Child poverty in Africa
African children are more likely than children in the rest of the world to grow up malnourished, without an education, and affected by conflict and HIV/AIDS.
HIV/AIDS continues to ravage parts of the continent - with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for 70 per cent of all new infections in the world. More than 140 million children in sub-Saharan Africa live in extreme poverty.
The distribution of Africa's population is changing rapidly as more and more people move from rural areas to the cities. This, coupled with the prevailing poverty, is changing the traditional structure of African families. The number of women- and children-headed households is increasing. Approximately one third of households are now headed by women. These trends, combined with male labour migration and HIV/AIDS, are contributing to the decline of traditional childcare support systems.
The under-five mortality rate varies within Africa. In 2000 in sub-Saharan Africa, 175 children out of every 1000 died before they reached their fifth birthday. When compared with infant mortality rates in Asia and the Americas, African rates have improved much more slowly in recent decades.
Key issues affecting Africa's children and young people vary between countries. They include (in no particular order):
- poverty
- inadequate public services
- poor governance
- international debt
- HIV/AIDS
- conflict
- child trafficking / labour
- vulnerability to environment and climate change
- trade obstacles
- cultural attitudes towards change
Source of statistics: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, NEPAD's Health Strategy (2005)
Child poverty in Africa: the facts
- 200,000 child slaves are sold every year in Africa. There are an estimated 8,000 girl-slaves in West Africa alone. (sources: BBC 5 October, 2001 & Anti-Slavery Society)
- About 120,000 African children are participating in armed conflicts. Some are as young as 7 years old. (source: Africa Children’s Charter)
- Children account for half of all civilian casualties in wars in Africa. (source: Africa 2015)
- One in six African children dies before the age of five. Most of these deaths could be prevented. (source: Africa 2015)
- Nearly one third of children in Sub-Saharan Africa are underweight. (source: UNICEF)
- In sub-Saharan Africa, measles takes the life of a child nearly every minute of every day. An effective measles vaccine costs as little as $1 per child. (source: UNICEF)
- Between 12 and 14 million African children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. (source: World Bank/UNICEF)
- Nearly 2 million children under 14 years old are HIV positive. (source: UNICEF)
- 43% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have safe, accessible drinking water. (source: UNICEF)
- 64% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have adequate sanitation. (source: UNICEF)
- Only 57% of African children are enrolled in primary education, and one in three of those does not complete school. (source: Africa 2015)
- For every 100 boys there are only 83 girls enrolled at primary school. (source: World Bank)
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