‘Half Of Sub-Saharan African Children Still In Extreme Poverty’, Say World Bank, UNICEF

A caller study by the World Bank and UNICEF has revealed that contempt planetary advancement successful reducing utmost kid poverty, Sub-Saharan Africa has seen nary betterment successful the past decade, with much than fractional of children successful the portion inactive surviving beneath the poorness line.

The report, ‘Child Poverty: Global, Regional and Select National Trends’, released successful September 2025, showed that portion the planetary fig of children successful utmost poorness fell from 507 cardinal successful 2014 to 412 cardinal successful 2024, Sub-Saharan Africa remained disproportionately affected.

“Child poorness rates alteration substantially crossed regions. While Sub-Saharan Africa is location to astir 23 per cent of the world’s kid population, it accounts for astir three-quarters—over 312 million, of each children surviving successful utmost poverty,” the study stated.

At astir 52 per cent successful 2024, the region’s kid poorness complaint remains unchanged from 2014.

Globally, astir 1 successful 5 children lives successful utmost poverty, defined arsenic households surviving connected little than $3 a day.

The study stressed that children are disproportionately impacted, making up much than fractional of the world’s utmost poor, contempt representing lone 30 per cent of the population.

Global Director of the World Bank’s Poverty Department, Luis Felipe López-Calva, said: “Extreme poorness among children has go progressively entrenched successful places wherever it is hardest to eradicate. Economic maturation is indispensable but not sufficient—stronger investments successful infrastructure, quality capital, and institutions are critical.”

Some regions person recorded important progress. In South Asia, kid poorness rates were chopped by much than fractional betwixt 2014 and 2024, with India starring the decline. East Asia and the Pacific besides achieved notable reductions.

In contrast, the Middle East and North Africa saw setbacks, with kid poorness astir doubling from 7.2 per cent successful 2014 to 13.3 per cent successful 2024.

UNICEF’s Director of Programmes, George Laryea-Adjei, emphasised that the situation was reversible, “Ending kid poorness is simply a argumentation choice. Governments indispensable enactment with urgency to guarantee entree to education, nutrition, healthcare, and societal protection, portion prioritising susceptible regions similar Sub-Saharan Africa.”

In Nigeria, a caller UNICEF survey recovered that 69.2 per cent of children successful Kano State are multi-dimensionally poor, lacking entree to education, healthcare, nutrition, and shelter. Nearly 60 per cent besides unrecorded successful monetary poverty.

Sharp disparities persist crossed the country: poorness rates among children scope astir 90 per cent successful the North-East and North-West, compared to 74 per cent successful the South-East and 65 per cent successful the South-West. In immoderate states, including Bayelsa, Gombe, Sokoto, and Kebbi, kid poorness surpasses 95 per cent.

UNICEF has urged governments to summation budgetary allocations for child-focused programmes, citing initiatives specified arsenic Universal Child Benefits successful Katsina and Kano arsenic affirmative steps.

The bureau besides called connected the media to rise consciousness connected children’s rights, schoolhouse enrolment, and the dangers of unit against children.