Fig. 5: Gini coefficients of individual SDGs across different age groups and regions.

This figure presents a matrix of Gini coefficients for individual Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across various age groups and regions in Hong Kong. The Gini coefficient, ranging from 0 (perfect equality) to 1 (maximum inequality), is used here to quantify disparities in SDG progress, offering insights into the demographic and regional inequalities within the framework of sustainable development. Overall Inequality Observations: High Inequality: SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 15 (Life on Land) exhibit Gini coefficients close to 0.99 across all age groups and regions, indicating significant disparities in achieving equitable progress for these SDGs. Moderate Inequality: Gini values for SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 1 (No Poverty) show moderate inequality, particularly for older adults (65+), with notable regional disparities in Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. Age-Specific Inequality Patterns: Younger Populations (<15): Face substantial inequality in SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), with Gini coefficients reaching up to 0.22 in New Territories and 0.21 in Kowloon, highlighting the challenge of ensuring inclusive societal structures for younger residents. Working-Age Groups (40–64): Exhibit relatively stable but moderately high inequality across SDG 8 (Decent Work) and SDG 3 (Good Health), suggesting gaps in economic and healthcare outcomes for this demographic. Elderly Populations (>65): Experience disparities in SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 1 (No Poverty), with Gini coefficients exceeding 0.3 in some regions, reflecting vulnerabilities in income distribution and poverty reduction efforts. Regional Trends: Kowloon: Displays the most variability in inequality, with high Gini coefficients across multiple SDGs for all age groups. New Territories: Inequalities are pronounced in environmental SDGs, including SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 14, and SDG 15. Hong Kong Island: Shows moderate disparities overall but significant inequalities in SDG 12 and SDG 10 for older adults. Visualization and Interpretation: The heatmap uses a gradient from light pink (low inequality) to dark purple (high inequality) to visually represent the Gini coefficients across SDGs, age groups, and regions. Clusters of darker cells highlight areas where inequality is most pronounced, aiding in pinpointing critical gaps in progress. This figure underscores the uneven distribution of sustainable development progress across age groups and regions. It highlights the urgent need for age-specific and region-targeted policy interventions to address the disparities revealed by the Gini coefficients. Areas like SDG 12, SDG 14, and SDG 15 require significant attention, while younger and older populations in Kowloon and the New Territories emerge as key focus groups for achieving equitable SDG outcomes.