Published on: 2026-05-13
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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According to a new UNICEF study, economic inequality in wealthy countries negatively affects children’s health and academic achievement in school. The conclusions are based on the analysis of the situation in 44 countries with a high level of income.
On average, in these countries, up to 20 percent of the most well-off households exceed by more than five times the 20 percent of the least well-off. At the same time, almost every fifth child lives in poverty.
“Economic inequality directly affects how children learn, what they eat, and how they perceive their lives. To limit the most severe consequences of inequality, it is necessary to urgently increase investments in healthcare, nutrition, and education of children in the most disadvantaged communities,” said Bo Viktor Nulund, director of the UNICEF Innocenti research center.
Impact on children’s health
According to the report, there is indeed a direct link between a high level of economic inequality and the health status of children. Thus, children growing up in countries with the highest level of inequality suffer from overweight 1.7 times more often than their peers in countries with lower levels of inequality. This may be related to poorer quality nutrition and missed meals.
This trend is also confirmed by the countries of the European Union – in this region, only 58 percent of children from families with the lowest incomes have good health indicators, while among children from the most well-off families, this indicator is 73 percent.
Influence on the level of education
The report also traces the connection between economic inequality and the level of education. It is noted that in countries with a deeper gap between rich and poor children, they generally show lower test results. Moreover, it is noted that in a country with the highest indicator of social stratification, the probability that a child will finish school without basic skills in reading and mathematics is 65 percent, while in a country with a lower level of inequality it is only 40.
Similar differences are observed within the countries themselves. On average, 83 percent of 15-year-old adolescents from the most affluent families possess basic reading and math skills, compared to only 42 percent of their peers from families with the lowest incomes.
Call to action
The report contains calls for governments to activate measures to reduce the impact of inequality on children’s welfare, primarily by reducing child poverty. The authors of the study emphasize the necessity of strengthening social support systems, including family and child benefits and increasing the minimum wage, so that no child grows up in poverty.
Moreover, the report talks about the importance of supporting the population in disadvantaged areas, in particular, through the development of infrastructure, expanding access to subsidized housing and investments in public spaces, such as green zones and recreational areas.
Special attention is given to the field of education. The authors call for reducing socio-economic stratification in schools, providing educational institutions with necessary resources regardless of the income levels of students’ families, and also offering children healthy and balanced school meals.
At UNISEF, it is also considered important to take into account the opinions of the children themselves, to better understand how inequality affects their lives and the lives of their families, and to develop measures that contribute to their well-being.
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