Introduction
This data tracker analyses the Nordic countries’ progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. The goal is comprised of 12 targets.
The Nordic countries – Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden – are classified into one of five categories for each target:
Met: The country has already met the 2030 target.
On track: The country has not yet met the target but is on track to do so by 2030.
Short distance: The country has not met the target and is not projected to do so but is close to achieving it. This category also applies when the country currently meets the target but is projected to move away from it.
Long distance but progressing: The country is far from the target but is making progress towards it.
Long distance and not progressing: The country is far from the target and is not making progress towards reaching it.
Details on the methodology used, together with the overall assessment for all 17 goals can be found on the overview page. Note that the analysis is currently work in progress.
Overall assessment of progress
As of mid-2023, this is our assessment of the Nordic countries progress on the 12 targets part of SDG 16:
The Nordic countries’ performance on the different targets can be explored further below. Each section follows the same structure, first the official target text is given as well as the indicators for that target. Note that some targets have more than one indicator. Then, using the latest available data from the UN and the OECD, we first highlight global and regional trends before zoom in on the Nordic countries. Where data permits, we then assess their current distance from the target based on recent data and their likelihood of achieving it by 2030.
Target 16.1
Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere
| 16.1.1 | Number of victims of intentional homicide per 100,000 population, by sex and age |
| 16.1.2 | Conflict-related deaths per 100,000 population, by sex, age and cause |
| 16.1.3 | Proportion of population subjected to (a) physical violence, (b) psychological violence and (c) sexual violence in the previous 12 months |
| 16.1.4 | Proportion of population that feel safe walking alone around the area they live after dark |
Global trends
16.1.1 Victims of homicide
Global homicide rates in 2021 stood at 5.8 homicides per 100,000 population, slightly below the rate in 2015 of 5.9. 20. According to UN estimates there were approximately 458 000 homicide victims worldwide in 2021. Latin America and the Caribbean is the SDG region with the far highest homicide rates.
16.1.2 Conflict related deaths
Conflict-related deaths have declined significantly since 2015, standing at 5.5 per 100,000 population in 2022, down from 22.1 in 2015.
16.1.3 Violence
There is insufficient data to assess global or regional trends on this indicator.
16.1.4 Feeling safe after dark
As a measure of the feeling of safety, this indicator measures the share of the population who feel safe when walking alone after dark in the area they live. Approximately 7 out of 10 on average worldwide say they feel safe, a share which has remained unchanged over the last 6 years. The highest share of people feeling safe can be found in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia (approx. 8 out of 10), with the lowest in Latin America and the Caribbean (approx. 4 out of 10).
Note that the regional groupings used in the visualisation above (and all other visualisations on this page with regional data) follow the UN regional classification for the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Nordics
Comparable country-level data for all the Nordics is available for indicator 16.1.1 (number of victims of homicides) and 16.1.4 (the share of people feeling safe walking alone at night where they live).
On the former, the OECD has operationalised the target at 3 per 100,000 population, which all the Nordics are below as of 2021 (the latest available data).
On the latter, the OECD has operationalised the target at 97% of the population feeling safe, with Norway the closest at 93% according to data from 2020. All the Nordic countries have increased their share of people feeling safe walking alone after dark where they live compared to 2006.
A combined assessment of the two indicators on target 16.1, reveals that while all the Nordics have made progress, only Norway is at a short distance to the target. Currently, no Nordic country is on track to reach the target by 2030.
Denmark
Long distance to target but progressing
Finland
Long distance to target but progressing
Iceland
Long distance to target but progressing
Norway
Short distance to target
Sweden
Long distance to target but progressing
Target 16.2
End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children
| 16.2.1 | Proportion of children aged 1–17 years who experienced any physical punishment and/or psychological aggression by caregivers in the past month |
| 16.2.2 | Number of victims of human trafficking per 100,000 population, by sex, age and form of exploitation |
| 16.2.3 | Proportion of young women and men aged 18–29 years who experienced sexual violence by age 18 |
Global trends
Data for the indicators part of this target is sparse. Available data from UNICEF for 76 countries for the first indicator (16.2.1) shows that 8 in 10 children from 1 to 14 had been subject to some form of psychological aggression and/or physical punishment at home in the past month. The data is based on surveys conducted in the period between 2014-2022.
Data on the third indicator, also from UNICEF, shows that approximately 3.3% of women aged 18-29 years had experienced sexual violence in childhood. The estimate is based on survey data from 55 countries from 2014-2021.
The Nordics
Insufficient data for assessment of progress in the Nordic countries.
Target 16.3
Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all
| 16.3.1 | Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized conflict resolution mechanisms |
| 16.3.2 | Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of overall prison population |
| 16.3.3 | Proportion of the population who have experienced a dispute in the past two years and who accessed a formal or informal dispute resolution mechanism, by type of mechanism |
Global trends
Data is only available at a global and regional level for indicator 16.3.2, and shows that around 31% of prisoners were unsentenced worldwide as of 2021. This share has been relatively stable over the past two decades. Central and Southern Asia had almost twice the world average, with almost 6 out of 10 of the prison population being unsentenced.
The Nordics
The share of unsentenced prisoners in terms of the overall prison population was higher or at the same level in 2021 than the earliest available data from 2003 in all the Nordic countries. Denmark had the highest unsentenced share, with over a third of the prison population unsentenced. The target level for 2030 has been operationalised by the OECD at 11%, which is the lowest share recorded in OECD countries in 2015. None of the Nordics are currently on track to achieve this.
The OECD uses the World Justice Project Civil Justice Index as a measure of progress for indicator 16.3.3 due to a lack of data on this indicator. This is a composite index covering seven dimensions of civil justice: 1. People can access and afford civil justice; 2 Civil justice is free of discrimination; 3. Civil justice is free of corruption; 4. Civil justice is free of improper government influence; 5. Civil justice is not subject to unreasonable delay; 6. Civil justice is effectively enforced; and 7. Alternative dispute resolution mechanisms are accessible, impartial and effective.
The Nordics have some of the highest index scores, indicating a high level of civil justice. (Iceland is not included in the index) Still, with the target level operationalised by the OECD to 1 (best possible outcome), none of them have met or are on track to reach the target.
The combined assessment for the two indicators above, unsentenced prison population and civil justice indes, shows that all the Nordics can be considered to be at a long distance to the target.
Denmark
Long distance to target, not progressing
Finland
Long distance to target, not progressing
Iceland
Long distance to target, not progressing
Norway
Long distance to target, not progressing
Sweden
Long distance to target, not progressing
Target 16.4
By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime
| 16.4.1 | Total value of inward and outward illicit financial flows (in current United States dollars) |
| 16.4.2 | Proportion of seized, found or surrendered arms whose illicit origin or context has been traced or established by a competent authority in line with international instruments |
Insufficient data available for analysis of global, regional or country-level trends.
Target 16.5
Substantially reduce corruption and bribery in all their forms
| 16.5.1 | Proportion of persons who had at least one contact with a public official and who paid a bribe to a public official, or were asked for a bribe by those public officials, during the previous 12 months |
| 16.5.2 | Proportion of businesses that had at least one contact with a public official and that paid a bribe to a public official, or were asked for a bribe by those public officials during the previous 12 months |
Global trends
Only indicator 16.5.2 has data at global and regional levels. Based on surveys undertaken between 2006-2022, 15% of businesses report that have experienced at least one bribe request in the past 12 months. The highest share is in Eastern and South-Eastern Asia where almost 1 of 4 business report receiving such requests.
The Nordics
Insufficient data available for analysis of progress in the Nordic countries.
Target 16.6
Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels
| 16.6.1 | Primary government expenditures as a proportion of original approved budget, by sector (or by budget codes or similar) |
| 16.6.2 | Proportion of population satisfied with their last experience of public services |
Insufficient data are available for analysis of global, regional or Nordic country trends.
Global trends
The Nordics
Given the lack of data, the OECD includes a question from the Gallup World Poll on citizens’ confidence in the judicial system in its assessment of OECD countries. Comparison between the earliest (2007) and latest (2021) available data shows that except from Denmark, all the Nordics are seeing increased citizen confidence shares. All countries are above the OECD average. Norway has the highest confidence level in the judicial system out of all OECD countries at 88%.
The OECD has operationalised the target at a level of confidence of 97% in the judicial system, which currently none of the Nordics is on track to achieve. Only Norway can be considered to be at a short distance to the target (less than 0.5 OECD standard deviations away).
Target 16.7
Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels
| 16.7.1 | Proportions of positions in national and local institutions, including (a) the legislatures; (b) the public service; and (c) the judiciary, compared to national distributions, by sex, age, persons with disabilities and population groups |
| 16.7.2 | Proportion of population who believe decision-making is inclusive and responsive, by sex, age, disability and population group |
Global trends
Data for is partly available at the global and regional level for indicator 16.7.1, covering female and youth representation in national parliaments. The indicator is measured on a ratio for 0 to 1, where 1 indicates that the share of women/youth in parliament is equal to the share of women/youth in the national population as a whole.
Data for 2023 shows that women and youth are underepsesented in both upper and lower/single chambers worldwide. There are significant regional variations. Australia and New Zealand have achieved close to full female representation in lower/single chambers, and above full in upper chambers. Europe and Northern America have achieved full youth representation in lower/single chambers.
The Nordics
All the Nordics have high representation rates of women and youth in national parliaments. Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden all have equal or above equal representation of youth in 2023.
Projections based on past trends shows that Denmark and Norway are on track to achieve the target of equal representation, while the other countries are at a short distance.
Denmark
Target is on track
Iceland
Short distance to target
Finland
Short distance to target
Norway
Target is on track
Sweden
Short distance to target
Target 16.8
Broaden and strengthen the participation of developing countries in the institutions of global governance
| 16.8.1 | Proportion of members and voting rights of developing countries in international organizations |
Global trends
Note that this target is similar to 10.6.
The chart below shows the latest available data on developing countries’ share of voting rights and membership in different international organisations.
The largest discrepancies between membership share and voting rights are in the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (part of the World Bank), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the International Finance Cooperation (IFC).
Over the past two decades, developing countries’ share of voting rights, as well as membership shares have remained relatively stable. One notable exception is an increase in voting rights in the IMF from 31% in 2000 to 37% in 2022.
The Nordics
Target not applicable to measure for Nordic countries.
Target 16.9
By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration
| 16.9.1 | Proportion of children under 5 years of age whose births have been registered with a civil authority, by age |
Global trends
77% of children under 5 worldwide have had their births registered, according to the lastest data from 2022. While many regions have achieved universal (or near universal) registration coverage, low registration levels persist in other regions. In Oceania and Sub-Saharan Africa, only 27% and 50% of children respectively under 5 have had their birth registered.
The Nordics
All the Nordics have full registration coverage for children under 5 years of age.
Denmark
Target is met
Finland
Target is met
Iceland
Target is met
Norway
Target is met
Sweden
Target is met
Target 16.10
Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements
| 16.10.1 | Number of verified cases of killing, kidnapping, enforced disappearance, arbitrary detention and torture of journalists, associated media personnel, trade unionists and human rights advocates in the previous 12 months |
| 16.10.2 | Number of countries that adopt and implement constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information |
Global trends
A total of 320 killings of human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists were observed in 2021. The majority of killings occurred in Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition, 9 cases of enforced disappearances of human rights defenders, journalists and trade unionists were observed in 2021.
Data for 2022 shows that a total of 127 countries had adopted and implemented constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information.
The Nordics
No country-level data is available for the first indicator relating to the number of verified killings. As regards the second indicator, all the Nordic countries have adopted and implemented constitutional, statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access to information.
Denmark
Target is met
Finland
Target is met
Iceland
Target is met
Norway
Target is met
Sweden
Target is met
Target 16.a
Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, for building capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime
| 16.a.1 | Existence of independent national human rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles |
Global trends
The share of countries in compliance with the Paris Principles has risen steadily over the past two decades. In 2021, 43% of countries worldwide were in compliance. Compliance rates vary significantly between regions, with only 8% of countries in Oceania and 29% of countries in Central and Southern Asia in compliance in 2021.
The Nordics
The latest data from 2021 shows that only Denmark, Finland and Norway have Human Rights institutions in compliance with the Paris Principles. Sweden is not fully compliant, while Iceland is listed with status D, an indication of no application for accreditation with the Paris Principles.
Denmark
Target is met
Finland
Target is met
Iceland
Long distance to target, not progressing
Norway
Target is met
Sweden
Long distance to target, not progressing
Target 16.b
Promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws and policies for sustainable development
| 16.b.1 | Proportion of population reporting having personally felt discriminated against or harassed in the previous 12 months on the basis of a ground of discrimination prohibited under international human rights law |
No data is available for this indicator.