This report presents the first global assessment of progress towards national benchmarks for SDG 4, with a special focus on early childhood education. Developed jointly by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics and the Global Education Monitoring Report, it analyses data from 2000–2020 across seven key indicators, including participation rates, completion, proficiency, and education financing. Highlighting national efforts and disparities, the report evaluates whether countries are on track to meet their 2025 and 2030 targets. It also examines the policy linkages behind progress, offering insights to strengthen accountability and inform education planning in the post-pandemic recovery context.