The challenge

 

Millions of children work to help their families in ways that are neither harmful nor exploitative. But one in six children 5 to 14 years old, about 16 per cent of all children in this age group, is involved in child labour in developing countries. In the least developed countries, 29 per cent of all children are engaged in child labour. These children are put to work in ways that often interfere with their education, drain their childhood of joy and crush the right to normal physical and mental development.

 

One in six children aged 5-14 are engaged in child labour in developing countries
Percentage of children aged 5-14 involved in child labour at the time of the survey

                          

These children are considered to be engaged in child labour: children 5-11 years in economic activity, or in household chores for 28 hours or more during the reference week; children 12-14 years in economic activity (excluding those in light work for fewer than 14 hours per week) or in household chores for 28 hours or more during the reference week.
Source: UNICEF global databases 2010, from Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and other national surveys. Estimates based on data for 106 countries. Data first published in: UNICEF, The State of the World’s Children 2011, United Nations Children’s Fund, New York, 2011.  

References

Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS): UNICEF, various years.

Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS): Macro International, various years.