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Prepared by: UNICEF Data & AnalyticsDivision of Data, Research and PolicyNovember 2015

Find the latest statistics on children in Africa at the UNICEF Statistics website: data.unicef.org

Number of births, by UNICEF region, 1950-2050

Source: UNICEF analysis based on the United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, World Population Prospects: The 2015 Revision, United Nations, New York, 2015

Notes: (1) Maps in this brochure are stylized and not to scale. They do not reflect a position by UNICEF on the legal status of any country or territory or the deliminatation of any frontiers. The final boundary between the Republic of the Sudan and the Republic of South Sudan has not yet been determined. (2) Regional aggregates are calculated according to the regional classification of the African Union, unless otherwise noted.

• From 2015 onwards, sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest number of births, and this trend will persist for the rest of the century.

• By mid-century sub-Saharan Africa will account for 38 per cent of all births.

• Between 2015 and 2030 the number of children under 18 in sub-Saharan Africa will rise from 496 million to 661 million. From 2026 onwards sub-Saharan Africa will be the single region with the greatest number of children under 18.

The child population in Africa is burgeoning; by 2050, more than 1 in 3 children in the world will live in sub-Saharan Africa

KEY STATISTICS• In Africa, mortality rates among children under five

decreased by 54 per cent between 1990 and 2015, but still half of the world's 5.9 million under-five deaths occur in Africa.

• Pneumonia, malaria and diarrhoea account for 36% of all under-five deaths in Africa.

• Africa has the highest rate of stunting among under-fives; it is also the region with slowest progress in reducing stunting since 1990.

• In 2014, there were an estimated 2.3 million children under 15 years living with HIV in Africa.

• Over half of the world’s out-of-school children (33 million) live in Africa.

• The population in Africa with access to an improved drinking source more than doubled from 1990 to 2015.

• There has been major progress in the last decade in the use of insecticide-treated nets among children.

CHILDREN IN AFRICAKey statistics on child survival, protection and development

60

40

20

01950 1970 1990 2010 2030 2050

Births

(milli

ons)

CEE/CISEastern and Southern AfricaMiddle East and North AfricaSub-Saharan Arica

East Asia and PacificLatin America and CaribbeanSouth AsiaOtherWest and Central Africa

KEY FACTIn Africa, mortality rates among children under five (U5MR) have decreased by 54 per cent from 164 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 76 in 2015, but still half of the world's 5.9 million under-five deaths occur in Africa.

Globally, almost half of all under-five deaths are attributable to malnutrition

All regions in Africa have experienced marked declines in under-five mortality since 1990

Pneumonia, malaria and diarrhoea account for 36% of all under-five deaths in AfricaDistribution of under-five deaths in Africa by cause, 2015

Despite declining rates, neonatal deaths are growing as a share of under-five deaths, amid faster progress in reducing mortality from 1 to 59 monthsAge distribution of under-five deaths, Africa, 1990-2015

CHILD MORTALITY IN AFRICA

Source for all charts: UNICEF analysis based on UN IGME 2015 and WHO and Maternal and Child Epidemiology Estimation Group (MCEE) provisional estimates 2015

Under-five mortality rate by country (deaths per 1,000 live births) and number of under five deaths by sub-region, 2015

Under-five mortality rate, 1990-2015

≥ 25>25–50>50–75>75–100>100Data not available

Northern Africa 125,000

Western Africa 1,285,000

Eastern Africa697,000

Central Africa 529,000

Southern Africa 424,000

Northern Africa

Southern Africa

Eastern Africa

Western Africa

Central Africa

Africa

World

0 50 100 200150 250

1990 1995 2000 2010 20152005

19902015

74

169

153

207

17599

16476

9143

26

60

82

98

Child deaths(ages 1 to 4)

Neonatal deaths(first month)

27%

36%

Post-neonatal under-five deaths

(1-11 months)

Pneumonia (post-neonatal) (14%)Pneumonia (neonatal) (2%)

Other post-neonatal (13%)

Intrapartum-relatedcomplications

(post-neonatal) (1%)Measles (1%)

AIDS (3%)

Congenital abnormalities (post-neonatal) (3%)

Meningitis (2%)

Preterm birth complications

(post-neonatal) (2%)

Injuries (6%)Malaria (10%)

Diarrhoea (post-neonatal) (10%)

Diarrhoea (neonatal) (0%)

Congenital abnormalities (neonatal) (3%)

Other (neonatal) (2%)

Tetanus (1%)

Sepsis (6%)

Intrapartum-related complications (neonatal) (10%)

Preterm birth complications (11%)Pneumonia (17%)

Neonatal (36%)

Malaria (10%)

Diarrhoea (10%)

All other causes of death (31%)

CHILD NUTRITION IN AFRICA

Source for bottom charts: UNICEF global databases 2015, based on DHS, MICS, and other national surveys; UNICEF, WHO, World Bank Group Joint Malnutrition Estimates, 2015 Edition. Note: *Some exceptions for earlier data years were made to ensure adequate population coverage for all sub-regions.

Source: UNICEF, WHO, World Bank Group joint malnutrition estimates 2015 edition.

Source: UNICEF, WHO, World Bank Group joint malnutrition estimates 2015 edition.

KEY FACTS• Stunting, or being too short for one’s age, is

linked with irreversible long term consequences; it diminishes chances of succeeding in school and of living healthy and productive lives.

• Africa is the only region with very little change in the percentage (%) of stunted children since 1990.

• There are stark disparities between the richest and poorest in most sub-regions.

• Less than two-fifths of 0-5 month olds in Africa are exclusively breastfed; but rapid progress is possible as evidenced in many countries.

Africa has seen slow progress in reducing stuntingPercentage of children under 5 stunted, by United Nations region, 1990 – 2014

Recent advances in 6 African countries show that rapid progress in exclusive breastfeeding is possiblePercentage of infants 0-5 months who are exclusively breastfed, 2005-2012

Well-performing countries Recent and significant increases (> 15 percentage points)

Asia Latin Americaand Caribbean

Africa Global

100

80

60

20

40

0Niger

('08, '10, '12)Burkina Faso

('09, '12, '14)Togo

('06, '10, '14)Sierra Leone

('08, '10, '14)Guinea Bissau('06, '10,'14)

Burundi('05, '10)

11

38

58

45

16

38

2732 32

50

6269

53

23

4

16

28

Southern Africa

60

30

40

0

50

10

20

Western Africa

Central Africa

Eastern Africa

Northern Africa

GapRichest quintilePoorest quintile

Stunting rates are on average nearly twice as high among the poorestPercentage of children under age five stunted (moderate and severe), by wealth quintile, 2009-2013*

48

28

47 47 46

29

2026

18

25

In Africa, the number of stunted children is risingNumber of children under 5 stunted, by United Nations region, 1990 and 2014

250

200

150

50

100

0Asia Africa Latin America

and CaribbeanGlobal

300

Numb

er (M

illion

s)

1990 2014

190 91

-52%

-55%

+23%

-38%

47 25514

58 1596

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

2014

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

2014

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

2014

1990

1995

2000

2005

2010

2014

60

30

40

0

50

10

20

70

-47% -24%

-52%

-40%

4842

25

40

25

32

12

24

Western Africa

Eastern Africa

Northern Africa

Southern Africa

Eastern Africa

Western Africa

Central Africa

Central Africa

Africa

Africa

Southern Africa

Northern Africa

World

World

100

80

60

20

40

0

52

91

43

52

75

MATERNAL HEALTH IN AFRICA

IMPROVEMENT IN MATERNAL HEALTH OUTCOMES REQUIRES KEY INTERVENTIONS:• A minimum of four visits for quality antenatal care

in order to ensure the well-being of the mother and the baby

• Quality intra- and post-partum care with skilled health personnel

• Improved access to emergency obstetric care

• Expanded access to information, counseling and supplies for a wide range of contraceptive methods

• Antiretroviral therapy to all pregnant women who need it

• In malaria endemic countries, provision of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria and ITNs to all pregnant women during antenatal visits

Most pregnant women access skilled antenatal care at least once, but only about half receive the recommended minimum of four antenatal care visitsAntenatal care: Percentage of women aged 15-49 years attended at least once during pregnancy by skilled health personnel (doctor, nurse or midwife), and percentage attended by any provider at least four times 2010-2015*

Skilled delivery care coverage is higher in urban than in rural areasSkilled attendance at birth: Percentage of births attended by skilled health personnel by area of residence, 2010-2015*

About half of all births in Africa are assisted by skilled health personnelSkilled attendance at birth: Percentage of births attended by skilled health personnel, 2010-2015

Africa has the highest number of maternal deaths, despite steady declines since 1990• Globally, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) declined from 385 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 1990 to 216 in 2015

• In sub-Saharan Africa the MMR was 546 per 100,000 live births in 2015, a 45% decline from 987 in 1990.

• Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for 201,000 maternal deaths in 2015, 66 per cent of the global total, largely due to limited access to emergency obstetric care and insufficient maternal care during pregnancy and delivery.

Note: The World estimate for ANC 4 excludes China, for which comparable data are not available.

Source for all charts: UNICEF global databases 2015, based on DHS, MICS, and other national surveys.

<30%31 -49%50 -69%70 -89%>90%Data no t ava i l ab l e

% b i r t h s a t t ended by sk i l l ed hea l t h pe r sonne l

100

80

60

20

40

0

UrbanRural

71

3341

80

88

64

59

90

97

8983

47

61

89

73

84

47

94

55

79

61

ANC 1 ANC 4

8578

CHILD MARRIAGE, BIRTH REGISTRATION AND FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION/CUTTING (FGM/C) IN AFRICA

Source for all charts: UNICEF global databases 2015, based on DHS, MICS, other national surveys, censuses and vital registration systems.

Countries with high levels of child marriage tend to have high levels of early childbearingPercentage of women aged 20-24 years who were first married or in union before age 18, and who gave birth before age 18, African countries, 2005-2013

A third of young women in Africa were married or in union before age 18Percentage of women aged 20-24 years who were first married or in union before age 18, 2003-2014

Above 80%51 – 80%26 – 50%10 – 25%Less than 10%FGM/C is not concentrated in these countries

FGM/C is concentrated in a swath of countries from the Atlantic Coast to the Horn of AfricaPercentage of girls and women aged 15-49 years who have undergone FGM/C, 2004-2014

• In half of the countries, the majority of girls underwent FGM/C before age 5. In the rest of the countries, most cutting occurs between ages 5 and 14.

• In most countries where FGM/C is concentrated, the majority of women and men think it should end.

• In nearly all countries where the practice is concentrated, traditional practitioners perform most of the procedures.

Less than 10%10 – 25%26 – 50%51 – 80%Above 80%FGM/C is not concentrated in these countries

Western Africa

Eastern Africa

Central Africa

Southern Africa

Northern Africa

Africa

World

0 10 20 4030 50

Each dot represents a country60

40

20

200 6040 80

Wom

en w

ho g

ave

birth

by a

ge 1

8

Women first married or in union by age 18

100

80

60

20

40

0Eastern Africa Western AfricaCentral Africa Southern Africa Northern Africa

Levels of birth registration vary widely across the different regions of Africa but also between countries within the same regionPercentage of children under age five whose births are registered, and countries with the highest and lowest levels, 2005-2013

Percentage of children under age five whose births are registered, 2005-2014

Less than 25%25 – 50%51 – 75%76 – 90%Above 90%Data not available

Less than 25%25 – 50%51 – 75%76 – 90%Above 90%Data not available

Regional average Country with the lowest birth registration level

Country with the highest birth registration level

EDUCATION IN AFRICA

Source for all charts: UNICEF global databases 2015, based on DHS, MICS, and other national surveys; UNESCO Institute for Statistics databases 2015; Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2013/14.

KEY FACTS• Over half of the world’s out-of-school children

(33 million) live in Africa.

• Girls are more likely to be out of school than boys.

• The majority of African countries have not achieved universal primary education.

• Progress in reducing the out-of-school children population has slowed down since 2007.

• Many children fail to complete a full primary education and fail to master basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Progress in primary enrolment has stagnated in recent yearsPrimary school adjusted net enrolment rate (%) and out-of-school population of primary school age (millions) in Africa by sex, 2000-2013

In Africa, boys are more likely to be enrolled in primary school than girlsGender parity index of primary enrolment, girls as a percentage of boys, African countries, 2009-2012

Only fifteen African countries are near achieving universal primary educationNet enrolment/attendance rate, 2009-2014

Many African countries face the double challenge of non-completion and low learning performancePercentage of cohort who reached grade 4 and achieved a minimal level of learning in reading, 2004-2012

Less than 85%85 – 94%95% or higherData not available

Each dot represents the GPI of one country

0

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

1.0

1.1

1.2

Swaz

iland

U. R

. Tan

zania

Mauri

tius

Seyc

helle

sBo

tswan

aNa

mibia

Keny

aGa

bon

Leso

thoUg

anda

Moza

mbiqu

eCa

meroo

nZa

mbia

Malaw

iLib

eria

Burun

diTo

goSe

nega

lCo

ngo

Burki

na Fa

soCô

te d'

Ivoire Mali

Benin Chad

Mada

gasca

rNi

ger

100

80

60

20

40

Did not reach grade 4 Reached grade 4 but did not learn the basics

Out-of-school boys of primary school age

Out-of-school girls of primary school age

Reached grade 4 and learned the basics

Adjusted primary net enrolment rate for girls

Adjusted primary net enrolment rate for boys

Adjusted primary net enrolment rate total

Girls more likely to be enrolled

Boys more likely to be enrolled

Parity

2000 2005 20112001 2006 20122002 2007 20132003 2008 20142004 20102009 2015

Adjus

ted

net e

nrolm

ent r

ate

(%)

Out-of-school population of primary school age (millions)

80

60

30

70

40

0

50

10

20

100

90

80

60

30

70

40

0

50

10

20

100

90

Progress needed to achieve the MDG target

32

HIV/AIDS AND MALARIA IN AFRICA

Source: UNICEF global databases 2015, based on DHS, MICS, and other national surveys

Major progress during the last decade in the use of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) among childrenPercentage of children under age five sleeping under ITNs in Africa, 1999-2007 and 2010-2015

Malaria case management in endemic countries

• The estimated proportion of children sleeping under ITNs in sub-Saharan Africa increased from less than 2 per cent in 2000 to 68 per cent in 2015.

• Mass campaigns for distribution of ITNs are used to ensure that everyone is reached.

• Use of diagnostic tests to confirm malaria before starting antimalarial treatment is low.

• In most endemic countries, less than 50 per cent of febrile children under-five who receive anti-malarials are treated with artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), the recommended first line antimalarial drug.

1999-2007 2010-2015

Less than 10%10 – 19%20 – 29%30 – 49%50 – 79%Not malaria endemicData not available

100

80

60

20

40

0ARVs for PMTCT Paediatric ART

KEY FACTS• Although progress has been made in Africa to increase

the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV and increasing pediatric anti-retroviral therapy (ART) coverage, much more progress is needed.

• In 2014, around 190,000 children were newly infected with HIV in Africa.

• Across sub-Saharan Africa, about 3% of all under-five deaths are caused by AIDS, and in some Southern African countries, over 10% of under-five deaths are attributed to AIDS.

• Although some progress has been made across all regions of Africa, coverage of ARVs for PMTCT varied significantly, ranging from 25% [17-40%] in Northern Africa to 92% [82->95%]in Southern Africa

Note: ART coverage is based on the estimated unrounded number of all children living with HIV receiving ART. UNAIDS recommends using the denominator of all children living with HIV and not just those eligible for ART based on 2013 WHO eligibility HIV treatment criteria.Source: UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO 2015 Global AIDS Response Progress Reporting; UNAIDS 2014 HIV and AIDS estimates, July 2015.

An estimated 2.3 million children under 15 years were living with HIV in Africa as of 2014; nearly 10 per cent of which were newly infected, mainly through mother-to-child transmission of HIVPercentage of pregnant women living with HIV receiving most effective ARVs for PMTCT and percentage of children aged 0-14 years living with HIV receiving ART, 2014

Northern AfricaWestern AfricaCentral AfricaEastern AfricaSouthern AfricaAll Africa

13

41

30

12

25

39

52

8175

92

39

Western Africa

(Cov

erage

%)

Central Africa

Eastern Africa

Southern Africa

AfricaNorthern Africa

100

80

60

20

40

0

KEY FACTS• Drinking water coverage in

Africa increased from 55% in 1990 to 72% in 2015.

• The rate of progress was not sufficient to meet the continent’s MDG drinking water target of 78%.

• Just over a quarter (26%) of the African population enjoys the convenience and associated health benefits of a piped drinking water supply on premises.

• The population without access to an improved drinking water source increased from 283 million in 1990 to 332 million in 2015.

KEY FACTS• Open defecation rates in

Eastern Africa declined most from 45% in 1990 to 20% in 2015.

• Western and Central Africa made the least progress on sanitation.

• In Southern Africa 18% of the population still practices open defecation.

• Angola, Benin, Ethiopia, Guinea, Malawi and Morocco registered declines in open defecation rates of 25 percentage points or more since 1990. Djibouti, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Tanzania registered an increase in open defecation rates.

DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION IN AFRICA

The population with access to an improved drinking water source in Africa more than doubled, from 347 million in 1990 to 834 million in 2015Improved drinking water coverage, African countries, 2015 (%)

In Africa only 39% of the population uses an improved sanitation facility; the population without access grew by 292 million despite 245 million people gaining access since 1990Sanitation coverage trends in Africa, by sub-region (bars) and by area of residence (area), 1990-2015

Source for all charts: WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply and Sanitation (JMP)

ND = No data

1990 2015

Improved facilities Shared facilities Unimproved facilities Open defecation

26 2514

25 2431

37

48

90

3339

70

Cabo Verde

Gambia

Ghana

Burkina Faso

Côte d'Ivoire

Senegal

Guinea-Bissau

Benin

Guinea

Mali

Liberia

Nigeria

Togo

Sierra Leone

Niger

92

90

89

82

82

79

79

78

77

77

76

69

63

63

58

Western Africa

100

96

90

79

76

63

59

57

56

52

ND

ND

ND

ND

Eastern Africa

Mauritius

Seychelles

Djibouti

Uganda

Rwanda

Kenya

South Sudan

Ethiopia

Tanzania

Madagas car

Comoros

Eritrea

Somalia

Sudan

96

93

91

90

82

77

74

65

51

49

Botswana

South Africa

Namibia

Malawi

Lesotho

Zimbabwe

Swaziland

Zambia

Mozambique

Angola

Southern Africa Central Africa

99

98

85

84

58

ND

Egypt

Tunisia

Morocco

Algeria

Mauritania

Libya

Northern Africa

97

93

76

76

76

68

52

51

ND

Sao Tome and Principe

Gabon

Congo

Burundi

Cameroon

Central Afric an Republic

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Chad

Equatorial Guinea

1990 2015

1990 2015

(Milli

ons)

(Milli

ons)

241107

212

203

30

101

186

14Urban

Rural