Global Child Poverty Sees Significant Decline, But Disparities Persist

A decade of concerted effort has led to a notable reduction in global child poverty, with approximately 100 million fewer children living in extreme poverty in 2024 compared to 2014. Despite this progress, significant regional disparities remain, and children continue to be disproportionately affected by poverty worldwide.

Key Takeaways

Global extreme child poverty has fallen from 507 million in 2014 to 412 million in 2024.
Children represent over half of the global population living on less than $3.00 per day, despite being only 30% of the total population.
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the epicenter of extreme child poverty, with little progress over the last decade.
South Asia and East Asia/Pacific regions have shown remarkable improvements.
The Middle East and North Africa region has experienced a concerning increase in child poverty.

Global Progress and Persistent Challenges

Recent analyses from the World Bank and UNICEF reveal that as of 2024, around 412 million children, or over 19% of the global child population, live on less than $3.00 per day. This marks a significant decrease from 507 million children in 2014. However, children remain disproportionately vulnerable, constituting more than half of those living in extreme poverty globally, even though they make up only 30% of the total population.

At a higher poverty threshold of $8.30 per day, which is more relevant for middle-income countries, the situation is more concerning. In 2024, nearly 1.4 billion children, or approximately 66% of the global child population, lived below this line. While this is an improvement from 73% in 2014, the sheer scale highlights the need for continued action.

Regional Divergences in Child Poverty

The progress in reducing child poverty is not uniform across all regions. Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be the most affected, with over 52% of children living on less than $3.00 per day in 2024, a rate that has remained largely unchanged since 2014. Factors such as rapid population growth, fragility, conflict, and climate vulnerability contribute to the challenges in this region.

In contrast, South Asia has made substantial strides, more than halving its extreme child poverty rate over the past decade. India, in particular, has seen a significant reduction in the number of extremely poor children. Similarly, the East Asia and Pacific region has experienced considerable gains, with countries like Indonesia leading the way in lifting children out of poverty.

The Middle East and North Africa region stands out as the only area that has seen a reversal in progress, with extreme child poverty nearly doubling between 2014 and 2024. This increase is largely attributed to deteriorating living conditions in countries like Yemen.

Looking Ahead

The past decade demonstrates that reducing child poverty is achievable, even amidst global crises. However, the pace of progress for children often lags behind that for adults, and significant regional disparities persist. Ending child poverty requires sustained, targeted, and inclusive efforts, prioritizing children as a crucial investment in our collective future.