138 Million at Work
Those Left Behind: A comprehensive analysis of global child labour in 2024
The Global Crisis
In 2024, 138 million children globally were engaged in child labour—even though the world missed the ambition to end it by 2025. Of these, 54 million children performed hazardous work that risks their health, safety, or development.
Latest Global Trends & Data
1 in 10 Children Affected
Roughly 1 in 10 children globally is affected by child labour, representing a massive scale of the crisis.
Progress Slowing
Since 2000, child labour dropped by almost 100 million, but the rate of decline has slowed dramatically since 2016.
Century-Long Timeline
If current trends continue, child labour will not be eliminated this century.
Youngest Most Affected
Children aged 5–11 account for over half of all those in child labour.
Gender Disparity
Boys make up 56% of all children in labour, but girls are undercounted, especially in unpaid domestic work.
Regional Breakdown
Child labour affects every region, but some areas face disproportionate challenges
Sub-Saharan Africa
The epicenter, with almost 2 in every 10 children in the region affected, representing 2/3 of the global total.
- Economic shocks drive crisis
- Conflict disrupts communities
- Lack of schooling access
- Only slight improvement recently
Asia and the Pacific
Still hosts over 30 million child labourers, but showing positive progress.
- Child labour dropped from 6% to 3%
- Progress since 2020
- Manufacturing sector concerns
- Agricultural work prevalent
Latin America & Caribbean
Around 8 million children affected with slower progress in recent years.
- Urban poverty key factor
- Informal economies prevalent
- Slower progress rate
- Domestic work concerns
Middle East & North Africa
Conflict and displacement drive child labour in Syria, Yemen, and Sudan.
- Conflict-driven displacement
- Numbers relatively small but growing
- Informal refugee economies
- Crisis situations
Europe & Central Asia
Includes 6 million child workers with specific regional challenges.
- Migration concerns
- Informal labour markets
- Roma child marginalisation
- Ongoing concerns
US & Western Europe
Cases exist in agriculture, domestic work, and supply chains—often hidden and undocumented.
- Agricultural sector
- Domestic work
- Supply chain issues
- Hidden and undocumented
Effects & Consequences
Child labour has devastating impacts across multiple dimensions of children's lives
Health Risks
- Exposure to chemicals and pesticides
- Heavy lifting and unsafe machinery
- Increased risk of injury
- Chronic illness development
- Long-term disabilities
Education Disruption
- Children drop out of school
- Fall behind in learning
- Never attend school at all
- Irreversible literacy impacts
- Reduced lifetime earning potential
Intergenerational Poverty
- Limits future employment options
- Traps families in poverty cycles
- Reduces economic mobility
- Perpetuates inequality
- Affects community development
Gendered Impact
- Girls face double burdens
- Work and unpaid care responsibilities
- Higher vulnerability to domestic servitude
- Risk of sexual exploitation
- Limited educational opportunities
Drivers & Risks
Crisis Factors
Poverty, crises, climate shocks, and conflicts push families to depend on child work as a survival mechanism.
Funding Cuts
Cuts to education and social protection funding jeopardise gains. Donor reductions have already threatened progress.
Urgent Action Needed
Without accelerated action, it could take centuries, not years, to fully eliminate child labour.
What UNICEF Is Doing
Data Tracking & Analysis
Regularly publishes global and regional estimates via MICS and SIMPOC surveys to monitor progress and identify trends.
Multi-sector Interventions
Integrates education, social protection, and child protection services to address root causes comprehensively.
Education Advocacy
Promotes universal quality schooling as a core strategy for reducing child labour and breaking poverty cycles.
Strengthening Workforce
Builds capacity of social service professionals to prevent and respond to child labour effectively.
Business Partnerships
Guides companies to implement child-safe supply chains, following "Children's Rights and Business Principles".
Landmark Initiatives
Co-led the 1997 Atlanta Agreement to eliminate child labour in Pakistan's football industry, setting precedents.
Effective Approaches & Recommendations
Proven strategies that can make a real difference in eliminating child labour
Social Protection + Cash Transfers
Reduce economic reliance on child labour by providing families with financial support and social safety nets.
Legal Frameworks
Enforcement of age limits and hazardous work bans, plus birth registration to protect children's rights.
Decent Adult Incomes
Improve family livelihoods so children aren't forced to work to support household survival.
Girls' Education & Norm Change
Tackle discrimination in unpaid care work and promote equal educational opportunities for girls.
Way Forward
Replenish Funding
Increase investment in education, protection, and livelihoods to safeguard against regression and accelerate progress.
Scale Multisector Models
Accelerate coordinated programmes proven to work across education, protection, and economic sectors.
Enforce Labour Conventions
Implement ILO's C138/C182 conventions and ensure universal ratification and enforcement.
Private Sector Accountability
Expand child-safe sourcing practices and increase transparency in global supply chains.
Data-driven Monitoring
Refine indicators and improve data collection, including impacts of household chores and unpaid work.
Children Belong in Schools, Not Factories
UNICEF and ILO data confirm that although the scale of child labour has shrunk significantly, 138 million children still face it in 2024. With over a third exposed to dangerous conditions, reversing this trend requires urgent, funded, cross-sector efforts.
Conclusion
UNICEF's strategies across policy, field programs, and partnerships build a strong foundation—but global momentum and investment must grow if the world is to finally fulfil its pledge: children belong in schools and playgrounds—not factories and fields.