Indicators 6.5.2 and 6.6.1 updated to tier I

To facilitate the implementation of the global indicator framework, the IAEG-SDGs categorizes the indicators into three different tiers. The tier categorization is based on their level of methodological development and the availability of data at the global level:

• Tier I indicators have established methodologies and data are regularly produced by a critical mass of countries
• Tier II indicators have established methodologies but data are not regularly produced by countries
• Tier III indicators have methodologies that are under development

Two of the SDG 6 global indicators have recently been upgraded from tier II to tier I, following an increased data coverage:

• Indicator 6.5.2 on transboundary water cooperation: 153 UN Member States share transboundary waters, and out of these, 107 reported on the indicator in 2017-2018 – read the latest progress report for an analysis of the current status
• Indicator 6.6.1 on water-related ecosystem: Earth observation data on spatial extent of open waters are available for all UN 193 Member States, and in 2017-2018, 40 countries reported in-situ data on the indicator as well – read the latest progress report for an analysis of the current status

Six of the SDG 6 global indicators are now classified as tier I, and the remaining five indicators as tier II. This development represents a big step forward, as we are increasingly able to assess the status of, and progress towards, SDG 6.