NEW YORK, 20 November 2024 – The future of future generations will be at risk unless urgent action is taken to protect children’s rights in a changing world, UNICEF warned in a major report released today on World Children’s Day.
The report, The State of the World’s Children 2024: The Future of Childhood in a Changing World, estimates how three major global influences (or megatrends) will affect children’s lives through 2050 and beyond. These global influences—demographic changes, technological inequalities, and climate and environmental crises—point to the challenges and opportunities that children may face in the future.
“Children face a multitude of crises, from climate shocks to online dangers, and these crises are set to intensify in the coming years,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “The insights in this report show that the decisions world leaders make, or fail to make, today will shape the world children will inherit. Building a better future for children in 2050 requires much more than just imagining it. Urgent action is therefore essential. The progress made over the past two to three decades, especially for girls, is under threat.”
The climate crisis is already having devastating effects, with 2023 being the hottest year on record. The report predicts that in the decade from 2050 to 2059, eight times as many children will be exposed to extreme heatwaves, three times as many river floods and nearly twice as many extreme wildfires compared to the 2000s. Climate and environmental crises are expected to become more widespread during this period.
How these climate hazards affect children will vary depending on their age, health, socio-economic status and access to resources. For example, a child with access to climate-resilient housing, cooling infrastructure, health care, education and clean water has a better chance of surviving climate shocks than a child without. The report also highlights the urgent need for targeted environmental action plans to protect all children and reduce the risks they face.
Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are projected to have the largest child populations by the 2050s. At the same time, it is noted that the population is aging. The proportion of children is expected to decrease in every region of the world. In Africa, the child population, which was 50 percent in the 2000s, is still high, but this proportion is falling below 40 percent. The proportion of children is falling below 17 percent in East Asia and Western Europe. In these regions, children made up 29 percent and 20 percent of the population, respectively, in the 2000s.
These demographic changes present their own challenges, with some countries under pressure to expand services for their growing child populations, while others are struggling to balance the needs of their growing elderly populations.
According to the report, new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) also bring both opportunities and dangers for children. Many children already interact with AI assistants embedded in apps, toys, virtual assistants, games and learning software. Meanwhile, digital inequalities continue to grow rapidly. By 2024, more than 95 percent of people in high-income countries will be connected to the internet, compared to around 26 percent in low-income countries.
The report notes that a large proportion of young people in low- and middle-income countries struggle to develop digital skills. This can also impact their ability to use digital tools effectively and responsibly in education and the workplace. Digital barriers are often linked to socio-economic environments, gender, language and accessibility.
There is some good news in the report. Life expectancy at birth is projected to increase. The gains made in children’s access to education over the past 100 years are also expected to continue. The proportion of children who have completed at least primary education is expected to exceed 96 percent by 2050, up from 80 percent in the 2000s. Similarly, it is noted that outcomes for children can be significantly improved by increasing investment in education and public health and implementing stricter environmental protection measures. For example, these measures can reduce children’s exposure to environmental hazards and gender inequality in education.
The State of the World’s Children 2024 report highlights the importance of putting children’s rights at the centre of all strategies, policies and actions, as set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The report calls for the following steps to address the challenges and opportunities presented by three megatrends:
More investment is needed in education for children, services, and sustainable and resilient cities.
Infrastructure, technology, basic services and social support systems need to be made more resilient to climate change.
It is of great importance that all children are provided with internet access opportunities and safe technological designs.
World Children's Day, where UNICEF announces its actions for children every year, is being celebrated this year with the theme of "Listen to the Future". As part of the campaign, UNICEF asked children to write letters about the world they want to see in 2050. Letters poured in to UNICEF from all over the world, including Gaza City, Haiti and Tanzania. In their letters, children expressed their desire to receive education, be safe and healthy, and be protected from wars and climate dangers. You can access the children's letters here.
“World Children’s Day provides an opportunity for world leaders to demonstrate their commitment to protecting the rights of every child and ensuring the well-being of all children. We can build a better future for future generations. We must start today,” Russell said.