Two years ago we posted a an article of how children’s rights intersect with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Today we are re-posting this article in an updated version adding incorporating specific statistics, tables, and additional insights.
The analysis you will read in this article is grounded in the most recent data and aims to reflect the complexity and progress in achieving these goals for children globally, as of March 13, 2025.
Introduction to SDGs and Children’s Rights
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, includes 17 SDGs aimed at addressing global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.
Children’s rights are central to this agenda, as fulfilling their rights is a prerequisite for achieving sustainable development.
The Convention on the Rights of the Child, nearly universally ratified, underscores the importance of protecting children from poverty, violence, and exclusion, yet millions remain vulnerable, particularly in marginalized communities.
Detailed Impact by SDG Goal
Goal 1: No Poverty
Poverty severely impacts children’s development, affecting their access to food, education, and healthcare. In 2022, global estimates indicated:
- 333 million children lived in extreme poverty, defined as surviving on less than $2.15 a day.
- 829 million children lived below $3.65 a day, and 1.43 billion below $6.85 a day, reflecting the scale of monetary poverty among children.
- Children are more than twice as likely as adults to live in extreme poverty, comprising over half of those in extreme poverty while being 31% of the global population.
These statistics, from a joint World Bank and UNICEF report, show the need for targeted interventions to reduce child poverty, as it diminishes life chances and perpetuates intergenerational poverty.
| Poverty Line | Number of Children (2022) |
|---|---|
| $2.15 (Extreme) | 333 million |
| $3.65 | 829 million |
| $6.85 | 1.43 billion |
Source: Global Trends in Child Monetary Poverty According to International Poverty Lines
Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Malnutrition threatens children’s survival, growth, and development. In 2019:
- 144 million children under 5 were stunted (height-for-age <-2 SD, WHO Child Growth Standards), indicating chronic malnutrition.
- 47 million were wasted (weight-for-height <-2 SD), with 14.3 million severely wasted, reflecting acute malnutrition.
- 38 million were overweight (weight-for-height >+2 SD), highlighting the triple burden of malnutrition.
- Nearly 50% of child deaths under 5 are attributable to undernutrition, underscoring its deadly impact.
These figures, monitored by UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank, show the need for improved nutrition to ensure children can thrive and learn.
| Malnutrition Type | Number of Children (2019) |
|---|---|
| Stunted | 144 million |
| Wasted | 47 million |
| Severely Wasted | 14.3 million |
| Overweight | 38 million |
Source: SDG Goal 2: Zero Hunger
Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
Health is foundational for children’s rights. In 2022:
- 4.9 million children under 5 died, translating to 13,400 deaths every day, according to the United Nations Inter-agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME).
- The global under-five mortality rate has improved, decreasing from 1 in 11 children in 1990 to 1 in 27 in 2022, a 51% reduction since 2000, reflecting progress in child survival.
However, infectious diseases like pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria remain leading causes, alongside preterm birth complications, indicating areas needing urgent action.
| Health Indicator | Statistic (2022) |
|---|---|
| Under-5 Mortality Rate | 4.9 million deaths (1 in 27) |
| Daily Under-5 Deaths | 13,400 |
Source: Levels and Trends in Child Mortality
Goal 4: Quality Education
Education is crucial for children’s development and future opportunities. While specific global statistics for 2025 are not detailed here, recent reports indicate:
- Over 244 million children and adolescents are out of school, with significant disparities in access, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
- Progress toward universal primary education has stalled due to conflicts, poverty, and the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting children’s right to learn.
This goal aims to provide inclusive, equitable quality education, promoting lifelong learning opportunities essential for breaking poverty cycles.
Goal 5: Gender Equality
Gender equality is vital for girls’ rights, with child marriage being a key issue:
- One in five young women aged 20 to 24 today were married as children, down from one in four ten years ago, according to the 2023 UNICEF update.
- However, 12 million girls are still married each year, often leading to early pregnancy, interrupted education, and limited opportunities.
- Nearly half of child brides live in South Asia (45%), with significant shares in sub-Saharan Africa (20%), East Asia and the Pacific (15%), and Latin America and the Caribbean (9%).
This reduction is progress, but at the current rate, it will take 300 years to eliminate child marriage, far beyond the 2030 target.
| Child Marriage Statistic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Global Prevalence | 1 in 5 young women (2023) |
| Annual Child Marriages | 12 million girls |
Source: Is an End to Child Marriage within Reach?
Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
Access to clean water and sanitation is essential for children’s health. Globally:
- Over 700 million people lack access to basic drinking water services, disproportionately affecting children in rural and marginalized communities, increasing risks of waterborne diseases like cholera and diarrhea.
- Poor sanitation contributes to child mortality, with UNICEF emphasizing the need for universal access to safe water and sanitation facilities.
While specific child-focused statistics for 2025 are not detailed, this goal is critical for creating healthy environments for children.
Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Reliable energy sources support safe living conditions for children. Globally:
- Over 750 million people lack access to electricity, often in regions where children live, limiting access to education and healthcare.
- 2.3 billion people rely on polluting fuels for cooking, leading to indoor air pollution that harms children’s respiratory health, particularly in low-income households.
This goal indirectly benefits children by improving living conditions and reducing health risks.
Goal 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Protecting children from violence and ensuring their safety is crucial. Globally:
- Over 45 million children are displaced due to violence or disasters each year, according to recent estimates, affecting their access to education and health.
- One in four children worldwide experiences violence annually, including physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, necessitating strong institutions to uphold justice and peace.
This goal is essential for safeguarding children’s rights and security, particularly in conflict-affected regions.
Interconnectedness and Conclusion
The integration of children’s rights into the SDGs shows the interconnectedness of issues such as health, education, poverty reduction, and protection. For instance, reducing child poverty (Goal 1) enhances access to education (Goal 4) and health services (Goal 3), while ending child marriage (Goal 5) supports gender equality and reduces health risks.
The fulfillment of these goals is not only a commitment to improving children’s lives but also an investment in a sustainable future.
While progress is evident, challenges like stalled poverty reduction and uneven gains in child marriage reduction remind us that realizing children’s rights is a complex, ongoing effort. This step towards a world where every child can live a healthy, educated, and protected life is both a human rights imperative and a global development priority.
