Child Poverty in Africa - the facts

• 200,000 child slaves are sold every year in Africa. There are an estimated 8,000 girl-slaves in West Africa alone. (sources: BBC 5 October, 2001 & Anti-Slavery Society)
  
• About 120,000 African children are participating in armed conflicts. Some are as young as 7 years old. (source: Africa Children’s Charter)
  Children account for half of all civilian casualties in wars in Africa. (source: Africa 2015)
• One in six African children dies before the age of five. Most of these deaths could be prevented. (source: Africa 2015)
  
• Nearly one third of children in Sub-Saharan Africa are underweight. (source: UNICEF)
  
• In sub-Saharan Africa, measles takes the life of a child nearly every minute of every day. An effective measles vaccine costs as little as $1 per child. (source: UNICEF)
  
• Between 12 and 14 million African children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. (source: World Bank/UNICEF)
  
• Nearly 2 million children under 14 years old are HIV positive. (source: UNICEF)
  43% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have safe, accessible drinking water. (source: UNICEF)
  
• 64% of children in Sub-Saharan Africa do not have adequate sanitation. (source: UNICEF)
  Only 57% of African children are enrolled in primary education, and one in three of those does not complete school. (source: Africa 2015)
  
• For every 100 boys there are only 83 girls enrolled at primary school. (source: World Bank/UNICEF)