This table describes the count of women aged 15-17 who were married or in union. The disaggregation variables are subject to data availability and where the numbers are lesser than 6, the disaggregation will be dropped.
_Find more Pacific data on [PDH.stat](https://stats.pacificdata.org)._
Number and proportion of persons aged 15-24 who are "Not in Education, Employment, or Training". It refers to youths who are unemployed, not currently attending school or not undertaking any training.
_Find more Pacific data on [PDH.stat](https://stats.pacificdata.org)._
Status of employment for people aged 15+. Number of people who are in/out of the labour force, employed or unemployed. The "employed" category is disaggregated by Status in employment (for the main job). Status of employment is divided into 5 categories: employees, employers, own-account workers, contributing family workers and workers not classified by status.
Labour force participation rate: number of people aged 15+ in the labour force as a percentage of the working-age population (aged 15+). The notion of labour force refers to people who are employed or unepmployed (according to International Labour Organization). Unemployment rate: number of people aged 15+ who are unemployed as a percentage of people in the labour force. The notion of unemployment refers to people who are 1) not in employment, 2) available to work, 3) actively looking for work.
Occupation (ISCO-08) and Industry (ISIC-Rev 4) for people in employment (aged 15+) disaggregated by International Standard Education Classification (ISCED) level. The ISCO and ISIC catergories are expressed as "Major" (1-digit).
_Find more Pacific data on [PDH.stat](https://stats.pacificdata.org)._
Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all : Water and sanitation coverage in the Pacific is low, and accessibility varies widely across, and between, Pacific countries and territories. The combined coverage levels of basic water and basic sanitation are lower than in any other region in the world, and nearly one-third of Pacific people still rely on surface water sources for drinking (largely due to the high reliance of surface water in rural PNG); Children and their families are most vulnerable to the WASH-related impacts of climate change.
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls : The region has made progress in achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls, particularly in education and health and to a lesser extent women’s participation in formal employment and national policy making. This is attributed to growing awareness of the need to address gender inequalities; While almost all countries in the Pacific have adopted specific gender policies and strategies, the resources for integrating and implementing these priorities are limited.
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all : Access to education has improved, shown through increased attendance levels in early childhood, primary and secondary school in the Pacific region. Goal 4 highlights the need to focus on improving the quality and relevance of education and cognitive learning outcomes, since literacy and numeracy improvements have not made the expected gains for all.
"Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages : Some progress has been made against key mortality measures. Maternal mortality ratios have already fallen below the 2030 target in three-quarters of Pacific countries and territories, and one-half have achieved the under-five mortality rate target of fewer than 25 deaths per 100,000; The increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, both with respect to the risk of premature mortality and health care costs, is the dominant health issue in the Pacific region.
End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture : Stunting, which can occur when a child under five years of age and does not receive adequate nutrition, remains an issue in some of our Pacific countries. One in four children in Vanuatu, one in three children in the Solomon Islands and one in two children in PNG are reported as being stunted. Poorly nourished children are more vulnerable to disease, tend to show lower performance in school, and are less likely to be productive adults.
End poverty in all its forms everywhere : Poverty in the Pacific is focused on hardship and lack of economic opportunity and social exclusion. While food and extreme poverty remains relatively low, an estimated one in four Pacific islanders are likely to be living below their country’s basic-needs poverty line (BNPL). Children are especially vulnerable to poverty and inequality because of their dependency on adults for care and protection, and for food. Deprivation and lost opportunities in childhood can have detrimental effects that may persist throughout a child’s life.
Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Finance : Goal 17 encapsulates the need for a transformational approach to development if prosperity, equality for all and a protected environment, are to be achieved.
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 inclusiveness and transparency of institutions is addressed in Goal 16, although defining and measuring this is difficult. Associated with this is the adoption of legislation or policies to guarantee freedom of information, and while adoption is low in the Pacific, awareness is increasing; Birth registration is necessary to safeguard individual rights and promote access to justice and social services.
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss : Most countries in the region retain sizeable sections of forested area, although habitat loss continues to be a risk due to unsustainable logging practices and forest conversion for plantation and agricultural uses. Invasive species are the leading cause of species extinction on island ecosystems and can impact food and economic security.
Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development : The Blue Pacific continent contains and supports the most extensive and diverse coral reefs in the world, the largest tuna fishery, the deepest oceanic trenches and the healthiest and in some cases, largest remaining populations of many globally threatened species such as whales and dolphins, sea turtles, dugongs, sharks and stingrays; Goal 14 will monitor regional efforts in integrated and sustainable ocean management and conservation, adaptation, mitigation and biodiversity activities.
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts : Climate change is a critical development challenge for the region. The key threats are sea level rise, saltwater intrusion of freshwater lenses and ocean acidification and their impact on people, water and food security, livelihoods, and the Pacific region’s biodiversity and culture. Climate induced mobility and migration across the region may be a required adaptation strategy; Goal 13 indicators still require development for effective monitoring to take place.
Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns : Inadequate waste management practices and restricted land availability are contributing to increased volumes of solid and hazardous wastes in the region; Organic waste constitutes approximately 44 per cent of the waste stream, and over 80 percent of ocean litter is derived from land-based sources; There is currently limited data on recycling rates and hazardous waste treatment in the Pacific, although these are identified as priorities for sustainable development.
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable : The 2017 World Risk Report identified the Pacific as the region of highest risk, measured over a five-year timeframe; In the last three years, the Pacific has faced a number of disaster events causing significant economic impacts, injury and loss of life. Post-disaster needs assessments indicated significant damages and losses, equivalent to 30% of national GDP in Fiji (2016), and 64% in Vanuatu (2015) for example.