UNESCO Launches First Global Report on Cultural Policies: “Culture, The Missing SDG”
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities | SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
Institutions: Ministry of Culture
At MONDIACULT 2025 in Barcelona (29 Sept–1 Oct), UNESCO released its first Global Report on Cultural Policies, titled Culture: The Missing SDG. The report draws on 1,200 national and local policy reports and 200 case studies (2019–24), making it the most comprehensive assessment of cultural policy to date.
The central argument is that culture must be elevated as a stand-alone Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in the post-2030 agenda, rather than being treated as a supportive or cross-cutting theme.
Key findings:
93% of reporting Member States now integrate culture into national sustainable development plans (vs. 88% in 2021).
Cultural & creative industries contribute 3.39% of global GDP and 3.55% of global employment.
Cultural tourism across 250 cities generated USD 741.3 billion in 2023.
Average public spending on culture is highly unequal: Europe & North America average USD 418.56 per capita, nearly 13x higher than other regions combined.
The report highlights persistent inequalities in funding, digital access, gender inclusion, and regional development. It calls for evidence-based, inclusive cultural policies, more public investment, and integration of climate resilience, digital innovation, and heritage protection.
For India, the report is both an opportunity and a warning:
A powerful advocacy tool to push for a stand-alone SDG on culture in UN forums.
Strong evidence base (GDP, jobs, tourism) for reforming India’s cultural budget allocations and integrating culture in national plans.
A reminder to address domestic under-investment, especially in rural, tribal, and marginalised cultural spaces.
An urgent call to close digital and access divides so that culture reaches beyond metros and elites.
A signal to align cultural policy with climate adaptation (heritage in crisis, disaster-proofing monuments), innovation (digital arts, creative economy), and inclusivity (gender and regional equity).
Follow the full report here: UNESCO Global Report on Cultural Policies – Culture: The Missing SDG