The total population of children aged 5 to 17 years old was estimated at 31.71 million in 2022. This was higher than the total number reported in 2021 at 31.64 million and in 2020 at 31.17 million.
The proportion of working children 5 to 17 years old increased to 4.7 percent in 2022 from 4.3 percent in 2021. In 2020, the proportion of working children 5 to 17 years old was estimated at 2.8 percent. In terms of level, the number of working children 5 to 17 years old was estimated at 1.48 million in 2022, indicating an increase of 112 thousand from 1.37 million in 2021. In 2020, the number of working children 5 to 17 years old was estimated at 872 thousand.
Working children was higher among boys compared to girls. Of the 1.48 million working children in 2022, 868 thousand or 58.7 percent were boys, while 610 thousand or 41.3 percent were girls. In 2021 and 2020, more than 60.0 percent of the working children were boys.
Among the age groups, there were more working children belonging to the older age groups than the younger ones. Majority of the working children were 15 to 17 years old accounting for 59.7 percent of the total working children in 2022. The proportion of working children 15 to 17 years old was estimated at 63.8 percent in 2021 and 68.9 percent in 2020.
Number of working children aged 5 to 17 years old increased – PSA
By broad industry group, in 2022, services sector became the dominant employment hub of working children absorbing 49.5 percent of the total working children. In 2021 and 2020, it was estimated at 45.4 percent and 43.4 percent, respectively.
In 2022, the agriculture sector posted the second largest share of working children at 43.2 percent. In 2021 and 2020, this sector also had the largest share of working children at 45.7 percent and 47.4 percent, respectively.
The industry sector continued to have the lowest share of working children at 7.3 percent in 2022, 9.0 percent in 2021, and 9.1 percent in 2020.
The actual number of hours worked during the reference week was asked to working children. Among the working children, majority or 75.6 percent reported to have worked 20 hours or less per week in 2022. This was higher than the proportion of children who worked 20 hours or less per week in 2021 at 55.9 percent and in 2020 at 53.0 percent. Meanwhile, children who worked for 21 to 40 hours per week decreased to 15.7 percent in 2022 from the 27.6 percent in 2021.
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