Global Knowledge Asymmetries in Health: A Data-Driven Analysis of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Carolina Bueno (), Rafael Macharete, Clarice Araújo Rodrigues, Felipe Kamia, Juliana Moreira, Camila Rizzini Freitas, Marco Nascimento and Carlos Grabois Gadelha
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Carolina Bueno: Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-361, Brazil
Rafael Macharete: Institute of Mathematics and Statistics, Fluminense Federal University, Niterói 24210-201, Brazil
Clarice Araújo Rodrigues: Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-361, Brazil
Felipe Kamia: Ministry of Health, Brasília 70058-900, Brazil
Juliana Moreira: Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-361, Brazil
Camila Rizzini Freitas: Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-361, Brazil
Marco Nascimento: Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-361, Brazil
Carlos Grabois Gadelha: Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-361, Brazil

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 14, 1-21

Abstract: Scientific knowledge and international collaboration are critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study conducts a large-scale bibliometric analysis of 49.4 million publications indexed in the Web of Science (1945–2023) related to the SDGs, with a specific focus on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being). Since 1992, SDG 3 has accounted for 58% of SDG-related scientific output. Using K-means clustering and network analysis, we classified countries/regions by research productivity and mapped core–periphery collaboration structures. Results reveal a sharp concentration: the United States, China, England, and Germany account for 51.65% of publications. In contrast, the group composed of the 195 least productive countries and territories accounts for approximately 5% of the total scientific output on the SDGs, based on the same clustering method. Collaboration patterns mirror this inequality, with 84.97% of partnerships confined to the core group and only 2.81% involving core–periphery cooperation. These asymmetries limit the capacity of developing regions to generate health research aligned with local needs, constraining equitable progress toward SDG 3. Expanding scientific cooperation, fostering North–South and South–South collaborations, and ensuring equitable research funding are essential to promote inclusive knowledge production and support sustainable global health.

Keywords: global health; heath; social network analysis; scientific collaboration; climate resilience; SDGs (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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