Child Labour
Global estimates 2024, trends and the road forward
Highlights
Nearly 138 million children are in child labour, including 54 million in hazardous work. Since 2000, child labour has nearly halved, dropping from 246 million children. Despite progress, the world has missed its target to end child labour by 2025. Ending it in all its forms in the next five years would require progress to be 11 times faster.
“Child Labour: Global estimates 2024, trends and the road forward," underscores a stark reality that while gains have been made, millions of children are still being denied their right to learn, play, and simply be children. The report shows that progress is possible with the right policies in place—such as strong legal safeguards, expanded social protection, investment in free, quality education, and better access to decent work for adults.
