Global Child Labor Declines by 22 Million as International Efforts Show Measurable Success

New ILO-UNICEF data shows 22 million fewer children in child labor since 2020, with Asia-Pacific achieving the most significant reduction. Progress demonstrates that coordinated policy action and social protection programs can effectively combat child labor.

The number of children trapped in child labor worldwide has fallen by more than 22 million since 2020, according to new global estimates released by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF on June 11, 2025. The landmark report, titled "Child Labour: Global Estimates 2024, Trends and the Road Forward," documents the first significant decline in child labor after years of stagnation and setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, offering concrete evidence that coordinated international action can protect vulnerable children.

According to the joint report, approximately 138 million children were engaged in child labor in 2024, down from 160 million in 2020. Of these, around 54 million children remain in hazardous work that jeopardizes their health, safety, or development—a figure that itself represents a reduction of 25 million from 2020 levels. The decline marks a critical return to the "path of progress" that had been interrupted by the global pandemic, which had previously pushed millions of children into the workforce as families struggled with economic devastation.

Asia and the Pacific region achieved the most dramatic improvement, with the child labor rate dropping from 6 percent to 3 percent between 2020 and 2024, representing a reduction from 49 million to 28 million children. Latin America and the Caribbean also demonstrated measurable absolute declines in child labor numbers, though prevalence rates in the region remained stable. These regional successes provide a roadmap for how targeted interventions—including expanded social protection programs, improved access to quality education, and economic support for vulnerable families—can translate into real-world outcomes for children.

"The findings of our report offer hope and show that progress is possible," said ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo in a statement accompanying the report's release. "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 labor." His remarks reflect both the encouraging momentum and the sobering reality that the international community fell short of its commitment to eliminate all child labor by 2025—a target established under the Sustainable Development Goals adopted in 2015.

The long-term perspective reveals both how far the world has come and how much work remains. Since 2000, child labor has nearly halved, dropping from 246 million children to the current 138 million. This represents one of the most significant human development achievements of the past quarter-century, accomplished through sustained advocacy, legal reforms, corporate responsibility initiatives, and the expansion of educational opportunities. However, the 138 million children still in child labor—representing nearly 1 in 10 children worldwide—underscores that the job remains unfinished.

The report highlights several key drivers behind the recent progress. Expanded social protection coverage has allowed families to weather economic shocks without resorting to pulling children out of school. Improvements in education quality and accessibility—particularly in rural areas where child labor is most prevalent—have made school attendance more attractive than child labor. Additionally, strengthened legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms, combined with growing corporate accountability for supply chain practices, have reduced demand for child labor in both formal and informal sectors.

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with the highest prevalence of child labor, with rates three times higher than Northern Africa and Western Asia. The region accounts for nearly 87 million children in child labor, reflecting persistent challenges including widespread poverty, limited access to quality education, and agricultural economies where family-based child labor remains culturally entrenched. Addressing these structural factors will be essential for achieving the ultimate goal of eliminating child labor globally.

Why it matters

The decline in child labor represents more than statistics—it means millions of children are now in classrooms instead of workplaces, developing skills that will benefit them and their societies for decades. This progress demonstrates that well-funded, coordinated international development efforts can achieve measurable results, providing a model for addressing other global challenges.

Background

The global fight against child labor accelerated in 1999 with the adoption of ILO Convention 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, which has since become the most rapidly ratified convention in ILO history. In 2015, world leaders committed to eliminating all forms of child labor by 2025 as part of Sustainable Development Goal Target 8.7. While the 2025 target will not be fully met, the recent progress shows the framework established by these commitments can drive real change when backed by adequate resources and political will.

What's next

The ILO and UNICEF emphasize that accelerating progress will require scaling up successful interventions: expanding social protection to all families, ensuring universal access to quality education, and promoting decent work opportunities for adults so parents don't need to rely on their children's labor. The organizations also stress the importance of addressing the root causes of child labor, including poverty, conflict, and discrimination, to ensure the recent gains are sustained and extended to the world's most vulnerable children.