A child soldier is any person under 18 who is recruited or used by an armed force or armed group in any capacity. This includes not just fighters but children used as spies, cooks, porters, messengers, human shields, or who are subjected to sexual violence. Girls as well as boys are affected.
The term "child soldier" doesn't capture the full reality. These are children - stripped of their education, their safety, and their futures by adults who exploit their vulnerability.
What the data says
Updated May 2026
Thousands of children are involved in armed conflicts as soldiers worldwide. Between 2005 and 2022, more than 105,000 children were formally verified as recruited and used by parties to conflict - though the true number is believed to be far higher, as many cases go undetected and unreported.
Recruitment is rising, not falling. In 2024, the UN reported that armed groups had increased their recruitment and use of children despite 173 countries having ratified the Optional Protocol prohibiting it - with cases documented in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Somalia and more.
2024 marked the 35th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which should protect children from exactly this.
What is life like for child soldiers?
Life for children in armed groups is defined by fear, violence and loss. Most are forcibly recruited - taken from their homes, schools or communities, often after witnessing the murder of family members.
Children recruited into armed forces experience severe physical and psychological harm. They are exposed to combat, injury, and death. Many girls are subjected to sexual violence and forced to act as "wives" to commanders. Those used in non-combat roles - carrying supplies, preparing food, gathering intelligence - face the same trauma and danger.
Even when children escape or are released, the harm doesn't end. Returning to a community after being associated with an armed group is deeply difficult. Children may be rejected by families and neighbours, unable to return to school, and without the psychological support they need to process what they've experienced.
Why are children recruited?
Armed groups target children deliberately. Children are easier to control than adults, ask fewer questions, and can be manipulated through fear, indoctrination or promises of food and protection. In communities where families have lost livelihoods to conflict or poverty, children are sometimes handed over in exchange for money or under direct threat.
Children from the most vulnerable backgrounds - those who have lost parents, who live in displacement camps, who are out of school - are at highest risk. UNICEF data shows children from the poorest households are more than twice as likely to be recruited compared to those from wealthier families.
What does international law say?
International law is unambiguous. The recruitment and use of children under 15 as soldiers is a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict, which has been ratified by 173 countries, prohibits any recruitment of children under 18 by non-state armed groups, and requires states to take all feasible measures to prevent those under 18 from being used in hostilities.
Despite this, violations continue across dozens of countries every year.
How Save the Children protects children from recruitment and supports survivors
Save the Children works in many of the countries most affected by child soldier recruitment, and our approach has three strands.
Prevention: We work with communities, schools and families in high-risk areas to reduce children's vulnerability to recruitment. This includes keeping children in education, supporting displaced families with cash and livelihoods so children aren't driven to armed groups through desperation, and strengthening community protection mechanisms.
Release and reintegration: We work with partners to support the release of children from armed groups and to help them reintegrate into their families and communities. This includes family tracing, psychosocial support, catch-up education, and vocational training for older children. Reintegration is a long process - it can take years - and children need sustained support throughout.
Advocacy: We call on governments and armed groups to uphold international law, release children, and end recruitment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child soldiers
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How many child soldiers are there in the world?
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Thousand of children are involved in armed conflicts worldwide. Between 2005 and 2022, more than 105,000 were formally verified as recruited and used by parties to conflict - a figure experts believe significantly underestimates the true scale.
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What do child soldiers do?
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Child soldiers serve in a wide range of roles - not just as fighters. They work as scouts, spies, cooks, porters, messengers and guards. Many, particularly girls, are subjected to sexual violence and forced marriage. Some are used as human shields or suicide bombers. The term "child soldier" covers any child recruited or used by an armed force or group in any capacity.
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What is life like for a child soldier?
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Life in an armed group is marked by violence, fear and severe psychological harm. Children are separated from their families, often forced to witness or commit acts of violence, and denied access to education and normal childhood. Girls are frequently subjected to sexual abuse. Even after leaving an armed group, many children struggle to reintegrate into their communities due to stigma, trauma and lack of support.
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Is child soldiering a war crime?
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Yes. Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, recruiting or using children under 15 as soldiers is a war crime. The Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by 173 countries, prohibits all recruitment of under-18s by non-state armed groups and requires states to prevent those under 18 from participating in hostilities.
Read the story of Michael: A child soldier’s Guiding Light
