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UNICEF Warns Over 400 Million Children Living in Poverty Worldwide

More than 400 million children around the world are living in poverty, missing out on at least two essential needs such as nutrition, sanitation, health care, or education, a new UNICEF report has revealed to mark World Children’s Day.

The flagship report, The State of the World’s Children 2025: Ending Child Poverty – Our Shared Imperative, analyzed data from over 130 low- and middle-income countries. It shows that 417 million children are severely deprived in two or more areas crucial for their survival and development, while 118 million face three or more severe deprivations.

UNICEF cautions that the combined effects of conflict, climate crises, weakening economies, shrinking aid budgets, and demographic growth are pushing millions more children into hardship and risking a reversal of a decade of progress.

The report highlights that the highest levels of multidimensional child poverty are concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. In Chad, for example, 64% of children face two or more severe deprivations, and nearly a quarter face three or more.

Sanitation remains the most widespread deprivation globally, with 65% of children in low-income countries lacking access to a toilet.

UNICEF calls for urgent, coordinated action from governments, donors, and communities to address child poverty and ensure that every child has access to the basic necessities for a healthy and productive life.