fair trade policies.

Ultimately, reducing inequalities is about building a world where opportunities are not determined by circumstance but shared fairly. By committing to the SDG 10 purpose and scaling up global sustainability commitments, we can create a future that is more inclusive, equitable, and just for all.