Doha: The member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC) have made significant strides in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators, surpassing global averages, particularly in health, education, and basic services.
According to Qatar News Agency, data from the GCC Statistical Center indicates that these countries have excelled in healthcare, achieving a maternal mortality rate of 19.9 per 100,000 live births, well below the global target of 70. The under-five mortality rate in the GCC is 10.8 per 1,000 live births, compared to a global average of 25. Universal health coverage in the region is at 100 percent, against a global figure of 68 percent, and basic vaccine coverage is also at 100 percent, compared to 84 percent worldwide. Physician density has risen to 33.6 per 10,000 people, surpassing the global average of 18.7, indicating the quality and efficiency of the region's health systems.
In education, GCC countries have recorded impressive achievement rates, with a literacy rate of 99.2 percent compared to 88 percent globally. Pre-school enrollment in the GCC stands at 99.8 percent, outpacing the worldwide rate of 74.4 percent. All schools in the region provide basic services and employ fully qualified teachers, highlighting a strategic investment in human capital.
The GCC has also accomplished significant milestones in infrastructure; 100 percent of the population has access to safe drinking water, compared to 73.7 percent globally. Sanitation and water treatment services are nearly universal in several GCC countries, supporting environmental and health sustainability.
Universal access to electricity in the GCC is at 100 percent, surpassing the global figure of 91.7 percent, with an increasing shift towards clean technologies.
In terms of security and stability, the GCC states have recorded low homicide rates of 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 5.2 globally. The rate of human trafficking victims is 5.5, compared to 38 worldwide, and birth registration is nearly complete, reflecting the overall efficiency of the region's institutional and legal systems.