In total, there are 520 million children growing up in wars and conflicts, an increase of 60 percent since 2010. According to Save the Children, conflicts are not only more numerous than before – they are also more brutal and affect children worse.
The report shows that 41,763 serious crimes against children in conflicts were verified by the UN in 2024, an increase of 30 percent compared to the previous year. Over half of the crimes took place in Congo-Kinshasa, Nigeria, Somalia and the Palestinian territories.
Africa is the continent with both the highest number and the highest proportion of children living in conflict zones, with 218 million affected, surpassing the Middle East for the first time since 2007.
One of the most dangerous countries to be a child today is Congo-Kinshasa, where minors are recruited or used by armed forces and groups, among other things. In 2024, 2,365 such cases were verified in the country, which is the most in the world, according to the report.
Congo-Kinshasa is also one of the five countries that together account for almost nine out of ten cases of sexual violence against children in the world.
