Distribution dynamics, regional differences, and convergence of sustainable development of cities and communities in China

China is one of the most populated and rapidly urbanizing countries worldwide and was among the earliest countries to integrate sustainable development into urban construction. To achieve high-quality development and implement the objectives of “Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, it is crucial to measure and analyze the current level of sustainable development of cities in China. Following the principles of relevance, scientific rigor, universality, reliability, and timeliness, this study constructs an assessment index system for sustainable development, covering seven themes corresponding to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 11. Through detailed calculations, we obtained sustainable development indices for 139 Chinese cities from 2016 to 2022 and analyzed them in three dimensions: distribution dynamics, regional differences, and convergence. The key findings are as follows. First, the level of sustainable development showed improvement, with the average score of included cities increasing by 11.88% from 2016 to 2022. Second, the level of sustainable development was relatively balanced, maintaining low Gini coefficients between 0.05 and 0.06. Third, a weak overall σ convergence feature existed, with increased differentiation in 2021. From a regional perspective, a σ convergence feature was observed in the northeastern but not in the western region. Fourth, both overall absolute β -convergence and conditional β effects were significant. Regional absolute β -convergence and conditional β -convergence were also significant. This study contributes to the literature by providing evidence of China’s urban sustainable development, offering policy insights for deepening the implementation of development goals in the future, and providing experiential reference for other developing countries to achieve sustainable development.