Children in South Africa today: An Analysis

PRETORIA, 20 November 2024: To commemorate World Children's Day today, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has published a Situation Analysis report detailing the wellbeing of children and adolescents in South Africa across various social sectors including, health, nutrition, education, water and sanitation and social protection. 

In keeping with UNICEF’s mandate to safeguard the rights of all children, this extensive report reveals critical data (from multiple sources), achievements and ongoing challenges impacting South Africa’s children and young people. In doing so, it aims to raise awareness among policymakers and practitioners about the situation of children and adolescents in South Africa, including vulnerabilities, deprivations and barriers, particularly those most at risk and who have been left behind, despite the notable gains over the past thirty years of democracy.  

UNICEF South Africa’s Representative Christine Muhigana emphasized the importance of these findings: "This report is an urgent call to action for all sectors to promote and protect the rights of every child and young person across the country. It is a roadmap for policymakers, the private sector, communities, and related stakeholders to create sustainable improvements in the lives of children and young people." 

The report focuses on UNICEF’s global priority areas, including rights to survive and thrive; rights to education and learning; rights to be protected from violence and exploitation; rights to live in a safe and clean environment; and rights to have an equitable chance in life.  

Key findings include: 

• Child Poverty and Social Protection: An alarming 62% of children are experiencing multidimensional poverty, with significantly higher rates in rural areas (88%) compared to urban areas (41%). The Child Support Grant, however, supports over 13 million children and has been critical in alleviating child poverty.  
• Health and Nutrition: While South Africa has seen progress in child survival rates, malnutrition and food insecurity persist. Only 21% of children under five receive a minimum acceptable diet, with a 5% prevalence of wasting and 29% of stunting among young children, underscoring urgent nutritional challenges. The increase in the numbers of zero dose children has been seen in all provinces, in both urban and rural areas. 
• Education and Skills Development: The report highlights positive trends in school completion, with lower secondary completion rates reaching 94% in 2021, up from 86% in 2010. Yet disparities remain, as the upper secondary completion rate for Black children stands at 58%, compared to 96% for White children, reflecting ongoing inequalities. Concerningly, in 2016, an estimated 78 percent of Grade 4 learners could not read a text for meaning in any language.  
• Protection from Violence: The report highlights a significant gap in nationally representative data on violence against children. Among available data, it shows 58 percent of children aged 5-16 experienced direct victimization of sexual abuse and 52 percent experienced indirect victimization. More specifically, 25 percent of children aged 5-16 experienced family violence, 18 percent experienced physical abuse, 13 percent experienced emotional abuse and 12 percent experienced neglect. underscoring the need for stronger violence prevention efforts and child protection mechanisms. In addition, online child violence is highlighted as an emerging risk, based on a 2022 study, 9% of respondent children reported they were offered money or gifts in return for sexual images or videos. 
• Climate and Environment: South Africa ranks as one of the most climate-vulnerable countries. Climate-related risks, including water scarcity and extreme weather events, disproportionately impact impoverished children, affecting health, nutrition, and access to education. 

It is fitting that the theme for World Children's Day this year is Listen to the Future as this timely Report is a reminder of the need for the world to promote children's right to participation while actively listening to their hopes, dreams, and solutions.  

The full report may be downloaded at: https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/press-releases/children-south-africa-today-analysis

For further information, please contact: 

Sudeshan Reddy, UNICEF South Africa, +27 82 561 3970, sureddy@unicef.org 

Lungelo Matangira, UNICEF South Africa, +27 83 310 7531, lmatangira@unicef.org 

About World's Day 

World Children’s Day takes place each year on 20 November. The day marks the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 as well as the Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) in 1989. In 2024, World Children's Day calls on adults to listen to the future. By listening to children, we can fulfil their right to self-expression, understand their ideas for a better world and include their priorities in our actions today. 

About UNICEF 

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children visit www.unicef.org/southafrica Follow UNICEF on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube