In a recent UNICEF report titled 'Report Card 18 - Child poverty in the midst of wealth,' disconcerting findings indicate that one in five children across the 40 wealthiest nations grapple with poverty, lacking essential necessities such as food and housing. Astonishingly, a staggering 69 million children, equating to over 20%, experience poverty in the world's affluent countries. The data, unveiled on December 6, underscores that more than 20% of children in EU countries and other prosperous OECD nations face shortages in basic needs like food, clothing, school supplies, and, at times, even housing.

The report delves into child well-being in OECD and EU countries, presenting the most current and comparable depiction of child poverty. Noteworthy trends include substantial increases in child poverty in France, Iceland, Norway, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland from 2014 to 2021, while Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Slovenia witnessed significant reductions. Despite an overall 8% decrease in child poverty rates between 2012 and 2021, the concerning prevalence of child poverty persists.

The data reveals that the risk of poverty or social exclusion affects 28.8% of children and young people under 16 in 2022, surpassing the 24.4% observed in the total population. Disparities emerge regionally, with minors in the South and on Islands facing a higher risk at 46.6%, compared to the Centre (21.4%) and the North (18.3%). Single-parent families, particularly those headed by mothers, experience elevated rates at 39.1%, in contrast to couples at 27.2%.

The report underscores the undeniable link between child poverty and economic inequality, shedding light on the heightened risk for children in single-parent and minority families. In the United States, 30% of African American and 29% of Native American children live below the poverty line, while only 10% of non-Hispanic white children face similar circumstances. In the European Union, a child with non-EU parents is 2.4 times more likely to live in poverty. These stark findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address child poverty in affluent nations.