The number of children engaged in child labour across the world dropped to 138 million in 2024, a notable decline of more than 20 million since 2020, according to a new report jointly released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
However, despite the reduction, an alarming 54 million of these children remain trapped in hazardous work jobs that endanger their safety, health, and development.
The findings, published ahead of the World Day Against Child Labour observed annually on 12 June, are detailed in a report titled “Child Labour: Global Estimates 2024, trends and the road forward.”
While the latest numbers signal a reversal of the sharp rise recorded between 2016 and 2020, the report warns that the global community is still far from achieving the target of eliminating child labour by 2025, a goal set under the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda.
ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo noted that although the decline is a positive step, the remaining figures are a stark reminder of the urgent need for sustained action.
“Children belong in school, not in labour. Parents must be supported and have access to decent work so that they can afford to ensure that their children are in classrooms and not selling things in markets or on family farms to help support their family,” said Houngbo.
“But we must not be blindsided by the fact that we still have a long way to go before we achieve our goal of eliminating child labour.”
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell also highlighted the dangers of complacency, especially amid shrinking global funding.
“The world has made significant progress in reducing the number of children forced into labour. Yet far too many children continue to toil in mines, factories or fields, often doing hazardous work to survive,” Russell stated.
“We know that progress towards ending child labour is possible by applying legal safeguards, expanded social protection, investment in free, quality education, and better access to decent work for adults. Global funding cuts threaten to roll back hard-earned gains. We must recommit to ensuring that children are in classrooms and playgrounds, not at work.”
Africa at the Centre of the Crisis
The report points to Sub-Saharan Africa as the epicentre of the global child labour crisis. The region alone accounts for approximately 87 million of the world’s child labourers—nearly two-thirds of the total. Although the prevalence rate dropped slightly from 24 per cent to 22 per cent, rapid population growth and persistent socioeconomic challenges have kept the overall number largely unchanged.
In contrast, Asia and the Pacific recorded the most significant decline, with numbers falling from 49 million to 28 million and the child labour rate halving from 6 per cent to 3 per cent within just four years. Latin America and the Caribbean also saw a slight numerical drop, from 8 million to 7 million, although the rate of child labour remained unchanged.
Globally, the agricultural sector continues to dominate child labour figures, accounting for 61 per cent of all cases. This is followed by services—such as domestic work and street vending—at 27 per cent, and industry, including mining and manufacturing, at 13 per cent.
Warning Signs and a Call to Action
The ILO and UNICEF cautioned that reductions in funding for education, social protection, and household livelihoods could reverse recent progress and push more children into exploitative work, particularly in fragile and low-income communities.
The report also expressed concern over declining investment in data systems that track child labour trends, warning that poor monitoring could weaken global responses and policy interventions.
According to the agencies, child labour not only violates children’s rights but also undermines their long-term potential. It is closely linked to poverty, weak education systems, and limited employment opportunities for adults.
Despite a global reduction in child labour from 246 million in 2000 to 138 million in 2024, the pace of change is slowing, with experts warning that current strategies may be insufficient to meet future targets.
To close the gap, the report calls for a multifaceted approach, including:
Increased investment in universal child benefits and social protection systems to reduce the economic pressure on families;
Enhanced legal frameworks to strengthen child protection and prevent exploitation;
Greater access to quality education, especially in rural and crisis-affected regions;
Decent employment opportunities for adults and youth to reduce the need for child labour;
Corporate and government accountability mechanisms to eliminate child labour from global supply chains.
The agencies concluded by urging world leaders not to lose momentum and to recommit to the fight against child labour, reaffirming that every child deserves a childhood free from exploitation and filled with opportunity.
