Children in Conflict
today, approximately 468 million children are living within in a conflict zone.
The number of children at risk of conflict has increased sharply over the past 20 years
Children in conflict zones
Over time, despite some fluctuations, there has been a steady increase in the number of children living in conflict zones. The number has more than doubled since the lowest estimates in the mid-1990s. Although spending their childhood in armed conflict impacts children in multiple ways, there is a difference in conflict intensity: between one lethal incident in the area over the year, to more than 1000. This section shows you the countries where children living in a conflict zone reside, and the intensity of the conflict they are exposed to.
methodologyIn 2022, about 468 million children – one in six – were living in a conflict zone
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19902022
The Six Grave Violations against children
Since 2005, the UN has reported and verified six specified grave violations against children in situations of conflict. These are presented in annual United Nations reports on children and armed conflict. Cases and incidents of the following violations are monitored: Killing and maiming of children, recruitment and use of children by armed forces and groups, abduction of children, rape and other forms of sexual violence against children, denial of humanitarian access to children, and attacks on schools and hospitals.
methodologyOverall, 27,638 grave violations against children were verified in 2022, the highest-ever since reporting started in 2005.
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20062022
The ten worst conflict-affected countries to be a child
Description: Based on verified cases and incidents of the six grave violations against children, as well data on i) share of child population and ii) number of children living in conflict zones and iii) lethality of the conflict, Save the Children has identified the ten worst conflict-affected countries to be a child. The countries included are limited to where the UN reports and verifies grave violations against children in conflict, and are based on data from 2022.
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The Six Grave Violations
Peace Research Institute Oslo research
| 1 | Democratic Republic of Congo |
| 2 | Mali |
| 3 | Myanmar |
| 4 | Afghanistan |
| 5 | Somalia |
| 6 | Yemen |
| 7 | Burkina Faso |
| 8 | Ukraine |
| 9 | Nigeria |
| 10 | Syria |
Humanitarian funding for child protection
In humanitarian settings annual plans to respond to the most pressing needs are prepared. They are presented by the UN and partners to the international community – with a price tag. The plans include interventions on Child Protection, meaning efforts to prevent violations against children and assist children who need protection in different ways. The overall plans are chronically underfunded at arouond 60%. Zooming in on Child Protection within the plans, even less of the funds needed are received, only 20%.
methodologyIn 2021, only around one fifth of the funds needed to protect children in humanitarian settings were received.
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20192022
Children at risk of recruitment in conflict
In collaboration with the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) we have calculated how many children live 50km or closer to armed conflicts where at least one conflict actor has been reported to perpetrate recruitment of children in a given year. The data below show an estimated 337 million children live at risk of recruitment in all armed conflicts in the world.
methodologyWe estimate that a staggering 337 million children live in or near conflicts where armed groups or forces recruited and used children in conflict in 2020
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19902020
Children at risk of sexual violence
In collaboration with the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) we have calculated how many children live 50km or closer to armed conflicts where at least one conflict actor have perpetrated sexual violence against children in a given year. Our analysis shows that the number of children at risk of sexual violence committed by conflict actors is almost ten times higher today than in 1990.
methodologyIn almost 70% of conflicts where sexual violence against civilians is committed, the violence is perpetrated against children as well.
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19902019
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Unprotected Special Edition: Analysis of funding for child protection in armed conflict in 2021 and 2022 (2023)