Child labour facts. It can lead to slavery and sexual or economic exploitation. Child labor not only impacts one generation, but every one that follows. Keep reading to learn more about the top 15 child labor facts everyone needs to know. Cases of child labor violations have fallen since the early 2000s. In many societies, children as young as 13 are seen as adults and engage in the same activities as The 2021 International Labour Organization report indicates that a total of 3. These legal frameworks combined with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8. Explore the causes and consequences of child labour, its global prevalence and the importance of education in combating this issue. Here are 10 child labor facts about the perpetuating cycle of poverty that results from depriving children of an education. Nearly 138 million children were engaged in child labour in 2024, including around 54 million in hazardous work likely to jeopardize their health, safety, or development, according to new estimates released today. Nevertheless up to a fourth of all hazardous child labour (19 million) is done by children less than 12 years old. Child Labour: Global estimates 2020, trends and the road forward takes stock of where we stand in the global effort to end child labour. Hazardous child labour is most prevalent among the 15-17 years old. Among them: For the first time in two decades, the number of children being put to work has risen – to 160 million worldwide, representing an increase of 8. Learn the heartbreaking facts about child labor around the world and then take action to stop it. All work done by children under the age of 15 and dangerous work done by children under the age of […] Child labour impedes children from gaining the skills and education they need to have opportunities of decent work as an adult. Explore child labour statistics 2026 – 138M children worldwide. For centuries, it wasn’t strange for children to work alongside adults doing dangerous tasks in harsh conditions. Children often begin to actively participate in activities such as child rearing, hunting and farming as soon as they are competent. How UNICEF protects children who are vulnerable. Many working conditions for child laborers are hazardous 4. [video] It is beyond despicable that an estimated 218 million children as young as 5 years old are employed, and that at least 152 million are in forced child labour, according to basic facts about child labour published by the Child labour Coalition. Child labor is a global phenomenon and it stands in the way of a child's education and his or her mental and physical development. The percentage of children in child labour remained unchanged over the four-year period while the absolute number of children in child labour increased by over 8 million. FAQs on School-Based Vocational Education Programs Quick Links Child Labor Fact Sheets Order Free Publications Questions? Contact Us. Child Labour- Facts and Figures in the world Nearly 138 million children were engaged in child labour in 2024, including around 54 million in hazardous work likely to jeopardize their health, safety, or development, according to new estimates released on June 11, 2025, by the ILO and UNICEF. Consequently, too many search terms may yield no results. WHD Fact Sheets You can filter fact sheets by typing a search term related to the Title, Fact Sheet Number, Year, or Topic into the “Search” box. ILO estimates are based primarily on household survey data collected with national statistical offices. Informal workers typically face poor working conditions and do not benefit from their freedom of association and collective bargaining rights, increasing the likelihood of child labour, including its worst forms. According to the publicly available data discussed in more detail below, Sub-Saharan Africa is the region where child labor is most The percentage of children in child labour remained unchanged over the four-year period while the absolute number of children in child labour increased by over 8 million. It also describes the evolving profile of children in child labour, outlines the nature of child labour and where it is concentrated, and explores the impact of child labour on schooling. 7 to End Child Labor by 2025 create a mandate to act. And in nearly every case, it cuts children off from schooling and health care, restricting their fundamental rights. Child labor begins as early as five years 3. Despite progress, child labour still affects 138 million children globally – ILO, UNICEF New report shows an almost 50 per cent reduction since start of century, but world fails to reach elimination targets Child labor is still a problem in the United States and worldwide. Among them: June 12 is World Day Against Child Labour. These shocking facts about child labor demonstrate the detrimental effects of the practice on the countries which it plagues. Boys are more affected by child labor than girls. Child labour facts and figures: 138M kids working worldwide. This year is the International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour which calls on all of us to raise awareness of the importance of the eradication of child labour, and to share best practices. Discover causes, effects, and where child labour is most common. Our goal is to ensure that all New York workers are being paid the proper wages, do not have their right to a meal period or day of rest violated, and to uphold New York State Labor Laws. International standards define child labour as work that is hazardous to a child’s health and development, demands too many hours and/or is performed by children who are too young. The latest global estimates indicate that the number of children in child labour has risen to 160 million worldwide – an increase of 8. Quick facts about human trafficking which is the crime of compelling a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. 63 million girls and 97 million boys were in child labour globally at the beginning of 2020, accounting for almost 1 in 10 of all children worldwide. Inequality, lack of educational opportunities, slow demographic transition, traditions and cultural expectations all contribute to the persistence of child labour in India. . The International Labour Organisation states in its 2013 World Report on Child Labour that there were around 265 million working children in the world — almost 17 per cent of the worldwide child population. Jan 30, 2026 · Child labor, employment of children of less than a legally specified age. 2 The facts also reveal several other startling realities about child labour. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor standards affecting full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in Federal, State, and local governments. The latest joint publication from UNICEF and ILO provides an overview of child labour patterns and trends both globally and regionally. MRC Video, the multimedia arm of MRC, offers original content and news videos for conservatives, featuring TV appearances, analysis, and humor. See charts, causes, effects, and regional data from ILO & UNICEF. Child labor is on an upward trend 2. The Division of Labor Standards protects all workers, including those that are undocumented or paid off the books, and ensures employers are following Labor Laws. Learn how World Vision is tackling child labour & how you can help. An event in Geneva on June 12 will feature the testimony of a young advocate from Lebanon who was in child labour, a reading by the young world-renowned poet Emtithal Mahmoud and a performance by World Day Against Child Labour is to focus world attention on the urgent need to eradicate child labour. 3 million children are in situations of forced labour on any given day, accounting for about 12 per cent of all those in forced labour. In Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand, children under age 15 rarely work except in commercial agriculture, because of the effective enforcement of laws passed in the first half of the 20th century. Hazardous child labour is work done by a child under 18 years old that is likely to harm his or her mental and/or physical conditions. Aug 17, 2022 · About 218 million children aged 5-17 around the world are engaged in child labour; working in jobs that deprive them of their childhood, interfere with schooling, or harm their mental, physical, or social development. 7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs The International Labour Organization’s most recent global estimates indicate that the number of children involved in child labour fell by 11 per cent, to 218 million, between 2000 and 20041. The more search terms, the narrower the results. 4 million children in the last four years. Child labour is most prevalent in the informal economy, which often operates outside legal and social protection frameworks. Explore the topic through photos from around the world. Three main international human New Delhi, A Delhi court has convicted a toy-factory owner for employing minors at his unit in the Inderlok area here in 2016, while acquitting him and his co-accused of the charges of human Child labour forms an intrinsic part of pre-industrial economies. Linkedin Publication details Date 23 September 2013 Content also available in:españolfrançais Find out 15 Appalling Facts About Child Labor 1. The International Labour Organization’s most recent global estimates indicate that the number of children involved in child labour fell by 11 per cent, to 218 million, between 2000 and 20041. It is one of the worst forms of child labour, as defined in ILO Convention 182 on Worst Forms of Child Labour How many children are in child labour? Facebook There are 138 million of children in child labour Not all work performed by children is child labour. ‘Child Labour’ is work performed by a child that is likely to interfere with his or her right to education, or to be harmful to their health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development. 13 Facts about Child Labor Most people believe children should be protected from dangerous work, but that wasn’t always the case. It stops children from going to school. It is beyond despicable that an estimated 218 million children as young as 5 years old are employed, and that at least 152 million are in forced child labor, according to basic facts about child labor published by the Child labor Coalition. Child labour is different from children doing light chores or helping their families. It can also be harmful to their minds, bodies, and feelings. Almost 138 million children around the world are engaged in child labor, with 54 million working in hazardous conditions in agriculture, mining, domestic labor, and other sectors. S. Children over the world are being exploited through extreme & dangerous work. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor standards affecting most full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in federal, state, and local governments. org Child labour can result in extreme bodily and mental harm, and even death. Child labor deprives children of their safety, childhood, and futures. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security remains resolute in advancing Jamaica’s leadership role in the global movement to eradicate child labour, ensuring that every child is protected, empowered, and given the opportunity to thrive. And owing to data constraints, these numbers, already alarming, may well be just the tip of the iceberg. Visit Compassion International today to learn more. Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, have recently claimed that hundreds of thousands of migrant children who crossed the U. Statistics on child labour Child labour statistics describe the extent and characteristics of children engaged in work that is harmful or interferes with schooling. The FMLA provides eligible employees unpaid, job-protected leave for family and medical reasons, with continued health insurance coverage. [19][20] In pre-industrial societies, there is rarely a concept of childhood in the modern sense. See full list on worldvision. A terrible yet all too real human rights issue that exists in today's world is the existence of child labor. 2 The facts also reveal several other startling realities about child labor. The list of fact sheets below will update as you type in your keyword. [4] Get to grips with these 30 shocking child labor statistics and facts, including data across countries, risk factors, and child trafficking data. What is child labour and what is Canada doing about it? Get the facts on what causes child labour, the global supply chain and what you can do to help stop it. On tobacco farms Child labor is illegal under numerous laws and conventions around the world, and new legislation is pending in a number of countries. Child Labor Facts. Published in the United Nations International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), co-custodians of target 8. 4 million over four years – while millions of other are at risk due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new UN report launched on Thursday. ADDIS ABABA, June 10 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The United Nations says child labour is on the rise for the first time in 20 years, with millions more young people at risk of becoming child Child prostitution, like other forms of child sexual abuse, not only causes death and high morbidity rates in millions of children but also violates their rights and dignity. Today, we often see young boys and girls working in tea stalls, restaurants, hotels, and small shops. Worldwide 218 million children between 5 and 17 years are in employment; 152 million are victims of child labour. Almost half of them, 73 million, work in hazardous child labour. However, they are considered to be engaged in child labour when they are either too young to work, work for long hours, or are involved in hazardous activities that, by its nature or circumstances, is likely to harm children’s health, safety or morals. But from 2015 to 2022, the number of minors employed in violation of child labor laws rose by 283%. Nearly – 152 million – work under hazardous conditions. So what is child labour, how many children are affected, where are they and what jobs do they do? Many of these children are deprived of education, proper nutrition and a childhood without sports or playtime. Empower yourself with knowledge to protect children against child labour, especially the most vulnerable and the hardest to reach. Child labour is against the law in most countries. Children around the world are routinely engaged in paid and unpaid forms of work that are not harmful to them. vcel04, wa1ef, nt4d5b, pc6s, i9v25k, mtmhq3, ix9x, qqzn, u7r0w, 3sbm,