Child labour is work that harms children's physical or mental development, interferes with their education, or deprives them of their childhood. It includes any activity that is exploitative, dangerous, or excessive for a child's age—preventing them from growing up safely, attending school, and reaching their full potential.
From cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo to garment factories in South Asia, millions of children worldwide are trapped in hazardous work instead of learning, playing, and simply being children.
But this doesn't have to be their reality.
With the right support and action, we can break the cycle of child labour and give every child the chance they deserve.
How Many Children Are Affected?
Updated January 2026
Approximately 138 million children globally are engaged in child labour—nearly one in ten children worldwide. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates, where nearly one in five children works in conditions that compromise their health, safety, and education.
Progress has been made: There are over 100 million fewer children in child labour today than in 2000, even as the child population increased by 230 million over the same period. However, this decline has stalled. Conflict, climate emergencies, and economic instability continue to push vulnerable families into desperate situations where child labour becomes a survival strategy.
The challenge is urgent—but it's also solvable. When communities receive the right resources and support, children return to school, families find sustainable income, and entire regions can shift away from relying on child labour.
Causes of Child Labour
Understanding why child labour persists is the first step toward ending it. Multiple interconnected factors drive children into work, and addressing them requires coordinated, long-term action.
Limited Access to Education
When schools are too far away, too expensive, or simply unavailable, children miss out on education and are more likely to enter the workforce. 244 million children and young people are out of school globally. Without education, children are denied the tools they need to break free from poverty and build better futures.
Conflict and Displacement
Armed conflict destroys schools, displaces families, and creates chaos where child labour thrives. Children fleeing violence often end up in refugee camps or informal settlements with no access to education or safe income opportunities. Over 43 million children have been forcibly displaced due to conflict and persecution—many of whom face exploitation and hazardous work.
Poverty
Poverty is the single biggest driver of child labour. When families struggle to afford food, rent, or basic necessities, children's earnings—however small—can mean the difference between eating and going hungry. Over 800 million people live in extreme poverty, and many of these families depend on their children's labour to survive.
Cultural Norms and Traditions
In some communities, it's seen as normal—even beneficial—for children to work. Traditional practices or gender norms may prioritize boys' education while expecting girls to contribute to household income or care responsibilities. Challenging these deeply rooted beliefs requires sensitive, community-led approaches that demonstrate the long-term value of education for all children.
Weak Enforcement of Labour Laws
Even when laws exist to protect children, enforcement is often weak or inconsistent. Corruption, lack of resources, and inadequate monitoring mean that exploitative employers face little consequence for hiring children.
Effects and Consequences of Child Labour
Child labour doesn't just steal childhoods—it causes lasting harm that can echo through generations.
Physical Health Risks
Children working in agriculture, mining, or manufacturing are exposed to dangerous machinery, toxic chemicals, and physically exhausting labour. Young bodies are still developing, making them more vulnerable to injury and long-term health problems. In 2024, 54 million children work in hazardous conditions that threaten their immediate safety and future wellbeing.
Psychological Harm
The trauma of exploitation, abuse, and loss of childhood can lead to anxiety, depression, and developmental delays. Children forced into labour often experience feelings of hopelessness and low self-worth, which can persist into adulthood and affect their ability to form healthy relationships and contribute to their communities.
Education Deprivation
When children work, they miss school—or drop out entirely. This robs them of literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking skills that would otherwise open doors to better opportunities. Without education, children remain trapped in low-wage, insecure work, perpetuating the cycle of poverty.
Cycle of Poverty
Children who miss out on education are less likely to secure stable, well-paid work as adults. This means their own children are more likely to face the same struggles, creating an intergenerational trap that's hard to escape without targeted intervention.
Social Impacts
Child labour weakens entire communities. When large numbers of children work instead of attending school, economies suffer from lower productivity, reduced innovation, and limited social mobility. Ending child labour isn't just the right thing to do—it's essential for building prosperous, resilient societies.
Faustin*, 11, and his mother Marie* live in the Lualaba province, southwest of the DRC. Their lives took a turn for worse after the death of his father in 2019, as Marie* had no means to support Faustin*’s education, leading the two to find work in a mine.
In Which Countries is Child Labour Most Common?
Child labour is most prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa, where conflict, poverty, and climate-related disasters create desperate conditions for families. Nearly 87 million children in Sub-Saharan Africa are engaged in child labour—more than any other region.
Countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and Somalia have particularly high rates, often linked to ongoing conflict, displacement, and weak governance. In Asia, countries like India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan also report significant numbers of child labourers, particularly in agriculture, textile production, and domestic work.
Common Sectors Where Child Labour Occurs
Child labour spans multiple industries, but certain sectors rely heavily on children's work:
Agriculture: The largest sector, employing around 60% of child labourers globally. Children work on farms, plantations, and in fisheries—often in hazardous conditions.
Mining: Children extract minerals like cobalt, gold, and diamonds, working in dangerous underground environments with little to no safety equipment.
Manufacturing: From garment factories to brick kilns, children work long hours in poorly ventilated spaces, handling heavy machinery and toxic substances.
Domestic work: Often hidden from view, children—particularly girls—work as domestic servants, facing exploitation, abuse, and isolation.
Street work: Children sell goods, beg, or provide services in urban areas, exposed to violence, trafficking, and other forms of exploitation.
International Laws
The fight against child labour is supported by robust international legal frameworks designed to protect children:
UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989): Recognises every child's right to protection from economic exploitation and hazardous work. Learn more.
ILO Convention No. 138 (Minimum Age Convention): Sets the minimum age for employment at 15 years (or 14 in developing countries) and 18 for hazardous work. Learn more.
ILO Convention No. 182 (Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention): Calls for the immediate elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including slavery, trafficking, and work that harms children's health or morals. Learn more.
UN Sustainable Development Goal 8.7: Commits countries to ending child labour in all its forms by 2025. Track progress.
While these laws provide a strong foundation, enforcement remains inconsistent. Ensuring children are protected requires sustained political will, adequate funding, and community engagement.
How Save the Children Stands Up Against Child Labour
At Save the Children, we know that every child deserves to learn, play, and grow up safe—not spend their childhood working in dangerous conditions. That's why we're working with communities, governments, and partners worldwide to tackle the root causes of child labour and support children to return to school.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, we've helped children like Muntosh*, 12, escape hazardous work in cobalt mines and reclaim their education.
For six years, Muntosh and his father Jacque worked underground, digging for cobalt to afford food. The work was exhausting, dangerous, and robbed Muntosh of his childhood. "I don't like going into quarries because it hurts my body," he said. "Apart from that, there are landslides that kill." Tragically, Muntosh lost his older brother in a mining accident.
Through our Catch-up Clubs programme, Muntosh joined accelerated learning classes designed to help former child labourers catch up on missed education. Within weeks, he was reading and writing again. "I feel great," he said. "Because my intelligence is coming back. I'm trying to take care of my life."
Munstosh*, 12, and his father Jacque* live in the Lualaba province, southwest of the DRC. Difficult living conditions had led them to find works in a cobalt mine to support their family and afford food.
We've now expanded Catch-up Clubs to 10 countries, helping thousands of children return to school and rebuild their futures. But education alone isn't enough. We also provide learning materials, strengthen child protection systems, and support families with sustainable income opportunities—so children like Muntosh don't have to choose between school and survival.
Together, we can end child labour. Whether through supporting education, advocating for stronger laws, or funding programmes that give families alternatives, every action brings us closer to a world where all children are free to be children.
Long-Term Solutions to Child Labour
Ending child labour requires more than quick fixes—it demands sustained, systemic change:
Investing in quality education: Making school free, accessible, and relevant ensures children stay in the classroom instead of entering the workforce.
Tackling poverty: Expanding social protection systems, creating jobs for adults, and supporting sustainable livelihoods reduces families' reliance on children's income.
Strengthening child protection systems: Training social workers, establishing reporting mechanisms, and ensuring children have safe spaces to seek help are critical.
Addressing root causes of conflict and displacement: Peacebuilding, humanitarian support, and climate action reduce the conditions that drive child labour.
Empowering communities: When communities lead the change, solutions are more effective and sustainable. Supporting local organizations and amplifying children's voices ensures interventions meet real needs.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Labour
What is the difference between child work and child labour?
Not all work done by children is harmful. Light work—like helping with household chores or earning pocket money—can teach responsibility and life skills, as long as it doesn't interfere with education or wellbeing. Child labour, however, is work that is dangerous, exploitative, or prevents children from attending school and developing healthily.
How old must a child be to work legally?
International standards set by the ILO recommend a minimum working age of 15 years (or 14 in developing countries). Children aged 13-15 may perform light work that doesn't harm their health or education. Hazardous work should be restricted to those aged 18 and over.
How can communities prevent child labour?
Communities play a vital role in ending child labour by:
Prioritizing education and ensuring all children can attend school
Supporting families with income-generating opportunities so children don't need to work
Raising awareness about the harms of child labour and the benefits of education
Reporting cases of exploitation and holding employers accountable
Creating safe spaces where children can play, learn, and thrive
How is Child Labour Being Tackled?
Governments, NGOs, and communities worldwide are taking action to reduce child labour:
Cash transfer programmes: Providing financial support to vulnerable families reduces the economic pressure to send children to work. Evidence from the World Bank shows that cash transfers can significantly reduce child labour rates.
Education initiatives: Building schools, training teachers, and providing learning materials make education accessible and appealing. Save the Children's Catch-up Clubs, launched in 2021, help children who've fallen behind return to school and catch up on lost learning. Learn more about our education work.
Strengthening labour laws and enforcement: Supporting governments to develop and enforce robust child labour laws ensures exploitative employers are held accountable.
Community awareness campaigns: Changing cultural norms and raising awareness about the harms of child labour encourages communities to prioritize education and child protection.
Corporate accountability: Pushing companies to ensure their supply chains are free from child labour creates economic incentives for change.
*Names changed to protect identities
