“It doesn’t have to be this way,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “When governments commit to ending child poverty by implementing effective policies, they can open up a world of possibilities for children..”
The report draws on data from more than 130 low- and middle-income countries and assesses deprivation in six areas: education, health, nutrition, housing, sanitation and water.
Why is it important
Poverty undermines children’s health, development and learning, leading to weaker job prospects, shorter life expectancies and higher rates of depression and anxiety.
UNICEF finds that 118 million children suffer deprivation in three or more of the areas studied. The findings come as many governments reduce foreign aid. The agency warns that the cuts could leave six million more children out of school next year.
This year’s World Children’s Day theme My day, my rights highlights children’s voices and lived experiences.
Recommendations
- Child poverty is most concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
- In low-income countries, 65 percent of children lack access to a bathroom, increasing exposure to disease.
- Deprivation in low- and middle-income countries fell from 51 percent in 2013 to 41 percent in 2023, but progress is stalling due to conflict, climate pressures, technology gaps and funding cuts.
- National policies can change outcomes: Tanzania reduced so-called multidimensional child poverty by 46 percent between 2000 and 2023 and Bangladesh by 32 percent, driven by government-led social protection programs.
How to reduce child poverty
- Make ending child poverty a national priority.
- Integrate children’s needs into economic policies and budgets.
- Provide social protection programs, including cash support for families.
- Expand access to essential services: education, health, water, sanitation, nutrition and housing.
- Promote decent work for parents and caregivers to strengthen household stability.