Globally, an estimated 160 million children are engaged in child labor, which represents nearly 1 in 10 children worldwide. This figure includes 63 million girls and 97 million boys. A significant portion, 79 million, are working in hazardous conditions. The highest prevalence of child labor is in Africa, followed by Asia and the Pacific.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
- Global Prevalence: 160 million children are engaged in child labor.
- Gender Distribution: 63 million girls and 97 million boys are involved in child labor.
- Hazardous Work: Nearly half of all children in child labor, 79 million, are in hazardous conditions.
- Regional Distribution: Africa (72 million), followed by Asia and the Pacific (62 million), have the highest prevalence.
- India: The number of children in child labor in India ranges from 1.8 million (0.7% of all children aged 5-17 years) to 3.3 million (1.3% of children), depending on the definition used.