Reports from the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNICEF reveal that nearly 138 million children worldwide were engaged in child labour in 2024, with 54 million in hazardous work that risks their health and development. The joint report, titled Child Labour: Global Estimates 2024, marks a drop of over 22 million since 2020, but makes clear the world has missed its goal of eliminating child labour by 2025.
ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo said, “The findings … offer hope and show that progress is possible,” but warned, “we still have a long way to go”. UNICEF’s Catherine Russell added that legal safeguards, social protection, and investment in free, quality education are essential. She cautioned that “recent funding cuts … could push more vulnerable families to rely on child labour”.
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region most affected, with around 87 million child labourers, covering nearly two-thirds of the global total. While prevalence in the region fell from 24% to 22%, population growth has kept overall numbers unchanged. Globally, agriculture accounts for 61% of child labour, followed by services at 27% and industry at 13%.
This aligns with independent reporting from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), which emphasizes the urgent need for countries like Nigeria to strengthen enforcement of national laws, such as the Child Rights Act, and to expand access to free education and social safety nets. Nigeria is identified as a “Pathfinder Country” committed to eradicating child labour through improved legislation, community programmes, and rehabilitation efforts.
The ILO and UNICEF are calling on governments and donors to sustain and increase funding for education, livelihood support, and child protection systems to prevent any reversal of the gains made.
