Of the 138 million children (5-17 years) in child labour globally, nearly 70% are in Africa
In 2024, nearly 138 million children globally are still involved in child labour.
Africa accounts for 94.5 million (68.7%) of these children — the largest regional share.
Four in 5 child labourers under age 12 are based in Africa.
The global goal to end child labour by 2025 was not achieved.
Child labour has fallen by over 100 million since 2000, despite global child population growth.
Nearly a decade after the world vowed to end child labour by 2025, about 138 million children are still working instead of learning. Africa is home to over two-thirds of them, including the vast majority of children under 12. While the global number has dropped by more than 100 million since 2000, progress has slowed and remains at risk from conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability.
On this World Day Against Child Labour, we call on governments, institutions, and communities to act with urgency, because the promise to protect children has not been kept, and Africa’s children are paying the highest price.
Ghana's under-5 mortality rate at 42.3 deaths per 1,000 live births, still higher than the SDG target of 25 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Cape Verde achieved the most dramatic reduction in under-5 mortality rates, cutting its rate by over93%,from 174.8 in 1960 to 12.3 in 2022, the lowest in West Africa.
Sierra Leone had the highest under-5 mortality rate in 1960, at 390.1 deaths per 1,000 live births, marking it as one of the most challenging places for child survival in the region at the time.
Liberia experienced a troubling increase in under-5 mortality rates during the 1980s, peaking at 263.8 in 1990, a period marked by civil war and economic instability.
As of December 2023, 28.6 million internally displaced people affected by conflict were under the age of 18, accounting for 38% of the global IDP population.
Conflict-ravaged Sudan has the most internally displaced children globally, with 4.25 million under the age of 18.
DR Congo and Syria follow with 3.57 million and 2.65 million displaced children, respectively. Nigeria's 1.65 million displaced children make it the 7th highest globally for child displacement due to conflict.
A recent UNICEF report shows that 293m children worldwide did not have drinking water in their schools in 2023. Six African and four Asian countries make up the top ten, with Ethiopia and Nigeria occupying first and second positions, respectively, with 33.2m and 29m children.
The top five countries account for 42% of the total affected population.
Nine of the top ten countries with the highest rates of female child marriage are in Africa. Niger leads the list, with 76% of women aged 20 to 24 married or in union before 18.
Bangladesh is the only non-African country in the top ten, with a rate of 51%.
