Thailand Provincial SDG Index: Ranks and Scores

The Centre for SDG Research and Support (SDG Move), Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University, in collaboration with the Office of the National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council (NXPO) and regional working groups from six regions—North, Northeast, Central, East, South, and Deep South—has released the Provincial SDG Index of Thailand.

This dataset results from research conducted under the project “Area Need: Integrated Planning of Science, Research, and Innovation for Sustainable Area-Based Development.” Its main objective is to serve as a foundational database for NXPO in planning and implementing research, science, and innovation (RSI) systems that support sustainable area-based development, without favouring any specific province.

Since 2021, SDG Move has worked jointly with academic networks across the country and NXPO to identify the challenges of sustainable development in each region according to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This reflects the integrated roles and cooperation between NXPO and Thammasat University in driving sustainable area-based development.

00 – Notes Before Reading the Report

A key process of Area Need 3 is the development of the Provincial Sustainable Development Goals Index (or Provincial SDG Index), an essential tool for measuring and monitoring progress in sustainable development within each area.

This process involves compiling and analysing national-level data relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), alongside identifying data gaps through workshops that present regional sustainable development challenges and gather input from local stakeholders. This work was conducted by the Centre for Research and Support for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Move), Faculty of Economics, Thammasat University.

The assessment of SDG progress at the provincial level is based on subnational secondary data to evaluate the status of SDGs for each province or city. Internationally, similar assessments using the SDG Index at city and state levels have been conducted since 2017 by networks under SDSN (Sustainable Development Solutions Network).

In Thailand, the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) developed a set of provincial and regional development indicators in 2021 based on the 5Ps framework (People, Prosperity, Planet, Peace, and Partnership). Another notable study was undertaken by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) to produce the Provincial SDG Profile in 2023.

The Provincial SDG Index focuses primarily on indicators consistent with the global SDG Index. However, if other provincial indicators correspond to the SDG sub-targets—even if not part of the international index—they may also be included.

The key rationale is that improving Thailand’s position in the international SDG Index requires comprehensive data reflecting the real situation within the country. The integration of global and local indicators enables clearer identification of area-specific challenges, paving the way for problem-solving and the improvement of relevant indicators.

Methodology for Data Collection and Analysis

The process for developing the Provincial SDG Index consists of three main stages, as follows:

1. Literature Review
   This stage involved reviewing and compiling indicators from multiple sources, including the SDG Index, regional sustainability reports, SDG Profiles, and Thailand’s 2023 SDG Indicator Status Report. Appropriate indicators were then selected, proxy indicators defined, and a list of indicators for the project was prepared. Coordination was made with relevant agencies to compile a list of provincial-level indicators aligned with global SDG indicators. Each indicator was also documented with its responsible agency, data collection frequency, and reporting schedule.
2. Data Collection
   In this stage, data were extracted or requested from relevant agencies at the provincial level, along with setting benchmark rules and target values. Data were sourced from various databases such as those of the National Statistical Office, as well as from other data-owning institutions. Priority was given to datasets covering at least five years; however, where data were available dating back to 2015 (B.E. 2558), such data were especially valuable for trend analysis.
3. Data Processing and Analysis
   Data were compiled in a calculation template, normalised to a scale of 0–100, and averaged by SDG goal for both provincial and regional levels. Statistical methods were used to group indicator scores and define colour classifications based on target values, minimum thresholds, and distribution ranges.

01 – National Overview of the SDG Index

According to the calculation results, Thailand’s national average SDG Index score is 54.34. Provincial scores range from 62.38 to 32.74.

• The highest-scoring province is Khon Kaen (62.38).
• The lowest-scoring province is Mae Hong Son (32.74).

When classified by the 5Ps framework defined by the United Nations, the results are as follows:

• Planet (Environment): 66.58 (highest)
• Peace (Peace and Institutions): 66.24
• Prosperity (Economy): 51.60
• People (Society): 48.21
• Partnership (Partnership for Development): 34.42 (lowest)

Regional Analysis

• Northern Region
  Scores vary widely, from high-performing provinces such as Lamphun and Phichit to lower-scoring ones such as Mae Hong Son, Tak, and Chiang Mai—reflecting disparities in sustainable development across areas.
• Northeastern Region
  Scores are relatively close to the national average, with strong performers such as Bueng Kan, Khon Kaen, and Maha Sarakham (above 60 points), while some provinces—such as Si Sa Ket and Mukdahan—score lower.
• Central Region
  The regional average score exceeds the national average, with high performers like Nonthaburi (over 60 points) and low performers such as Chai Nat. Overall, most provinces score above 54 points, indicating relatively good performance.
• Eastern Region
  The score distribution is narrow, with Trat scoring highest and Sa Kaeo lowest, showing moderate regional variation.
• Southern Region
  Scores are relatively close, ranging from higher-scoring Songkhla to lower-scoring Nakhon Si Thammarat, indicating moderate development disparities.
• Deep South
  Scores range between 40–50, highlighting significant development gaps and remaining challenges in achieving the SDGs.

Overall, the variation in scores across regions reflects inequalities in sustainable development among provinces, likely due to differences in access to resources, opportunities, and essential services. Provinces with lower scores often face complex systemic challenges, such as limited budgets, human resources, and administrative capacity.

02 – Provinces with Noteworthy SDG Index Scores

When considering the detailed insights, it was found that the factors contributing to the higher representation of Northeastern provinces among the top ten in the SDG Index rankings were primarily their strong performance in goals related to energy, environment, and peace. The areas of notable progress include:

• Agricultural land under sustainable farming practices (SDG 2)
• Neonatal mortality rate (≤ 28 days) (SDG 3)
• Households with access to clean drinking water (SDG 6)
• Household electricity consumption per capita (SDG 7)
• Reduction in open burning within communities (SDG 11)
• Volume of electronic waste (E-waste) (SDG 12)
• Greenhouse gas emissions from industrial processes (SDG 12)
• Housing units affected by natural disasters (SDG 13)
• Presence of invasive alien species (SDG 15)
• Forest encroachment areas (SDG 15)
• Burnt areas within reserved and conservation forests (SDG 15)
• Number of stateless minorities per 100,000 population (SDG 16)

In contrast, the Northern Region faces social and economic challenges that significantly contribute to its overall lower SDG Index scores. The main risk issues include:

• Poverty (SDG 1)
• Nutritional status of children aged 0–5 years (SDG 2)
• Prevalence of obesity (SDG 2)
• Agricultural areas affected by natural disasters (SDG 2)
• Number of GAP-certified agricultural producers (SDG 2)
• Number of patients with air pollution-related illnesses (SDG 3)
• ONET test scores at the lower secondary level (Mathayom 3) (SDG 4)
• ONET test scores at the upper secondary level (Mathayom 6) (SDG 4)
• Informal labour (SDG 8)
• Household internet access (SDG 9)
• Number of research publications indexed in Scopus (SDG 9)
• PM2.5 concentration (SDG 11)
• Public transport availability (SDG 9)
• Hotels certified under the Green Hotel Standard (SDG 12)
• Provincial tax collection (SDG 17)

Furthermore, when the above SDG Index results are compared with the findings from the six regional workshops, organised between February and April 2025, to present regional sustainable development challenges and gather input from local stakeholders, it was found that the Northern and Central regions demonstrated the highest consistency between the SDG Index findings and the development priorities identified by stakeholders. In both regions, more than half of the key risk issues overlapped with the concerns and priorities raised during the workshops.

This partial alignment between the final SDG Index results developed through comprehensive document review and in-depth data analysis, and the issues identified through regional stakeholder consultations reflects the significance of local perspectives. These perspectives play a crucial role in emphasising the urgency of problems that communities are facing and in shaping collective intent. Such participation strengthens both the breadth of the study’s impact and the depth of its insights, enriching the SDG Index with greater contextual understanding and analytical rigour.

03 – Conclusion

Findings from the Provincial SDG Index indicate that although many provinces demonstrate progress toward sustainable development, several still score below half of the total possible points (100).

This presents a key question: How can relevant agencies and local stakeholders work together to enhance their provincial SDG Index scores? If successful, such improvement would reflect progress in local quality of life, economic resilience, and environmental sustainability.

In the following six articles, SDG Move will present detailed analyses of the Provincial SDG Index across regional groups, linking provincial performance to specific SDG targets. These insights aim to support area-based practitioners and stakeholders in policy formulation and collaborative implementation for sustainable local development.

Those who are interested and wish to access in-depth data for a specific province may request the information through the following form: https://forms.gle/D8UKKP3zih38uMp67

Last Updated on October 18, 2025