5 reasons why you cannot skip this story
- See what the headlines are not telling you. Discover the policy shifts in wealthy nations that could quietly reshape life in poorer nations.
- Follow the money. Learn how trillions in spending for security and energy are pushing the world off its development trajectory.
- Uncover the paradoxes. Understand why migrant admissions are rising while development finance is falling.
- See where unexpected progress is happening.
- Understand the global impact of U.S. leadership.
Two-thirds of the world’s wealthiest countries are rolling back policies that support global development, threatening the futures of more than five billion people in poorer nations, according to a new report from the Center for Global Development (CGD).
The 2025 Commitment to Development Index (CDI) evaluated 38 major economies based on how their domestic and foreign policies, across development finance, trade, migration, environment, health, security, investment, and research, affect opportunities in low- and middle-income countries.
The biennial report found that 24 of those nations have reversed overall progress compared to previous years.
“While some countries improved on migration or environmental performance, overall the trend is backward, with rising arms exports, trade barriers, and fossil-fuel subsidies,” the CGD noted.
Where the retreat is deepest
🔻 Security and peacekeeping
Security spending is rising as support for international peacekeeping falls. Thirty-two countries cut contributions while arms exports increased, with global military spending hitting US$2.7 trillion in 2024, a 9.4% jump from the previous year, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
Conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have prompted many nations to prioritize military build-up over foreign assistance, the report observed.
🔻 Development finance
Development finance is also weakening. Twenty-one nations provided less development finance relative to national income than in the previous index, a retreat that predates this year’s aid cuts.
🔻 Health
Health risks are mounting as 24 wealthy nations increased antimicrobial use, worsening a drug-resistance crisis that is predicted will kill 39 million people globally by 2050.
🔻 Research and development
Research and development, vital for pandemic preparedness and climate resilience, remains uneven, with partnerships concentrated among rich nations which limits knowledge transfer to poor nations. Wealthy nations spend over US$500 billion annually on R&D, but most have cut back.
🔻 Energy policies
Energy policy showed regression. Fossil-fuel subsidies rose across most countries, with gas production support more than tripling and oil subsidies increasing in over half of the nations. The report warns that these policies divert funds from development priorities and undermine climate action.
Pockets of progress despite widespread decline
Not all is bleak. The report highlights several areas of improvement.
🔺 On climate, 28 of 38 countries reduced per-capita emissions, signaling incremental steps toward mitigation.
🔺 Migration policies showed improvement. Wealthy nations admitted 70% more migrants and refugees per capita between 2020 and 2022.
🔺 Agricultural subsidies, long criticized for disadvantaging farmers in developing countries, declined in 28 nations.
🔺 A rare global breakthrough in curbing environmentally harmful practices has been reported under the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies.
Neglected levers that could accelerate global development
The CDI warns that focusing solely on aid misses greater opportunities to support global development. Even modest increases in international collaboration on research and development could dramatically strengthen pandemic preparedness, climate resilience, and food security.
Subsidy reform presents another opportunity. Rich countries continue to spend over US$450 billion annually propping up fossil fuels. Cutting these subsidies, the report notes, “is one of the few options that both saves money and tackles damaging distortions.”
Rankings: Sweden on top, America sinking, UK about to plummet
Sweden tops the index for the third consecutive time, performing strongly on environment, finance, and health. Germany ranks second, leading in migrant and refugee acceptance per capita, followed by Norway, Finland, and the United Kingdom.
Britain’s position is precarious. The data predates its 40% aid cut, which the CDG predicts will push it down next year.
Luxembourg and Ireland posted the biggest gains, each rising four places, with Luxembourg ranking in 10th position, backed by higher development finance spending, and Ireland climbing to 19th position after accepting more migrants from poorer nations.
Meanwhile, the United States fell two positions to 28th, even before the billions in aid cuts announced by the Trump administration.
Israel and Russia were excluded entirely: Russia for the devastation caused by its invasion of Ukraine, Israel for its military operations in Gaza, and restrictions on humanitarian access.
What next?
The report arrives as G20 leaders convene in Cape Town, South Africa, this week, with the United States set to assume the presidency.
President Donald Trump’s retreat from global development, through sharp cuts to aid, trade tariffs, and a rollback on climate finance, could influence the broader priorities of G20 members at a time when coordinated action is most urgently needed.
The CDI’s message is stark: policies that wealthy nations treat as domestic, such as emissions, research, and firearms sales, now determine whether more than five billion people in poorer countries have a path out of poverty.
