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International indicators

In an effort to put the UK’s progress in sustainable development into an international context, and to highlight worldwide trends and challenges, a set of international data has been compiled to complement the 68 national indicators of sustainable development.

Although the number of measures for which international data were available were limited, it was possible to produce international versions for 32 of the 68 national indicators. Since some indicators comprise more than one component measure there are 46 measures in total.

The international measures do not always correspond exactly with the national measures owing to limitations in data availability and differences in methodology of data collection between countries and between organisations. Furthermore, in many cases definitions differ and caution is therefore required when making international comparisons.

A table showing the national set of indicators and equivalent international indicators is available here.

The methodology underpinning the production of the indicators with explanation of their presentation is available here.

International indicator data and resources can be found here.

The table below gives a list of all 32 comparative international indicators. Clicking on the indicator name leads to an indicator summary showing a chart/charts, assessments of progress and commentary describing the main trends.

 

Indicator

Description
Greenhouse gas emissios
  
Greenhouse gas emissions:

Greenshouse gas emissions per capita
Carbon dioxide emissions:

CO2 emissions from the burning of fossil fuels

Electricity generation
Renewable energy:

Percentage contribution of renewables to total energy supply
Resource use
Domestic material consumption:

Domestic Material Consumption

Energy consumption:

Energy used per capita

Water abstractions:

Volume of water abstracted per capita
Waste
Waste:

Municipal waste generated per capita and percentage recyled and composted
Natural resources
Bird Populations:

Farmland birds population index
Agricultural
inputs:

Fertiliser used per hectare of arable land
Protected areas:

Percentage of surface area protected

Fish landings:

Fishery products landed per capita
Emissions of air pollutants:

NOx , PM10, SO2 and VOC emissions per capita

Economy and population
Economic output:

Gross Domestic Product per capita
Total Investment:

Total investment as a percentage of GDP
Social expenditure:

Public social expenditure as a percentage of GDP
Demography: (contextual)

Population and population of working age (contextual indicator)

Households size:

Average number of persons per household
Society
Crime:

Numbers of car thefts, burglaries and assaults per 100 inhabitants
Employment and poverty
Employment:

Percentage participation

Childhood poverty:

Percentage of children below the poverty threshold
Young adults:

Percentage of 15-19 year olds not in employment, education or training
Pensioner poverty:

Percentage of pensioners persons aged 65 and over at risk of poverty
Education
Education:

Percentage of 25-64 year olds with tertiary level qualifications

Health and mortality
Health:

(a) Infant deaths per live 1000 births; and, (b) Avergae life expectancy at birth
Mortality:

Death rates from (a) cardio-vascular disease; and, (b) cancer; and, (c) suicides

Smoking:

Regular daily smokers aged 15 and over
Obesity:

Percentage of persons aged 15 and over overweight or obese
Road fatalities:

Number of people and children killed per million population
Social justice/Environmental equality
Air quality and health:

Urban ozone and particulate concentration
Slums:

Percentage of population living in slums

Updated: 31 July 2008