Building The Future

UNICEF
Innocenti Report Card 14

Children in the Developed World
Building the Future

Children and the Sustainable
Development Goals in Rich Countries
Innocenti Report Card 14 was written by Chris Brazier.
The UNICEF Office of Research Innocenti would like to acknowledge the
generous support for Report Card 14 provided by the Government of Italy.
Any part of this Innocenti Report Card may be freely reproduced using the
following reference:
UNICEF Office of Research (2017). Building the Future: Children and the
Sustainable Development Goals in Rich Countries, Innocenti Report Card
14, UNICEF Office of Research Innocenti, Florence.
The Innocenti Report Card series is designed to monitor and compare the
performance of economically advanced countries in securing the rights of
their children.
In 1988 the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) established a research

centre to support its advocacy for children worldwide and to identify and
research current and future areas of UNICEFs work. The prime objectives of
the Office of Research Innocenti are to improve international
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implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, supporting
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its global programmes and policies. Through strengthening research
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United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), June 2017
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Children in the Developed World
Building the Future

I N T R O D U C T I O N B U I L D I N G T H E F U T U R E
Report Card 14
Introduction
The Sustainable Development Goals have set

ambitious targets that apply to rich countries as
well as poor. The most telling sign of a nations
progress towards meeting those goals will be
how well it meets the needs of its children.
This Report Card offers an Goals (MDGs) prioritized the require new approaches to ensure
assessment of child well-being in reduction of poverty, as well as inclusive and sustainable outcomes.
the context of sustainable progress in related social indicators.
Long-term, inclusive and sustainable
development across 41 countries of The 17 goals of the SDGs add to this
social goals are best met through
the European Union (EU) and the a series of outcomes associated with
attention to the needs of children.
Organisation for Economic inequality, economic development,
Ensuring the well-being and realizing
Co-operation and Development the environment and climate change,
the rights of all children (including
(OECD). This group includes both as well as peace and security. In migrants and refugees) is not only a
high- and middle-income economies, contrast to the MDGs, which commitment made by those states
but here we refer to them all as primarily applied to low- and middle- that have signed the CRC, but is
high-income countries or rich income countries, the ambitious also an essential condition for
countries, for convenience. The agenda of the SDGs is of necessity achieving long-term development
concept of child well-being is rooted universal; it thus applies to rich goals. Every high-income country
in the Convention on the Rights of countries, as well as poor. invests in its children: healthy,
the Child (CRC) but the Agenda for educated children are better able to
The stronger focus of the SDGs on
Sustainable Development adds new fulfil their potential and contribute to
equitable development and on
dimensions. Progress across all society. By contrast, problems of
leaving no one behind also demands
these dimensions will be vital to child development often carry
attention to inequalities along
children, and advanced economies through into adulthood, with the
multiple dimensions of income and
will therefore need to monitor the resulting social costs accruing to the
wealth, health and educational
situation of children and young next generation, too. Indeed,
opportunity, as well as voice and
people both nationally and globally. achieving the SDGs is about
political participation both within
The Sustainable Development Goals and between countries. Addressing ensuring that future generations
(SDGs) agreed by the international rising inequality and its related have the opportunities enjoyed by
the present generation: successful
community in 2015 represent an problems requires a focus not just
outcomes for todays children will
ambitious effort to set a global on the conditions of the poorest, but
build the foundations for the well-
agenda for development that is both also on the consequences of wealth
being of our societies tomorrow.
equitable and sustainable, in social, accumulation by the richest. As
economic and environmental terms. countries seek to meet the SDGs, so Commitments to the SDGs made by
The earlier Millennium Development the changing political landscape will governments now need to be
2 I N N O C E N T I R E P O R T C A R D 1 4
translated into programmes and better to reflect the problems facing nor of the policy options available
public investments that can deliver children in such countries (see Table for making progress on selected
on this wide-ranging set of goals 1 pages 4-5). indicators. Nonetheless, by
and their 169 accompanying targets. illustrating variation along key
Although limited by the lack of
While many goals require dimensions of child well-being
comparable data in some domains,
commitment at the global or related to the SDGs from ending
this report compares 41 countries
multilateral action level if they are to poverty to promoting peaceful and
across 25 indicators. As in other
be achieved (particularly those inclusive societies it suggests
Report Cards, countries are ranked
associated with climate change and areas where policy efforts or public
on their achievements in well-being
the global economy), they also investment may be targeted to
for children according to the
demand national action. If countries improve outcomes, and reveals
selected indicators. The Report Card
are to be held to account for their where data inadequacies still need
cannot provide an in-depth analysis
progress towards these goals, to be addressed.
of the reasons behind differences,
appropriate indicators for monitoring
that progress are necessary. UNICEF
has long been at the forefront of
global efforts to monitor life
outcomes and social progress for
children, and it now plays a leading
Box 1 How have Report Card 14
role in monitoring child-related SDG indicators been selected?
indicators (see Box 2: UNICEFs
global role in SDG monitoring,
page 6). Indicators for monitoring child-relevant SDGs in high-income countries
were selected using the criteria listed below.
Many of the SDG indicators
proposed by the global community Relevance: Does the indicator directly concern child well-being in
are most appropriate for lower- high-income countries?
income contexts. Report Card 14 Data availability and quality: Are high-quality data with adequate
proposes an adapted set of coverage available? Do they meet necessary standards regarding
indicators to assess countries representativeness, comparability, accuracy and frequency of
performance against the promise of collection?
leaving no one behind when
Communicability: Is the indicator itself easily explained, conceptually
national circumstances, ambitions
clear, and do the reported figures clearly convey the extent of
and existing levels of social progress
progress by country on a given target?
are already well advanced (see Box
on the right: How have Report Card Policy attainability: Is progress on the indicator realistic, within the
14 indicators been selected?). time frame of the SDGs?
Specifically, this report seeks to Alignment with global indicators: Is the indicator a good match to
bring the SDG targets for children in the proposed global indicator? Does it reflect the spirit and intent of
high-income countries into the corresponding SDG goal and target?
meaningful operation (while staying
Extensive consultations with experts at meetings of the Report Card
true to the ambitions of the global
Advisory Board composed of academics, independent experts,
agenda) and to establish a point of UNICEF national committee members and communications experts
departure for reviewing the SDG also informed the selection of indicators and established their
framework in these contexts. It conceptual relevance.
focuses on those goals and targets
with most direct relevance to the Source: Bruckauf, Z. and Cook, S. (2017). Child-Centred Approach to the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in High-Income Countries: Conceptual
well-being of children in high-income issues and monitoring approaches, Innocenti Working Paper 2017-06, UNICEF
settings. Where appropriate, it Office of Research Innocenti, Florence.
adapts the agreed SDG indicator, the
I N N O C E N T I R E P O R T C A R D 1 4 3
Table 1: Mapping Report Card 14 indicators to global goals, targets and indicators
Goal Target (by 2030 unless specified)
1 End poverty in all its forms everywhere 1.2 Reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children
of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national
(page 10)
definitions
1.3 Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and

measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial
coverage of the poor and the vulnerable
2
2.1 End hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor
End hunger, achieve food security and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious
and improved nutrition (page 14) and sufficient food all year round
2.2 End all forms of malnutrition
3
3.2 End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of
Ensure healthy lives and promote age
well-being (page 18)
3.4 Promote mental health and well-being
3.5 Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse,

including harmful use of alcohol
3.7 Ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care
services
4
4.1 Ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality
Ensure inclusive and equitable primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective
quality education for all (page 24) learning outcomes
4.2 Ensure that all girls and boys have access to quality early childhood
development, care and pre-primary education so that they are ready for
primary education
5 Achieve gender equality and 5.1 End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls
empower all girls (page 29) everywhere
5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the
public and private spheres
8
8.5 Achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all
Promote full and productive employment women and men
and decent work for all (page 33) 8.6 By 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in
employment, education or training
10
10.1 Progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom
Reduce inequality within and among 40% of the population
countries (page 36) 10.2 Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion
of all, irrespective of economic or other status
10.3 Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome,
including by eliminating discriminatory laws, policies and practices and
promoting appropriate legislation, policies and action in this regard
11 Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient 11.6 Reduce the adverse per-capita environmental impact of cities,
including by paying special attention to air quality
and sustainable (page 41)
12 Ensure sustainable production and 12.8 Ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and
awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with
consumption patterns (page 43) nature
16
16.1 Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies everywhere
for sustainable development (page 45)
16.2 End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence
against and torture of children
Report Card 14 indicator Relationship to SDG global indicators

Official SDG indicator which uses 60% of the median for cross-country
Relative child poverty (60% of the median household income)
comparability
Based on UNICEF MODA methodology, which uses 7 child-specific
Proportion of children living in multidimensional poverty
dimensions of poverty for cross-country comparability
Reduction in the rate of child poverty due to social transfers Adapts the official SDG indicator for better country coverage
Official SDG measure of food insecurity applied to households with children

Children under 15 living with a respondent who is food insecure (%)
under 15
Obesity is a form of malnutrition, and is highly relevant for high-income

Obesity rates among adolescents aged 11-15
countries. Differs from the official SDG indicator
Neonatal mortality rate Official SDG indicator
Suicides of adolescents aged 15-19 per 100,000 population Official SDG indicator applied to relevant age group
11-15-year-olds reporting 2 or more psychological symptoms more than Indicator chosen for its relevance for high-income countries and links to
once a week (%) suicidal behaviour. No matching global indicator
Children aged 11-15 who reported having been drunk in the previous Drunkenness is a proxy of harmful use of alcohol among children and young
month (%) people. Differs from the official SDG indicator
Number of births per 1,000 females aged 15-19 Official SDG indicator applied to the relevant adolescent population
15-year-old students achieving baseline proficiency across reading, Official SDG indicator covering young people at the end of secondary
mathematics and science (%) education, adapted to reduce subject-specific bias
Participation rate in organized learning (one year before official primary

Official SDG indicator
entry age)
Share of adult respondents agreeing "university education is more Measure of values and attitudes towards equal gender opportunities for
important for a boy than for a girl children. No matching global indicator
Gender difference in girls' and boys' share of daily participation in Proxy of intergenerational transfer of norms as regards gender roles. No
housework by age matching global indicator
Women aged 18-29 who reported having experienced sexual violence Differs from the global indicator in age group and recall period due to limited
before age 15 (%) availability of cross-national data
New indicator showing the proportion of children impacted by
Children living in jobless households (%)
unemployment/inactivity of household members
Official SDG indicator, but with more child-specific age coverage (15-19
Youth aged 15-19 not in education, employment or training (%)
rather than 15-24)
Palma Ratio: ratio of income share held by top 10% of households with Not an official SDG indicator, but a standard indicator of inequality, adapted
children to bottom 40% to reflect children's experience
Impact of socio-economic status on students' performance across 3 Not an official SDG indicator, but an equal-opportunity measure regularly
subjects reported by PISA
Not an official SDG indicator, but consistently used by UNICEF Report Cards
Gap between household income of child at 50th percentile (median)
to measure how far behind the poorest children are being allowed to fall
and child at 10th percentile, reported as % of median
from 'average' standards in society
Annual average PM2.5 concentrations in urban areas, weighted by Official SDG indicator but weighted to reflect the proportion of children living
proportion of child population (0-19) living in urban areas in cities
Not an official indicator but reflects the SDG focus on education for
15-year-old students familiar with 5 or more environmental issues (%)
sustainable development (including climate-change education)
Deaths of children aged 0-19 by intentional assault per 100,000 Official SDG indicator adapted for children aged 0-19
Children aged 11 to 15 who have experienced bullying at least twice a Bullying as a form of physical and psychological violence corresponds to the
month in the past month (%) official indicator but focuses on children
Women aged 18-29 who reported having experienced physical violence Differs from the global indicator in age group and recall period due to limited
before age 15 (%) availability in cross-national data
Box 2 UNICEFs global role

in SDG monitoring
For the past 70 years, UNICEF has played a leading role in calling for
more and better data on the situation of children worldwide. In recent
decades, the organization has established surveys and extensive
cross-national databases of indicators relating to the well-being of
children, including the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS)
programme.
Today, the SDGs place an unprecedented demand on national

statistical systems to generate the information required to monitor
official indicators. UNICEF, as custodian of ten of the global SDG
indicators and co-custodian of a further seven, supports national and
international partners in meeting the data demands of the SDGs.
UNICEF is the sole custodian of indicators in the areas of stunting,
malnutrition, infant mortality, neonatal mortality, skilled birth
attendants, developmental trajectories of children under 5, child
marriage, female genital mutilation, physical punishment, and sexual
violence (by age 18).
For each SDG indicator, custodians like UNICEF lead the development
of global data standards and contribute to national statistical capacity
building, so as to facilitate the compilation and verification of national
data. Once compiled by the custodian, SDG indicators are submitted
to the global SDG database (managed by the UN Statistics Division),
along with an interpretation of the data and trends for the annual SDG
progress reports.
Beyond its specific custodian role, UNICEF will work closely during
the SDG period with other international agencies (such as the
UNESCO Institute of Statistics Global Alliance to Monitor Learning) to
support the production of other child-related global SDG indicators,
and with national governments to collect, analyse and use other child-
related data.
This Report Card is an example of UNICEFs data work outside its

custodian role. It focuses on higher-income countries and provides
proxy measures relevant to these countries that are aligned with
official targets under each goal.
Report Card 14
Summary league table
The summary league table on majority of rich countries are going in education, health and
pages 8-9 shows how some rich backwards on key indicators in the employment, areas where national
countries do better than others goals of reduced inequalities social policies on children and
across nine social-progress goals (Palma ratio, income gaps), good families are arguably the strongest;
for children. At first glance, the health and well-being (childhood but those goals are not strongly
league table reads well for those obesity rates) and quality education associated with the newly defined
countries accustomed to appearing (learning outcomes). social-progress goals of
at the top of recent comparisons of environmental sustainability,
Second, although countries such as
human and child development the responsible consumption and
Bulgaria and Romania have lower
Nordic countries, Germany and production, and peace.
incomes per capita than other
Switzerland and less well for
countries in the industrialized The results therefore highlight the
lower-income countries of the
world, the presence of countries new challenges set by the SDGs.
group, such as Romania, Bulgaria
such as New Zealand and the And, unlike the traditional goals that
and Chile.
United States in the bottom preceded them, these new goals
However, a more detailed look reaches of this league table is proof are subject to a range of
uncovers some key considerations. that high national income alone is supranational influences such as
no guarantee of a good record in globalization of markets and
First, the indicators that underlie
sustaining child well-being. economic shocks, pollution,
the table reveal room for
advances in information flows,
improvement across the board: all Third, the overall results of the
instability and migration. They
countries rank in the mid- or League Table are driven by
therefore demand the attention of
bottom-third on at least two of the consistency across the traditional
all countries, in collaboration, no
goals. A closer look behind the goals of reduction of poverty,
matter how rich or how poor.
headline measures shows that the deprivation and inequality, advances
League Table Country performance across nine child-relevant goals

Country No Zero Good health and Quality Decent work
poverty hunger well-being education and economic
growth
Norway 1 4 5 9 5
Germany 8 8 4 7 6
Denmark 4 2 21 5 10
Sweden 6 9 13 16 7
Finland 2 15 16 1 15
Iceland 3 17 2 27 18
Switzerland 5 3 12 11 2
Republic of Korea 5 10 3 12
Slovenia 11 27 11 23 9
Netherlands 7 6 6 17 8
Ireland 9 31 22 13 37
Japan 23 1 8 10 1
United Kingdom 16 34 15 20 31
Luxembourg 19 12 14 25 3
Austria 10 10 9 26 24
Spain 28 26 3 12 36
Estonia 18 20 26 21 14
Portugal 30 32 1 24 26
France 15 7 17 14 20
Czech Republic 17 16 25 22 13
Australia 12 28 23 39 23
Croatia 20 14 24 36 35
Poland 22 24 32 31 4
Italy 31 23 18 19 30
Canada 32 37 29 8 11
Belgium 14 11 19 6 28
Cyprus 13 30 34 21
Latvia 27 21 27 18 16
Malta 24 39 28 2 29
Slovakia 21 19 34 35 19
Greece 29 35 20 33 32
Hungary 26 22 31 30 33
Lithuania 25 25 33 29 27
New Zealand 18 38 15 34
Israel 36 13 7 28 22
Turkey 40 37 41
United States 33 36 36 32 17
Mexico 34 41 30 4 40
Romania 37 33 35 40 25
Bulgaria 35 38 39 38 39
Chile 29 40 37 38
Higher Average Lower insufficient data
Reduced Sustainable Responsible Peace, justice and

inequalities cities and consumption strong institutions
communities and production
2 2 13 30
9 24 15
3 20 19 10
11 6 21 5
4 5 11 29
1 8 27 1
7 27 31 7
16 22 23
10 2 13
12 34 33 14
8 1 8 9
32 33 36 8
6 14 9 16
15 31 28 19
13 18 30 28
28 16 16 4
29 4 4 35
27 7 1 27
34 23 25 21
31 26 24 6
17 3 18 18
18 11 14 11
23 17 10 20
The league table summarizes
20 30 15 2
the overall findings of this
14 19 6 37
Report Card. Countries are
19 36 32 32 listed in order of their average
5 22 36 performance across nine
25 12 38 Sustainable Development
21 32 12 Goals. Goal 5 (Gender) is also
24 10 29 26 included in the Report Card,
36 28 17 3
but there were too many gaps
in the available data for the
30 21 23 17
results to be incorporated into
33 5 31
this composite table. Before
26 9 35 33 goals with multiple indicators
39 37 34 25 are ranked, each indicator
22 29 3 22 has been normalized using a
35 13 20 40 z-scores method and averaged
41 15 using equal weights.1
Each countrys rank within
38 12 37 24
a particular goal is shown,
40 25 7 34
ranging from 1 for the highest
37 35 26 39
performer to 41 for the lowest.
G O A L 1 E N D P O V E R T Y I N A L L I T S F O R M S E V E R Y W H E R E
GOAL 1
End poverty in all its forms everywhere
An average of one child in five in high-income countries lives in poverty, though there is wide variation from one
in ten in Denmark, Iceland and Norway to one in three in Israel and Romania.
Measuring childrens multidimensional poverty produces an even broader range of national results, with
Switzerland and Romania at opposite extremes.
Social transfers have proven to be very effective tools in reducing child poverty.
Figure G1 End poverty

Average country performance across three indicators: child income poverty (017 years of age), multidimensional
poverty (115 years) and effectiveness of social transfers (017 years)
Norway
Finland
Iceland
Denmark
Switzerland
Sweden
Netherlands
Germany
Ireland
Austria
Slovenia
Australia
Cyprus
Belgium
France
United Kingdom
Czech Republic
Estonia
Luxembourg
Croatia
Slovakia
Poland
Japan
Malta
Lithuania
Hungary
Latvia
Spain
Greece
Portugal
Italy
Canada
United States
Mexico
Bulgaria
Israel
Romania
75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120
Note: Chile, Republic of Korea, New Zealand and Turkey are excluded from the calculation of Goal 1 due to insufficient data (each country reports
on only one of the three indicators for this goal).
This chart and the others at the head of each goal section in this Report Card is a composite of the indicators in the
section. Read 100 as the average country performance for the goal, and 10 points as a standard deviation from this
overall average. A greater than 5-point difference from 100, or half a standard deviation, can be interpreted as higher or
lower than average (for a sample of around 30 cases, half a standard deviation is equivalent to a 99-per-cent confidence
interval). Countries with a difference of 10 points or more from the average can be considered as high performing or
low performing, while those differing by 20 points or more can be considered leaders or laggards.
1 0 I N N O C E N T I R E P O R T C A R D 1 4
Figure 1.1 An average of one in five children in rich countries lives in relative income poverty
Percentage of children aged 017 living in a household with income lower than 60 per cent of the median, 2014
and 2008
40
35
30
25
Per cent
Country average 2014: 21.0%

20
15
10
5
10.0
10.2
10.9
11.5
12.8
13.7
14.7
14.8
14.8
15.1
15.1
17.5
17.7
18.2
18.2
18.3
18.8
19.2
19.7
19.7
19.8
21.1
22.2
22.3
23.5
24.1
24.3
25.0
25.1
25.4
25.5
25.5
25.6
29.4
30.5
31.6
31.7
31.8
36.1
39.3
9.2
0
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Note: The relative child poverty rate shows the proportion of each nations children living in a household where disposable income is less than
60% of the national median (after taking taxes and benefits into account and adjusting for family size and composition using the OECD modified
equivalence scale).
Sources: European Union countries and Iceland, Norway and Switzerland European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC);
Australia Household, Income and Labour Dynamics (HILDA); Canada Canadian Income Survey (CIS); Chile La Encuesta de Caracterizacin
Socioeconmica Nacional (CASEN); Israel Household Expenditure Survey (from Luxembourg Income Study); Japan Ministry of Health, Labour
and Welfares Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions; Mexico El Mdulo de Condiciones Socioeconmicas de la Encuesta Nacional de
Ingresos y Gastos de los Hogares (MCS-ENIGH); New Zealand Household Economic Survey (estimates taken from Perry, B (2016). Household
Incomes in New Zealand: Trends in indicators of inequality and hardship, 1982 to 2015, Ministry of Social Development, Wellington); Turkey
Income and Living Conditions Survey; United States Current Population Survey 2013, Annual Social and Economic Supplement (from
Luxembourg Income Study).
Goal 1 of the SDGs calls for an end calculates the national median to have a common experience just
to poverty in all its dimensions. The income of all persons the mid- because they are born into the rich
standard measure of poverty is point that sees equal numbers of world. Denmark has the best
based on income, and SDG individuals above and below the line record on relative poverty, but even
indicator 1.2.1 aims to measure the and then establishes a percentage there 9.2 per cent of children are
proportion of people living below of this as a poverty threshold. Figure below the poverty line. All seven of
the national poverty line including 1.1 presents child poverty rates the countries where the proportion
the share of children. Living in across a broad range of high-income of children living in poverty is
poverty during childhood can do countries, showing the proportion of around one in seven are in Europe.
lifelong damage, with proven each nations children who live in
Israel and Romania have the worst
effects on health, nutrition, brain households with incomes of less
records on relative poverty here
development and educational than 60 per cent of the median.
more than one child in three is
attainment.2 These effects can
A broad average of one child in five considered poor. However, Bulgaria,
evolve into large earnings
in 41 high-income countries lives in Mexico, Spain, Turkey and the
differences in adulthood.3
poverty. However, the record of United States4 also have child
This Report Card uses a relative individual countries is so divergent poverty rates substantially above
measure of monetary poverty. It that children cannot be considered the rich-world average.
I N N O C E N T I R E P O R T C A R D 1 4 1 1
Figure 1.2 Finland, Iceland and Norway are most effective in reducing child poverty
Percentage reduction in the rate of child poverty due to social transfers, 2014 and 2008
80
70
60
50
Per cent
40 Country average 2014: 37.5%
30
20
10
6
66
65
64
61
58
55
54
53
53
52
50
50
48
46
45
44
43
43
40
40
36
33
31
27
26
24
24
24
22
19
18
18
18
12
10
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Irel
Pol
Fin
Au
itze
Sw
Slo
Hu
Be
Kin
em
e
De
ited
h
Sw
t
Ne
ch
ited
Un
Cze
Un
Note: Reduction in child poverty is measured as the proportional difference between child poverty rates before and after social transfers.
Child poverty rates are measured using income thresholds at 60 per cent of the median household income of the total population, before and after
social transfers.
Sources: As for Figure 1.1.
Intervening to reduce transfer child poverty; and in the start with, and so reducing high
child poverty most successful cases of Finland, levels of child poverty with a single
If child poverty rates were entirely Iceland and Norway, they reduce the policy may prove difficult. The role of
dependent on household incomes pre-transfer child poverty rates by up taxes and other social programmes is
derived from the market, they would to two thirds. not considered here. The evidence
be much higher across the board. does suggest strongly, however, that
This impressive capacity to redress
Instead, governments intervene social transfers have a true potential
child poverty should not be taken for
through benefits and taxes to redress to reduce child poverty effectively.
granted. It is known to depend on
inequalities. Social transfers can be multiple factors, from the size of Measuring other dimensions
effective in reducing the incidence of transfers and their targeting, to the of poverty
relative child poverty, as Figure 1.2 initial levels of pre-transfer child Poverty encompasses more than the
reveals. poverty. Social transfers have a much lack of income. The SDGs specifically
more modest child poverty reduction
How effective can social transfers call for a reduction of at least half in
effect in several countries analysed,
be? Across high-income countries, the proportion of men, women and
reducing the pre-transfer child
they are estimated to have a fairly children living in poverty in all its
poverty rates by 10 per cent or less in
large capacity to reduce pre-transfer dimensions according to national
some cases (Romania, Israel and
child poverty. On average, social definitions. High-income countries
Mexico).
transfers in high-income countries have made a commitment to monitor
reduce child poverty rates by almost These estimates need to be used multidimensional child poverty, and
40 per cent. In 11 of these countries, with caution, however. Countries there are various methodologies for
social transfers more than halve pre- have different child poverty levels to doing so.
Figure 1.3 One European child in three is deprived in two or more ways
Multidimensional child poverty (two or more dimensions), 2014
100
80
60
Per cent
20
11
12
13
16
18
18
21
21
23
23
24
24
26
31
31
34
35
36
38
39
40
44
45
46
47
51
53
58
77
85
0
d
nd
ds
n
ark
d
any
ece
m
rus
and
rg
a
ia
ain
ia
al
nce
m
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and
lic
via
atia
y
ia
ry
ria
nia
Ital
stri
oni
ede
rlan
lan
ven
uan
tug
vak
nga
lgiu
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bou
pub
Ma
rlan
lga
a
Lat
Sp
ma
nm
Cyp
rm
Cro
Gre
Fra
l
Irel
Pol
Est
Fin
Ice
Au
Por
itze
Sw
Slo
Slo
Lith
Bu
Hu
Be
Kin
em
Re
Ro
the
Ge
De
Sw
Lux
Ne
ch
ited
Cze
Un
Note: Material deprivation is measured as children who are deprived of 2 or more of the following: nutrition, clothing, educational resources,
leisure activities, social activities, information access, or housing. Data is for European countries only. Norway is excluded due to missing data.
The country average is unweighted. Missing countries: Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Turkey,
and the United States.
Source: Chzhen, Y., Bruckauf, Z. and Toczydlowska, E. (2017). Sustainable Development Goal 1.2: Multidimensional child poverty in the European
Union, Innocenti Working Paper 2017-07, UNICEF Office of Research Innocenti, Florence.
In 2009, Mexico introduced an based on 2014 data for 28 European doubled between 2009 and 2014,
official national measure of Union countries, plus Iceland and with a tripling in the number of
multidimensional poverty. In addition Switzerland. It considers seven children considered to be severely
to income, it assesses deprivation in dimensions of child poverty that are deprived.8
relation to education, healthcare, rooted in the CRC: nutrition, clothing, The variation in the multidimensional
social security, housing, basic educational resources, leisure child poverty rate is vast: from
services and food. In 2014, activities, social activities, information 11 per cent in Switzerland to
54 per cent of children under 18 lived access and quality of housing. 85 per cent in Romania. According to
in multidimensional poverty in Children who lack access to at least this measure, less than one child in
Mexico.5 As in many countries, two of these seven dimensions are five is poor in the Nordic countries,
children are at higher risk of poverty considered to be in multidimensional the Netherlands and Switzerland. By
than the population as a whole. child poverty.6 contrast, at least one child in every
In a separate initiative, UNICEF has While over 40 lower-income countries two is poor in two or more
developed the Multiple Overlapping have carried out national MODA dimensions in the Central European
Deprivation Analysis (MODA) tool to studies, Iceland was the first high- countries of Bulgaria, Hungary,
Romania and Slovakia, as well as in
study multidimensional deprivation income country to do so. In 2015,
Italy. Ten countries have
among children. It is based on child UNICEF collaborated with Statistics
multidimensional child poverty rates
rights, as established in the Iceland to perform a MODA analysis
of between 33 per cent and
Convention on the Rights of the of data collected in 2009 and 2014.7
50 per cent. These include Greece,
Child. This Report Card uses MODA The results indicated that childrens
Poland and the United Kingdom.
for a cross-country comparison, material deprivation had more than
G O A L 2 E N D H U N G E R , A C H I E V E F O O D S E C U R I T Y A N D I M P R O V E D N U T R I T I O N
GOAL 2
End hunger, achieve food security and improved
nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Given the ample food resources available, no level of food insecurity among children is acceptable; and yet in
high-income countries, one child in eight is food insecure.
Rates of food insecurity among children vary widely across countries, from 1 in 70 in Japan to one in three in
Mexico and Turkey.
Obesity is also a form of malnutrition, and rates are increasing in all but a handful of countries.
Good nutrition is vital from birth, and breastfeeding is key to that, though most mothers in high-income countries
stop breastfeeding before the recommended minimum of six months.
Figure G2 End hunger

Average country performance across two indicators: food insecurity (014 years of age), rates of overweight and
obese children (1115 years)
Japan
Denmark
Switzerland
Norway
Republic of Korea
Netherlands
France
Germany
Sweden
Austria
Belgium
Luxembourg
Israel
Croatia
Finland
Czech Republic
Iceland
New Zealand
Slovakia
Estonia
Latvia
Hungary
Italy
Poland
Lithuania
Spain
Slovenia
Australia
Chile
Cyprus
Ireland
Portugal
Romania
United Kingdom
Greece
United States
Canada
Bulgaria
Malta
Turkey
Mexico
70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120
Figure 2.1 Food insecurity is high in some of the worlds richest countries
Percentage share of children below the age of 15 living with a respondent who is food insecure, 2014/15
40
35
30
25
Per cent
20
15
10
5
10.5
10.8
10.9
11.1
11.8
11.9
12.0
12.7
12.9
14.2
15.7
16.0
17.0
17.6
17.9
18.2
19.5
19.6
21.5
25.8
26.3
33.4
34.9
1.4
4.0
4.8
4.9
4.9
5.0
5.1
6.0
7.2
7.4
7.7
7.7
8.4
8.5
8.8
8.8
8.9
9.7
0
an
n
Cro a
Ge atia
y
No nd
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e
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Au el
Fin ia
Ice d
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Re taly
Be lic
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Slo lta
w Z vakia
Est d
a
Can y
ada
Slo ain
ia
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Au ece
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and
Un ingd l
ited om
Lith tes
Bu nia
Ro ria
Tur a
key
o
ga
Sw rman
rwa
ru
e
oni
ni
Lux Franc
blic wede
xic
lan
lan
an
an
str
ven
Isra
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Ne nma
lgiu
bou
stra
pub
Ch
Kor
Jap
Ma
rlan
lga
rla
Lat
Sp
ua
ma
ited Portu
Sta
Cyp
I
eal
Pol
Me
itze
Hu
em
the
De
of
S
K
ch
Ne
Cze
pu
Un
Re
Below average Average Above average
Note: Food insecurity is measured by the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES), which was created by the Voices of the Hungry project at the
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and is incorporated into the official SDG indicator framework. Data come from Gallup
World Poll Surveys, which fielded the FIES, from 2014 and 2015. The FIES country averages have been recalculated to reflect the share of children
living in food-insecure households.
Source: Pereira, A., Handa, S. and Holmqvist, G. (2017). Prevalence and Correlates of Food Insecurity among Children across the Globe, Innocenti
Working Paper 2017-09, UNICEF Office of Research Innocenti, Florence.
Food security is an official measure affects only 1 child in 20, as in the nutritional needs of adolescent
of SDG Goal 2 on hunger and Croatia, Germany, Japan, Republic girls, and the indicators track
nutrition. Food insecurity is defined of Korea, Sweden and Switzerland. overweight as well as underweight.
as lack of secure access to Yet one child in three suffers food Obesity in children is also a form of
sufficient, safe and nutritious food insecurity in Mexico and Turkey, malnutrition, and is a pressing
that can ensure normal growth and one in four in Bulgaria and Romania
challenge in high-income settings.
development, as well as an active and around one in five in Lithuania,
Children are increasingly
and healthy lifestyle. When the United Kingdom and the United
States. Although the general consuming too much unhealthy
measured by this standard, some
availability of food is not a problem food and soft drinks with a high
countries are doing much better
in any of these countries, too many sugar content, while at the same
than others in terms of meeting the
families struggle to satisfy their time they are not exercising
needs of their citizens, as Figure
childrens nutritional needs. enough. Obesity has been linked to
2.1 reveals. This reports the
multiple health conditions in
prevalence of moderate or severe Obesity as a form of
childhood, to lower self-esteem,
food insecurity among children malnutrition
under the age of 15. and to a heightened risk of cardio-
Target 2.2 of the SDGs is to end all
vascular disease and diabetes in
The average for this group of forms of malnutrition by 2030. The
adulthood.9
countries is 12.7 per cent, but there main focus is on ending stunting
is striking variation. No level of food and wasting in very young children, The Health Behaviour in School-
insecurity is acceptable, even if it but there is a specific reference to aged Children (HBSC) survey
Figure 2.2 Rates of obesity have increased in most high-income countries

Percentage of 1115-year-olds who are obese or overweight, 2014/15
35
30
25
20
Per cent

15
10
5
10.0
10.2
10.4
11.7
11.8
12.6
13.1
13.3
13.8
14.2
14.3
14.4
14.5
14.6
14.7
15.0
15.2
15.3
15.3
16.1
16.2
17.3
17.5
y 18.0
18.1
18.4
20.9
25.0
27.4
8.3
0
ark
ds
ia
d
y
nce
ia
nd
nd
m
atia
any
ry
n
rg
el
a
nia
ia
lic
ain
ia
al
ria
ece
ada
lta
rwa
Ital
stri
oni
ede
rlan
lan
v
uan
vak
ven
tug
Isra
nga
lgiu
bou
pub
Ma
rlan
lga
la
a
Lat
ma
Sp
nm
rm
Cro
Can
Gre
Fra
Pol
Est
Ice
Fin
Au
No
Por
itze
Sw
Slo
Slo
Lith
Bu
Hu
Be
em
Re
Ro
the
De
Ge
Sw
Lux
Ne
ch
Cze
Below average Average Above average 2010 2006
Note: Data for Ireland and the United Kingdom have been excluded because of high non-response rates (over 50 per cent of children sampled).
The United States did not take part in the HBSC study in 2014/15. Belgian estimates are based on population weights for regional samples
(excluding the Brussels region). The country average is unweighted. Missing countries: Australia, Chile, Cyprus, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New
Zealand, Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Source: HBSC, various waves.
collects data from children on their It is a cause for concern that in 22

height and weight, and uses these of the 30 countries surveyed, the
to calculate their body mass index. proportion of children of this age
On this basis, Figure 2.2 shows the who were overweight was higher in
proportion of children aged 1115 2014 than in 2006. The sharpest
who are obese or overweight in 30 increases in incidence over this
countries, mostly in Europe. period occurred in Latvia, Lithuania
and Slovakia.
An average of one child in seven in
these countries is overweight or Although Mexico is not included in
obese, and there is lower variation the HBSC survey, it reports a very
on this indicator than on most high proportion of overweight or
others, with all but four countries obese children: 33 per cent of
having child obesity rates of children aged 511 and 36 per cent
between 10 and 20 per cent. The of those aged 1219.10
healthiest country in this respect is
Denmark, where the rate has fallen
in recent years from already low
levels. At the other end of the scale
are Malta and Canada, where one
child in four is considered
overweight.
Box 3 Breastfeeding in high-income countries
Although there is a wealth of evidence that Although some of the data are relatively old and do
breastfeeding contributes to childrens development not refer to exclusive breastfeeding, the results
in cognitive and general health terms,i specific indicate that the proportion of mothers who have
targets for breastfeeding have not been set as part ever breastfed is high in all the rich countries
of the Sustainable Development Goals. included, with only France and Ireland reporting
Nevertheless, breastfeeding is critical to providing rates of below 75 per cent. By the time the infant is
the required nutrition for newborn and infant 6 months old, between a third and a half of mothers
development, and can contribute to other SDG goals who had started breastfeeding no longer continue,
related to nutrition, health and education. The World and in countries such as Canada, Greece and the
Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF recommend United Kingdom the falling-off is more substantial.
exclusive breastfeeding for six months. Given this Rates continue to fall up to 12 months, by which
context, it is worth comparing breastfeeding rates in point there is a marked difference in practice
high-income countries, especially as this is one of between countries: in Japan and Turkey the majority
the few positive health indicators on which rich of mothers continue to breastfeed, while in
countries tend to lag behind poorer ones.ii Denmark, Ireland and the United Kingdom rates fall
to 3 per cent or lower. More recent data for Mexico
The table below is drawn from a global review of
show 46 per cent of children are still being breastfed
breastfeeding rates published in early 2016.
at the age of 1215 months.iii
Estimates by time and prevalence

Country Reference year Ever breastfed At 6 months At 12 months
Australia 2010 92 56 30
Austria 2006 93 42 16
Canada 2011/12 89 30 9
Chile 2011/12 95 41 21
Czech Republic 2005 96 42 16
Denmark 2013 13 3
Finland 2010 92 58 34
France 2012/13 63 23 9
Germany 2009/12 82 50 23
Greece 2007/08 88 22 6
Ireland 2012 55 2
Italy 2013 86 46 19
Japan 2009 95 63 60
Mexico 2012 44
Netherlands 2006/08 32 11
New Zealand 2006 60 44
Norway 2013 95 71 35
Republic of Korea 2012 88 61 46
Spain 2011 77 47 23
Sweden 2010 98 52 16
Switzerland 2003 94 62 28
Turkey 2008 74
United Kingdom 2005/10 81 34 0.5
United States 2011 79 49 27
Note: Breastfeeding rates are not exclusive breastfeeding rates. Data in bold are extrapolated see source for methodology.
Source: Victora, C.G. et al. (2016). Breastfeeding in the 21st Century: Epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect, The Lancet, vol. 387, no.
10017, pp. 475490.
i
OECD (2011). Doing Better for Families, OECD Publishing, Paris; Victora, C.G. et al. (2016). Breastfeeding in the 21st Century:
Epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect, The Lancet, vol. 387, no. 10017, pp. 475490.
ii Victora, C.G. et al. (2016). Breastfeeding in the 21st Century: Epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect,
The Lancet, vol. 387, no. 10017, pp. 475490.
iii National Institute of Public Health-UNICEF (2017). MICS Mexico, 2015. https://www.unicef.org/mexico/spanish/ENIM_KFR.pdf
G O A L 3 E N S U R E H E A L T H Y L I V E S A N D P R O M O T E W E L L - B E I N G
GOAL 3
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being
for all at all ages
The rates of neonatal mortality, adolescent suicide, drunkenness and teenage births in high-income countries are
all falling, though the gaps between the best and the worst performers on each of these indicators remain wide.
National averages conceal variation in outcomes that reflect socio-economic, gender or other disparities that
affect child health.
The majority of countries surveyed saw an increase in adolescent self-reporting of mental health issues between
2010 and 2014. One adolescent in four reports experiencing two or more psychological symptoms more than
once a week.
Figure G3 Ensure health

Average country performance across five indicators: neonatal mortality (< 4 weeks of age), suicide rates (019
years), mental health symptoms (1115 years), drunkenness (1115 years) and teenage fertility rates (1519 years)
Portugal
Iceland
Spain
Germany
Norway
Netherlands
Israel
Japan
Austria
Republic of Korea
Slovenia
Switzerland
Sweden
Luxembourg
United Kingdom
Finland
France
Italy
Belgium
Greece
Denmark
Ireland
Australia
Croatia
Czech Republic
Estonia
Latvia
Malta
Canada
Mexico
Hungary
Poland
Lithuania
Slovakia
Romania
United States
Turkey
New Zealand
Bulgaria
Chile
65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115
Note: Cyprus is excluded from the calculation of Goal 3 on account of insufficient data (reporting on only two of the five indicators for this goal).
Two data points for Mexico have been excluded from the calculation of the results for Goal 3: neonatal mortality rates (2015) and number of births
per 1,000 females aged 15-19 (2015). Inclusion of these outliers would result in Mexicos ranking falling to 40th place.
Figure 3.1 Over the past decade, most rich countries have reported notable falls in neonatal mortality rates
Deaths in the first 28 days of life, per 1,000 live births
12
10
Deaths per 1000 live births
4
Country average 2015: 2.8 per 1000
0.9
1.6
2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
1.7
1.8
1.8
2.0
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.9
3.1
3.1
3.1
3.3
3.6
4.0
5.2
5.6
7.3
8.0
0
an
Sw ia
n
d
lic
d
a
No g
y
y
Por el
al
ain
ry
m
a
and
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Lith ce
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itze d
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tes
Bu le
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Me y
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Lux Kore
oni
Un Canad
stri
ited Greec
ede
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lan
lan
an
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ven
tug
uan
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Isra
i
nga
lgiu
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bou
stra
pub
Ch
n
Jap
rlan
lga
Lat
Sp
nm
Sta
Tur
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Fra
Pol
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Fin
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Be
Kin
em
Au
Re
the
Ge
De
of
ited
Sw
lic
Ne
ch
Ne
pub
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Un
Re
2015 2010 2005
Note: Neonatal mortality has no minimum threshold of gestation period or birthweight. Data for 2015 is 2015 or nearest available year. Break in
series: France (2009). No data for Ireland in 2015, France or Turkey in 2005. The country average is unweighted. Missing countries: Croatia, Cyprus,
Malta and Romania.
Source: OECD Health database, 2016. Data for Bulgaria are from the WHO World Health Statistics 2016.
A focus on children is fundamental in the highest-performing nations, At the other end of the scale, the
to the attainment of Goal 3 of the Figure 3.1 suggests that there is still four OECD countries from the
SDGs, not just because it refers to room for improvement in the rest. Americas, along with Bulgaria and
health and well-being at all ages, However, national differences in the Turkey, are above the rich-world
but also because health problems in registration of premature and low- average and still have a significant
childhood can have a lasting impact birthweight babies mean that way to go to meet the standards
throughout life. The first international rankings of neonatal of their highest-achieving peers.
prerequisite is to ensure that as mortality need careful interpretation.11 However, while Chile seems to
many children as possible survive have made no progress on this
the first year of life. In 2015, an average of 2.8 children indicator since 2005, Mexico has
per 1,000 were dying in the first four shown a marked improvement,
Newborn deaths are falling weeks of life across these 36 OECD reducing its rate by almost a
The neonatal mortality rate which countries. Japan has set a new quarter over that period. Other
tracks deaths in the first four weeks historic benchmark by achieving a nations that have made significant
of life is an official SDG indicator neonatal mortality rate of under one, strides since 2005 are Latvia,
under Target 3.2. All high-income at just 0.9 per 1,000, despite the which has halved its mortality
countries have already reduced their highest percentage of low-weight rate, followed by Estonia, Lithuania,
neonatal mortality rates to below births in the OECD.12 The the Netherlands and Poland.
the global target of 12 deaths per improvement in the second-ranked
Suicide: leading cause of death
1,000 live births, although averages nation, Slovenia, has been
among the young
may hide stark variations between spectacular in recent years:
different social groups. Given that between 2005 and 2015 it more In high-income countries in 2012,
neonatal mortality continues to fall than halved its neonatal death rate. suicide was the leading cause of
Figure 3.2 Adolescent suicide rates vary widely between high-income countries
Suicide rates of adolescents aged 1519 per 100,000 population, based on the latest available data (20092013)
18
16
Suicide rates per 100,000 population
14
12
10
8
Country average 2012/13: 6.1
6
2
3.6
10.3
10.3
11.3
13.3
15.6
1.7
1.9
2.0
2.2
2.4
2.5
3.0
3.7
3.7
4.0
4.0
4.2
4.2
4.8
5.0
5.5
5.8
6.1
6.6
6.6
6.7
6.8
6.9
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.7
7.9
8.5
9.0
0
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2012/13 2009 2006
Note: The country average is unweighted. Figures are three-year averages around the year in brackets. Earlier estimates are averages for the three
years preceding. Data are missing for Greece. Most recent data for Iceland (c2008, 5.4), Slovakia (c2008, 2.5) and Slovenia (c2009, 7.6). Missing
countries: Greece, Iceland, Slovakia and Slovenia. [c=around]
Source: WHO mortality database, 2016.
death among young people aged three times more likely, on average, and Slovenia significantly
between 15 and 19 of both sexes, though there is a fivefold difference outweighing a decline in girls
accounting for 17.6 per cent of in the Central and Eastern European deaths. In a handful of countries
all deaths. countries of the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Finland, Malta, the
Latvia, Poland and Slovakia. This Netherlands, New Zealand and the
Figure 3.2 reflects the suicide rate
gender gap runs the opposite way United States the opposite trend
for adolescents aged 1519 across
from the survey of self-confessed can be observed, with the suicide
37 OECD and EU countries.
mental health symptoms. Girls rate for girls increasing, while that
The rate is lowest, at 1.7 per actually attempt suicide around for boys has been declining.
100,000, in Portugal, and tends to twice as often as boys, though Adolescent mental health: a
be low in southern European generally the methods chosen are growing concern
countries. The highest rate, of 15.6 less lethal.13
Most of the SDG health targets that
per 100,000 nine times higher
Adolescent suicide rates have fallen are relevant for high-income
than in Portugal is to be found in
in the majority of countries in recent countries relate to older children
New Zealand, although in Canada,
years. The biggest improvements and adolescents, rather than infants
Chile, Estonia, Finland, Ireland and
have come in two of the nations and younger children. Mental health
Lithuania teenage suicides are also
with the highest suicide rates: Chile and well-being (Target 3.4) is one of
well above the international average.
and Lithuania. In six countries, the these. Objective and comparable
Across the board, boys are more suicide rate has risen, with marked international data on young peoples
likely to die by suicide than girls increases for boys in Luxembourg mental health are not available
Figure 3.3 Adolescent mental health issues are becoming more common
Percentage of adolescents reporting two or more psychological symptoms (feeling low, feeling irritable, feeling
nervous, having sleeping difficulties) more than once a week
40
35
30

Per cent
20
15
10
5
14.2
a 14.7
l 15.0
y 15.4
nd 17.1
18.0
18.6
m 19.9
ds 20.7
d 20.9
m 21.1
21.4
ia 21.9
22.0
d 22.5
22.6
ry 22.9
a 22.9
ia 23.1
24.9
26.4
26.6
ia 27.3
lic 27.4
rg 27.9
27.9
27.9
28.3
lta 28.4
ria 32.5
y 36.5
0
any
ain
ark
atia
ada
and
via
n
nia
nce
ece
and
uga
rwa
Ital
stri
oni
ede
rlan
lan
ven
uan
vak
nga
gdo
lgiu
bou
pub
Ma
rlan
lga
la
Lat
Sp
ma
nm
rm
Cro
Can
Gre
Fra
Pol
Irel
Est
t
Fin
Ice
Au
No
Por
itze
Sw
Slo
Slo
Lith
Bu
Hu
Be
Kin
em
Re
Ro
the
Ge
De
Sw
Lux
Ne
ch
ited
Cze
Un
Note: Estimates for Belgium and the United Kingdom are based on population weights for regional samples (excluding the Brussels region for
Belgium, and Northern Ireland in the case of the United Kingdom). The country average is unweighted. Missing countries: Australia, Chile, Cyprus,
Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Turkey and the United States.
Source: HBSC Study, various waves.
reliable measurement of the There should always be an element 2 percentage points in self-reported
full range of neuropsychiatric of caution around interpreting self- symptoms between 2010 and 2014,
conditions affecting adolescents reported statistics, but an average with particularly large increases in
would require more comprehensive of around one adolescent in four Luxembourg, the Netherlands,
transnational surveys than exist (23 per cent) reports experiencing Slovenia and Sweden.
at present. two or more psychological
A few countries, however, have
symptoms more than once a week. seen a reduction in the reporting
However, the HBSC survey
This ranges from the lowest of adolescent mental health
does provide a non-clinical, incidence of 14 per cent in Germany symptoms. The positive results
self-reported measure of to the highest of 36 per cent in Italy. in Greece, Romania and Spain
adolescent mental health. Every As in past surveys, girls are much continue a longer-term trend,
four years, schoolchildren aged more likely to report symptoms despite the recent economic
1115 in a range of countries are related to their mental health than crisis between 2006 and 2014,
asked how often they experience are boys, with the gap widening as the self-reported prevalence rate
each of four symptoms: feeling they become older. has declined in those countries
low, irritability, feeling nervous by 7, 6 and 5 percentage
The survey provides evidence that
and sleeping difficulties. points, respectively.
reporting of mental health issues is
The results from 31 high-income on the rise in many high-income There is a manifest need for
countries in 2014 are shown in countries: 15 of the 31 countries standardized, international data on
Figure 3.3. surveyed saw a rise of more than
Figure 3.4 Adolescent drunkenness has declined markedly since 2010

Percentage aged 1115 who reported having been drunk in the previous month
25
20
15
Per cent
10 Country average 2013/14: 6.9%
ry 10.5
10.6
12.7
ria 12.8
d 1.7
al 4.0
4.3
y 4.4
n 4.4
ds 4.5
d 4.5
4.8
rg 5.3
5.4
5.8
6.4
a 7.0
7.0
lta 7.1
m 7.2
7.2
m 7.2
a 7.4
7.5
ia 7.8
ia 8.0
8.0
lic 8.7
ia 9.4
0
nce
and
ain
ece
via
any
ada
and
nia
atia
ark
Ital
stri
oni
ede
lan
rlan
tug
ven
vak
uan
nga
gdo
lgiu
bou
pub
Ma
rlan
lga
Lat
Sp
ma
nm
rm
Cro
Can
Gre
Fra
Irel
Pol
Est
Ice
Au
Por
itze
Sw
Slo
Slo
Lith
Bu
Hu
Be
Kin
em
Re
Ro
the
Ge
De
Sw
Lux
Ne
ch
ited
Cze
Un
Note: 2014 data for Finland, Israel and Norway are excluded on account of high missing values. The 2010 data for Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland,
France, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Turkey are excluded on account of high missing values. Estimates for Belgium and the United
Kingdom are based on population weights for regional samples (excluding the Brussels region for Belgium, and Northern Ireland in the case of the
United Kingdom). The country average is unweighted. Missing countries: Australia, Chile, Cyprus, Finland, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand,
Norway, Republic of Korea, Turkey and the United States.
Source: HSBC study, various waves.
adolescent mental health in high- countries and drunkenness incidence, Iceland. It is notable that
income countries as well as for among younger teenagers can 9 of the 11 countries with the
positive initiatives that can help constitute harmful use, not least highest rates are in Central and
determine future policy to be because of the association with Eastern Europe. In contrast,
shared. If left untreated, mental medically treated injuries.15 The southern European nations
health disorders that emerge prior HBSC survey provides data for a generally have rates of adolescent
to adulthood impose a ten-fold large group of industrialized drunkenness that are below
greater health cost than those that countries. average.
emerge later in life.14 Figure 3.4 shows the percentage of It is also striking that, in all the
schoolchildren aged between 11 countries with data for both years,
Adolescent drunkenness is
and 15 in each country who the incidence of adolescent
becoming less common
reported having been drunk in the drunkenness declined between
Target 3.5 of the SDGs aims to 2010 and 2014. In some countries,
previous 30 days.
strengthen the prevention and the improvement was dramatic: in
treatment of substance abuse, There is substantial variation Ireland, Spain and the United
including harmful use of alcohol. between countries. In Bulgaria and Kingdom the rate more than halved.
Although the official indicator Denmark in 2014, 13 per cent of Nevertheless, it remains important
related to this focuses on adults, children had been drunk within the to develop and maintain policies
drinking by children is a matter of last month seven times the figure that guard against harmful drinking
public concern in many high-income for the country with the lowest by adolescents.
Figure 3.5 The teenage birth rate is falling in all high-income countries
Number of births per 1,000 females aged 1519
80
70
Births per 1000 females aged 15-19
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1.6
2.8
3.6
3.9
4.0
4.0
4.9
5.7
5.7
5.7
5.9
5.9
6.4
6.4
6.8
7.2
8.1
8.3
8.8
9.2
9.3
9.4
9.5
9.7
10.1
10.4
12.4
13.1
13.3
13.8
13.9
16.4
17.7
19.9
21.2
23.3
26.8
34.0
36.8
47.5
62.2
itze rea
d
ia
De nds
ark
Cyp n
rus
d
n
g
y
Fin ly
Ge and
Au y
Gre a
Be ce
m
ain
Cro e
atia
Por ael
al
a
Irel ic
Lith and
Est ia
Pol ia
and
via
Kin lia
m
Hu lta
ry
kia
w Z tates
Tur d
Ro key
Bu nia
ria
Me ile
o
rwa
an
stri
ch anad
nc
a
Lux wede
xic
rlan
lan
an
Ita
Ne loven
tug
uan
on
l
nga
lgiu
gdo
bou
ited ustra
pub
Ch
e
Jap
Ma
lga
Lat
Un Slova
Isr
Sp
ma
nm
Ko
rm
Fra
rla
eal
Ice
No
S
em
C
Re
the
of
ited
S
A
Sw
blic
Ne
Cze
pu
Un
Re
2015 2010 2005
Note: The country average is unweighted.

Source: OECD Family database, 2016 for Romania and Slovenia, and World Development Indicators 2016 for other countries.
Teenage birth rates are Figure 3.5 tracks changes between Without exception, all countries
falling fast 2005 and 2015 in the number of show a decline in the teenage birth
births per 1,000 women aged 1519 rate between 2005 and 2015. The
Adolescent birth rates have
living in 41 high-income countries. progress has been particularly
declined rapidly in many high-
marked in Iceland, which reduced
income countries in recent The lowest teenage birth rate is
its rate by 63.5 per cent over that
decades. The issue remains of found in the Republic of Korea, with
period, but ten other countries
significant concern, however, on 1.6 per 1,000, while five other
reduced their rates by over
account of the high individual and countries Denmark, Japan, the
40 per cent: Austria, Estonia,
social costs associated with Netherlands, Slovenia and
Germany, Ireland, Lithuania,
Switzerland also have a rate of four
teenage pregnancies and births. Luxembourg, Portugal, Switzerland,
or under per 1,000. The highest rates
Very young mothers face higher the United Kingdom and the United
occur in the Latin American countries
mortality risks and birth States. In contrast, there has been
of Chile and Mexico. The difference
complications, in addition to the minimal recent progress in Slovakia
between high-income countries on
likely adverse impact on their own and Sweden, while the slow rate of
this indicator is vast. Even leaving
economic opportunities. Preventing improvement in Bulgaria, Chile and
aside the countries with the highest
early pregnancies can therefore Romania is of particular concern,
rates, the adolescent birth rate in
given the scale of the problem in
improve the life chances and health New Zealand and the United States
those countries.
prospects of two generations of is more than 13 times that in the
children. Republic of Korea.
G O A L 4 E N S U R E I N C L U S I V E A N D E Q U I T A B L E Q U A L I T Y E D U C A T I O N F O R A L L
GOAL 4
Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and
promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Measures of basic competency in reading, mathematics and science literacy show that even in the best-
performing countries, one 15-year-old in five does not reach the level of basic competency.
About 19 out of every 20 children have access to some kind of organized preschool provision one year before the
start of formal schooling. However, both the quantity and the quality of such services for children from the age of
3 vary substantially across countries.
Figure G4 Inclusive education

Average country performance across two indicators: rates of children achieving baseline learning proficiency
(15 years of age) and participation rates in the preschool year (age 36)
Finland
Malta
Republic of Korea
Mexico
Denmark
Belgium
Germany
Canada
Norway
Japan
Switzerland
Spain
Ireland
France
New Zealand
Sweden
Netherlands
Latvia
Italy
United Kingdom
Estonia
Czech Republic
Slovenia
Portugal
Luxembourg
Austria
Iceland
Israel
Lithuania
Hungary
Poland
United States
Greece
Cyprus
Slovakia
Croatia
Chile
Bulgaria
Australia
Romania
Turkey
65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115
Note: The data point for Turkey (2013/14) for participation rate in organized learning (one year before official age for entering primary school) is an
outlier; the data point is therefore excluded from the calculation of the results for Goal 4. Inclusion of those data would result in no change to the
ranking of Turkey on Goal 4.
Figure 4.1 Even in the highest-performing nations, around one child in five does not achieve baseline
educational standards
Percentage of 15-year-olds achieving baseline competency in reading, mathematics and science
100
90
80
70
60
Per cent
50
40
30
20
10
83.1
82.4
81.4
80.8
79.3
77.9
77.2
76.7
75.7
75.5
74.9
74.6
73.3
72.6
71.9
71.7
71.7
71.6
71.0
70.8
70.3
70.0
69.7
69.4
66.6
66.4
65.2
65.2
64.6
63.8
62.6
59.5
59.2
56.7
48.0
47.0
45.5
40.7
0
a
Slo rk
an
Can d
ia
ada
and
y
lic eland
De rea
ds
Sw rway
d
m
and
Au ain
lia
ia
Por m
Cze Swe l
den
lic
nce
a
ited Italy
Ice s
em nd
Lith urg
ia
ry
atia
Slo el
Gre a
Bu ce
ria
ile
nia
key
a
Ne rman
te
oni
stri
i
lan
rlan
ven
tug
uan
vak
Isra
nga
a
Ne elgiu
gdo
stra
pub
Ch
e
Jap
rlan
lga
la
Lat
Sp
ma
nm
Sta
Ko
bo
Tur
Cro
Fra
Pol
eal
Est
Fin
Au
No
itze
Ir
Hu
Kin
Re
Ro
the
Ge
of
wZ
B
Lux
ch
ited
Un
pub
Un
Re
Note: Data for 2015 and 2012 are compared to 2006 data, as this was the last time that science literacy was the main focus of the PISA tests; 2009
data are available for the majority of countries; 2006 results for the United States are not reported because of lack of data availability in reading.
Malta did not participate in PISA rounds 2006 and 2012. Data for Mexico are excluded due to low rates of enrolment. At the time of the PISA 2015
survey more than one in four Mexican students between the ages of 15-17 were out of school (26.7 per cent); children from the lowest income
quintile make up almost half (45 per cent) of non-attendees in this age group, see UNICEF (2016). Nios y nias fuera de la Escuela en Mxico,
https://www.unicef.org/mexico/spanish/UNICEF_NFE_MEX.pdf. Some 35.9 per cent of the Mexican sample reached baseline educational standards
in 2015. The country average is unweighted. Missing countries: Cyprus, Malta and Mexico.
Source: OECD PISA survey, various waves.
Investing in childrens education is triennial survey that aims to evaluate The only other countries with more
key to any child-focused vision of national education systems by than 75 per cent of 15-year-olds
the Sustainable Development testing the skills and knowledge of attaining the basic level across
Goals. Failure to achieve basic skills 15-year-old students. Figure 4.1 three subjects are Denmark,
in core subjects at each educational compares 39 industrialized countries Germany, Ireland, Poland, Republic
level imposes a high cost on of Korea and Slovenia. This is a
on the proportion of their children
individual children and on society diverse group of countries, but their
achieving at least minimum
through school dropout, lower
proficiency (Level 2 or higher) in national educational approaches
productivity and wages, and higher
reading, mathematics and science are evidently more successful than
unemployment and inactivity.
in 2015. It is striking that no country, others in ensuring baseline
Achieving universal proficiency in
fundamental skills ensures a fairer no matter how wealthy or how long competency (proficiency Level 2 or
chance in life for all children and established its education system, higher) though still far from
young people. approaches universal competency in universal.
Falling short of universal reading, mathematics and science At the other end of the spectrum,
competency at the end of among its 15-year-olds. less than half of the 15-year-olds
secondary school tested in Bulgaria, Chile, Romania
The highest proportions over
and Turkey achieved the requisite
The Programme for International 80 per cent are achieved in
minimum standard.
Student Assessment (PISA) is a Canada, Estonia, Finland and Japan.
Box 4 Measuring quality in early

childhood education and care
SDG Target 4.2 emphasizes the importance of access to the dynamic nature of childrens lives. The
to high-quality early childhood education and care childs home learning environment and her/his
(ECEC) as a means of achieving equity and transforming interaction with formal settings influences child
lives through education. At the heart of this ambition is outcomes, and measures should be sensitive to
the message that access to ECEC alone is insufficient this.
to achieve positive child outcomes, and that ECEC
What it means to be ready for primary
must also be of high quality. As a result, meeting Target
education or developmentally on track. Quality
4.2 means developing methods to accurately measure
ECEC settings foster child development and
and monitor quality standards in ECEC.i
recognize children as active learners and capable
As a minimum, measures of ECEC quality should explorers of their environment. The concept of
capture: (a) the system design and organization school readiness, however, can be problematic if
(structure) of services, including accreditation, staff it shifts the focus too far from how children learn
child ratios, and health and safety regulations; (b) through play vital in developing soft skills, such
practice within ECEC settings (process), including as self-regulation and attentiveness towards a
interactions and relationships, the role of play, and the more school-like pedagogy, emphasizing the
integration of care and education; and (c) child development of basic skills and literacy
outcomes, including the childs social, emotional, outcomes.
mental, physical skills and benefits to family and
Each country can ensure that the question of quality is
community.
high on the policy agenda by collecting data at the child
For cross-national monitoring efforts, key considerations level, identifying risks and barriers to positive child
include: development, and ensuring that the system can
respond to the needs of both child and family. Such
Monitoring ECEC quality in different contexts.
efforts will link improvements in the quality of ECEC to
ECEC services in high-income countries vary
policy measures and enhance equity in access.
widely in terms of decentralization, curriculum and
funding structure. This means that a one-size-fits- i
Bruckauf, Z. and Hayes, N. (2017). Quality of Childcare and
all solution to measuring quality and monitoring Pre-Primary Education: How do we measure it? Innocenti
standards is unlikely to be found. Research Brief 2017-13, UNICEF Office of Research
Innocenti, Florence.
The interplay between home environment and
formal care. Quality ECEC settings are responsive
Figure 4.2a More than nine out of ten children participate in organized preschool learning
Percentage participating in organized learning (one year before official age for entering primary school)
100
80
60
Per cent
40
20
99.9
99.9
99.8
99.8
99.8
99.3
99.2
99.1
99.0
98.9
98.8
98.8
98.7
98.4
98.0
97.9
97.1
96.7
96.5
96.4
96.2
96.2
96.0
95.7
95.0
95.0
94.9
93.8
93.1
92.3
91.4
91.1
90.3
89.7
89.3
80.3
72.7
0
lta
el
m
d
nce
Me n
o
d
ark
ay
ea
w Z Italy
and
n
rg
d
Lith via
ia
a
m
Ne reland
ds
ia
ria
Cro a
atia
Au nd
al
n
ry
Gre e
ece
rus
ited onia
tes
lia
key
ited Canad
ni
il
ai
ede
a
xic
lan
rlan
lan
uan
ven
tug
Isra
nga
lgiu
gdo
bou
stra
pub Norw
Ch
Kor
Ma
Jap
lga
rlan
a
Lat
Sp
ma
nm
Sta
Cyp
Tur
Fra
eal
Pol
st
Fin
Ice
Por
itze
Sw
Slo
Bu
Hu
Be
Kin
em
Ro
E
the
I
De
of
Sw
lic
Lux
Ne
Un
Un
Re
Country average 2014: 95.3% 2013/14 2010 2005
Note: Most recent data are for 2010 for Croatia, Estonia, Iceland and Switzerland. Data for Canada refer to adjusted net enrolment rate, one year
before the official primary entry age, both sexes (per cent). Missing countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany and Slovakia.
Source: SDG Indicators Global Database (UNESCO, OECD and EUROSTAT Surveys of Formal Education).
With the exception of Chile, these was little evidence of positive A growing body of evidence attests
are also the countries with the change on this indicator in Mexico to the long-term benefits of high-
lowest per-capita national income in and Turkey. quality preschool education and
the sample. However, it is evident care for children aged 35,
Almost all children have some
that some countries make much highlighting positive outcomes in
preschool provision
more effective use than others of terms of education, health, jobs and
Target 4.2 of the SDGs aims to
the resources they have available: reduced criminal behaviour.
ensure that all girls and boys have
the highest-performing nation of all
access to quality early childhood Specifically, participation in such
on this measure, Estonia, has a per-
development, care and pre-primary preschool programmes decreases
capita national income less than
education so that they are ready the likelihood of low educational
half that of the four other countries
for primary education. Early performance at the age of 15.
in the top five.
childhood development is a driving These effects seem to be
Some of the weakest-performing force for sustainable development particularly positive for children
nations are among those that made in all societies,16 and through from disadvantaged backgrounds.17
the greatest progress on this public investment in early care
indicator in the nine years following and education initiatives, a good Figure 4.2a indicates that almost all
2006: Bulgaria, Israel and Romania start in life can benefit not only children in high-income countries
all showed substantial improvement millions of children today, but also are benefiting from some level of
of around 12 percentage points, their communities and societies organized learning one year before
while Chile also improved; there in the future. they start school.
Figure 4.2b Formal childcare attendance from 3 years is less prevalent in some countries
Percentage of children from 3 years to minimum compulsory school age attending centre-based services for at
least one hour a week
100

80
60
Per cent
40
20
99
99
98
96
95
95
94
93
91
91
90
90
89
89
89
87
86
86
81
80
80
79
76
75
74
72
70
68
65
52
43
40
0
a
ry
d
rus
ia
ia
lic
ia
rg
ria
m
d
ece
nia
and
atia
d
lta
m
nce
ark
n
a
ain
y
y
ia
an*
any
and
al
ds
Ital
rwa
stri
oni
ede
lan
rlan
lan
uan
ven
tug
vak
nga
gdo
lgiu
bou
pub
Ma
lga
rlan
Lat
ma
Sp
nm
Cyp
rm
Cro
Jap
Gre
Fra
Irel
Pol
Est
Fin
Ice
Au
No
Por
itze
Slo
Sw
Slo
Lith
Bu
Hu
Be
Kin
em
Re
Ro
the
Ge
De
Sw
Lux
Ne
ch
ited
Cze
Un
Note: Missing countries: Australia, Canada, Chile, Israel, Mexico, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Turkey, the United States.
*Confidence intervals for Japan are not available, this country is categorized as a higher performer based on the grouping of nearest comparators.
Source: Eurostat (EU-SILC). Data for Japan from 2013 Comprehensive Survey of Living Standards, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.
On average, 95 per cent of children produces a greater variety of

across these countries benefit from national results, as Figure 4.2b
formal preschool provision, shows. While nearly all children
although this measure does not over age 3 take part in centre-based
account for hours used or the learning or care for at least one
quality of provision (see Box 4: hour a week in Belgium, Iceland
Measuring quality in early childhood and Malta, less than half do so in
education and care, page 26). Croatia and Poland.
Despite recent increases in both
countries, the rates in Australia and
Turkey remain substantially lower:
between two and three out of every
ten children do not participate in
pre-primary education.
However, the data above cover only

the year before primary school,
which begins much later in some
countries than in others. Expanding
the age coverage to include all
children from the age of 3 onwards
G O A L 5 A C H I E V E G E N D E R E Q U A L I T Y A N D E M P O W E R A L L G I R L S
GOAL 5
Achieve gender equality and empower all
women and girls
Around one woman in 16 in high-income countries reports having been sexually abused by an adult before the
age of 15.
Assumptions about gender roles communicated during childhood play a part in reproducing gender inequalities
later in life.
In all countries with data, more girls than boys report daily participation in housework.
On average, 14 per cent of adults in sample countries felt that higher education was more important for boys
than for girls, though there was a wide range of opinion from 3 per cent supporting that idea in Sweden to
32 per cent in Turkey.
Few of the globally agreed outperform boys. However, this Unwillingness to report acts of
indicators included under Goal 5 does not yet translate into equality sexual violence can result from,
have comparable child-focused of outcomes in later life. among other factors, the trauma
indicators that reflect gender of recalling the experience, fear
Gender equality requires an
inequalities in childhood. For other of blame or the stigma attached
end to violence against girls
indicators, there is a lack of to such violence. Differences in
Experience of any form of violence results across countries may thus
comparable cross-country data.
in childhood can inflict lifelong in part reflect social climates that
Consequently, no composite table
damage in both girls and boys (as are more or less conducive to
has been constructed from the recognized by Goal 16). Goal 5 women speaking openly about
indicators included under Goal 5. focuses specifically on gender such experiences. What is clear is
Sustainable Development Goal 5 equality, and thus prioritizes the that sexual violence is experienced
focuses on eliminating ending of all forms of violence by girls in all countries and
discrimination on the basis of against women and girls, including appears widespread. Bringing the
gender, and on ending violence physical, sexual or psychological prevalence of the problem to
against girls and women. In many violence. Figure 5.1 presents data public notice is itself a step
from a 2012 survey undertaken by towards countering such abuse
high-income countries, significant
the European Union Agency for and empowering girls. It should
progress has been made in
Fundamental Rights. The survey be noted that sexual violence is
combating overt discrimination on
asked women aged 1829 whether also perpetrated against boys; to
the grounds of sex sometimes
they had suffered sexual violence date, however, limited data are
through legislation and sometimes
from an adult before the age of 15. available on violence against boys
through changing social norms.
Indeed, for many child-level In surveys on subjects such as or on the differential experience
sexual violence, some level of of girls and boys.
indicators, such as education
outcomes, girls frequently under-reporting is to be expected.
Figure 5.1 Sexual violence by adults affects 6 per cent of European girls under the age of 15
Percentage of women aged 1829 who reported having experienced sexual violence before the age of 15
14
12
10
8
Per cent

6
10.3
ds 11.1
12.0
m 12.3
rg 13.0
a 1.1
1.9
nd 1.9
2.0
lic 2.0
al 2.6
ia 4.4
ia 4.6
ia 4.6
a 4.6
ry 4.7
4.9
5.1
5.2
ria 6.0
lta 6.1
6.2
y 6.6
d 6.8
n 8.2
m 8.4
9.7
a 9.8
0
ece
via
rus
any
atia
and
ark
ain
nce
Ital
stri
ani
oni
ede
lan
tug
vak
uan
ven
nga
lgiu
gdo
bou
pub
Ma
lga
rlan
a
Lat
Sp
nm
Cyp
rm
Cro
Gre
Fra
Pol
Irel
m
Est
Fin
Au
Por
Slo
Sw
Slo
Lith
Bu
Hu
Be
Kin
em
Re
Ro
the
Ge
De
Lux
Ne
ch
ited
Cze
Un
Note: Sexual violence was defined as: forced intercourse; unwelcome touching of breasts or genitals; being forced to pose naked; or the adult
exposing their genitals. Missing countries: Australia, Canada, Chile, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Korea,
Switzerland, Turkey and the United States.
Source: FRA European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, gender-based violence against women survey dataset, 2012.
Figure 5.2 Attitudes that reinforce gender inequality remain entrenched

Percentage of adult respondents agreeing that university education is more important for a boy than for a girl,
20102014
40
35
30
25
Per cent
20
15 Country average: 13.9%
10
0
3.9
1.4
5.0
3.1
7.0
2.6
7.4
3.7
7.4
5.7
ia 12.2
5.0
ain 11.8
11.5
nd 14.8
9.4
rus 19.2
9.0
any 19.9
11.6
a 18.4
13.7
an 17.1
15.4
ile 27.8
12.6
a 24.6
17.1
o 22.2
19.2
a 27.2
24.1
key 34.4
29.6
n
lia
ds
and
tes
oni
ani
e
ede
xic
ven
stra
Ch
Kor
Jap
rlan
a
Sp
Sta
Cyp
Tur
rm
eal
Pol
Me
m
Est
Sw
Slo
Au
Ro
the
Ge
of
wZ
ited
blic
Ne
Ne
Un
pu
Re
Male respondent Female respondent
Note: Data refer to the current official release version v2016-01-01 of the World Values Survey. Respondents agree or strongly agree with the
statement. Circle on bars = male/female average.
Source: World Values Survey, 20102014.
Societal attitudes contribute to young women consistently notwithstanding the overall

unequal outcomes for girls and outperform their male peers in progress made towards gender
boys high-income countries. As of 2013, equality in high-income countries
55 per cent of all students in OECD over recent decades. For example,
Gender differences persist in many
countries who graduated from a the view that university education is
areas of life in rich, as well as in
general secondary education more important for boys than for
poor countries. In most rich
programme were girls and girls is still widely held in many
countries, women still lag well
58 per cent of graduates with a
behind men when it comes to pay, countries by both men and women,
bachelors degree were women20
to holding managerial positions and as a study of 17 countries
but this is still not translating into
to political representation at both conducted as part of the World
an advantage in the labour market.
the local and the national level. In Values Survey revealed (Figure 5.2).
terms of wage gaps, for example, The gender gap in adult life is
Wide variation is displayed here in
on average across the OECD, therefore not closely tracked by
indicators of opportunity or terms of social attitudes to gender.
women earn 15.5 per cent less than
performance during childhood: The proportion of respondents who
men;18 meanwhile, they hold only
instead, other factors play into the value male education over female is
27.9 per cent of seats in national
later disadvantage of women. as high as one in five in Chile,
parliaments.19
These include gender norms and Romania and Mexico, is over one in
Yet in terms of their attainment at expectations of gender roles that four in the Republic of Korea, and is
school and university, girls and persist in most societies, almost one in three in Turkey.
Figure 5.3 Girls do more housework than boys at ages 8 and 12

Percentage point difference in girls and boys share of daily participation in housework by age, 2013/14
18
16
14
12
10
2
10.7
13.7
12.2
12.3
rwa 13.9
15.6
15.7
3.4
3.4
any 4.8
9.2
5.3
5.9
6.1
0.3
ani 6.2
6.3
5.1
6.7
8.7
key 9.2
6.3
5.9
9.5
0
lta
ea
el
nd
a
n
nd
oni
ai
Isra
gdo
Kor
Ma
la
a
Sp
Tur
rm
Pol
m
Est
Fin
No
Kin
Ro
Ge
of
lic
ited
pub
Un
Re
Difference at age 8 Difference at age 12
Note: In some countries, only one region or administrative area was sampled, as follows: Poland Wielkopolska region; Spain Catalonia; Turkey
Istanbul; United Kingdom England.
Source: Childrens Worlds, the International Survey of Childrens Well-Being (ISCWeB).
Such attitudes are likely to translate every day, while only 11 per cent
into differential educational indicated that they did so rarely or
opportunities and thus to unequal never. In all countries, more girls
gender outcomes in adult life. than boys report participating in
housework on a daily basis, while
Girls do more housework
boys predominate among those
Another factor inhibiting gender who say that they never or rarely
equality in adult life is womens help. The gender difference is
disproportionate responsibility for consistent across all countries and
unpaid care and domestic work. In all three ages. Although Mexico
most cultures, the assumption that was not covered by the survey,
such work within the household is national data for 2013 indicate that
primarily the responsibility of in the age group 10 to 13,
women is learned early in life, as 74 per cent of girls are involved in
children are socialized by example household work, compared with
and by expectation both within and 64 per cent of boys.21
beyond the family home. The
The nature of childrens housework
International Survey of Childrens
varies, depending on the socio-
Well-Being collects data based on
economic and cultural context, and
childrens subjective perceptions of
childrens contributions to
their own lives. Children aged 8, 10
household chores are by no means
and 12 were asked: How often do
necessarily negative. However, the
you usually spend time helping
clear gap between boys and girls
around the house when you are not
participation at the age of 8 does
in school? The results appear in
seem indicative of the kind of
Figure 5.3.
gender stereotyping that is
In the 12 high-income countries reproduced within families and that
included in the survey, about can reinforce gender inequalities
52 per cent of children aged 8 said over the long term.
that they helped with housework
G O A L 8 P R O M O T E F U L L A N D P R O D U C T I V E E M P L O Y M E N T A N D D E C E N T W O R K F O R A L L
GOAL 8
Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable
economic growth, full and productive employment
and decent work for all
An average of 1 young person in 13 in the countries surveyed is not in employment, education or training (NEET)
and the proportion is much larger in southern Europe and Latin America. Jobs for young people can redress
this lack of opportunities and improve the inclusion of young people.
Around one child in ten lives in a household where no adult is employed; this rises to almost one child in five in
Ireland.
Figure G8 Inclusive economic growth

Average country performance across two indicators: youth inactivity (NEET) rates (1519 years) and children
living in jobless households (017 years of age)
Japan
Switzerland
Luxembourg
Poland
Norway
Germany
Sweden
Netherlands
Slovenia
Denmark
Canada
Republic of Korea
Czech Republic
Estonia
Finland
Latvia
United States
Iceland
Slovakia
France
Cyprus
Israel
Australia
Austria
Romania
Portugal
Lithuania
Belgium
Malta
Italy
United Kingdom
Greece
Hungary
New Zealand
Croatia
Spain
Ireland
Chile
Bulgaria
Mexico
70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120
Note: The data point for Turkey for the proportion of youth (aged 1519) not in employment, education or training in 2014 is an outlier, and so is
excluded from the calculation of the results for Goal 8. The inclusion of the outlier would result in Turkey ranking 41st on Goal 8.
Figure 8.1 Among young people aged 15-19 around 1 in 13 is not in school or work
Percentage of youth (aged 1519) not in employment, education or training (NEET rate)
40
35
30
25
Per cent
20
15
10
5
0
2.0
2.4
2.9
3.2
3.5
3.5
3.6
3.8
4.0
4.3
4.6
4.7
5.4
5.5
5.5
5.7
6.1
6.8
7.0
7.1
7.1
7.2
7.2
7.6
7.6
7.7
7.8
7.9
8.4
9.1
10.4
10.5
10.8
11.2
12.1
12.5
12.7
14.1
15.3
21.0
Pol a
and
Slo en
Sw venia
Be nd
m
Ice d
n
g
y
De blic
ark
y
ds
Slo nd
Por ia
Ro nd
Gre ia
ece
Hu gal
Est ry
a
lta
w Z nada
Au nd
Au ia
ited stria
Cyp s
us
ea
el
Kin ce
m
y
Cro in
atia
Bu ile
Me ia
o
key
ch rman
Ne orwa
Ital
te
vi
oni
Lux Japa
xic
lan
r
vak
n
l
r
Isra
a
nga
lgiu
gdo
bou
stra
Ch
r
Kor
ited Fran
Ma
lga
rlan
ed
rla
la
a
a
Lat
ma
Sp
tu
nm
Sta
Tur
pu
Irel
eal
Fin
a
itze
Sw
em
C
Re
N
the
e
of
G
lic
Ne
Un
pub
Cze
Un
Re
2014 2010 2005
Note: According to the International Labour Organization definition, students in work-study programmes are considered to be both in education
and employed, irrespective of their labour market status. Reported 2014 data for Republic of Korea and Chile refer to 2013; reported 2010 data for
Chile refer to 2009. Missing country: Lithuania.
Source: OECD Family Database, 2016. Data for Japan: Statistics Bureau, Labour Force Survey 2015.
Any strategy for achieving involvement in risky behaviour and NEET rates have fallen in most
sustainable economic development poor mental and physical health.22 countries over the past decade. In
has to include opportunities for some, the improvement has been
The official SDG indicator (8.6.1) is
young people to engage in spectacular: Israel reduced its
the share of youth aged 1524 not
productive employment that will NEET rate by more than two thirds
in employment, education or
provide them with a decent between 2005 and 2014, bringing it
training. Since the focus in this
livelihood. A key measure of a down to the international average.
report is on children, Figure 8.1 Cyprus has cut its rate by more
countrys success in delivering such
reports on the situation of than half, and Turkey has also made
opportunities is the proportion of
adolescents aged 1519. massive strides, though it still has
young people not in employment,
education or training (NEET). High Around 1 in 13 of this age group in the highest rate among all OECD
NEET rates are unhealthy not just high-income countries is NEET. In countries.
for the young people themselves, general, the highest rates occur in However, there has been a
but also for society as a whole. southern Europe and Latin America, significant worsening of the
Young people not in education or in and the lowest in Northern and situation in some other countries,
work are not developing their skills Central Europe. Turkeys young with NEET rates doubling between
or their confidence, and may be at people are worst affected, with 1 in 2005 and 2014 in both Ireland and
higher risk of social isolation, 5 in this category. Poland. Estonia, France and the
Figure 8.2 Around one child in ten lives in a household where no one works for pay
Percentage of children under 18 in jobless households (based on self-defined economic status of adults)
25
20
15
Per cent
10.1
10.3
10.4
11.6
11.6
12.9
13.4
14.0
14.0
14.3
16.0
16.0
18.8
2.1
2.9
4.0
4.2
4.2
5.5
5.6
5.8
6.0
6.0
6.1
6.3
6.4
6.8
7.8
7.9
8.1
8.2
8.2
8.5
9.0
9.4
9.7
9.8
0
an
nd
Can a
ia
alta
lic
via
Gre l
ece
m
ia
m
ria
w Z ain
Hu nd
ry
and
ada
No d
y
Ro en
a
ited ourg
Est s
a
the nia
ds
any
nce
Fin k
d
rus
el
d
ia
a
Lith aly
a
rwa
ar
te
e
stri
Lux mani
oni
lan
lan
an
vak
uan
tug
ited Croat
Isra
nga
lgiu
gdo
pub
Kor
Jap
lga
rlan
ed
erla
a
Lat
It
Sp
ve
nm
Sta
Cyp
rm
M
Fra
eal
Irel
Pol
Ice
Au
b
Por
Sw
Slo
Slo
Bu
Be
Kin
em
Re
Re Switz
Ge
De
of
lic
Ne
ch
Ne
Un
pub
Cze
Un
Note: Reported 2014 data for Republic of Korea and New Zealand refer to 2015; for USA they refer to 2013; and for Israel and Japan to 2012.
Mexicos data are excluded on account of high rates of informality in the labour market. Missing countries: Australia, Chile and Turkey.
Source: See Figure 1.1.
United States have also seen their Ireland. Around one child in seven
NEET rates rise, albeit on a more lives in a jobless household in
modest scale. Bulgaria, Hungary, New Zealand,
Spain and the United Kingdom.
Another key indicator related to
Goal 8 is adult unemployment.
Growing up in a household where
no adult works has been linked to a
greater risk of experiencing income
poverty,23 and poorer child well-
being outcomes in areas of
learning, bullying, and notably being
NEET.24 Figure 8.2 shows the
proportion of children living in
households where nobody has a
paid job.
The results range from 2 per cent of
children in Japan to 19 per cent in
G O A L 1 0 R E D U C E I N E Q U A L I T Y W I T H I N A N D A M O N G C O U N T R I E S
GOAL 10
Reduce inequality within and among countries
Considerable inequalities remain in high-income countries. In two thirds of countries, the entire bottom
40 per cent of households with children have less income than the top 10 per cent.
In most countries, the incomes of the poorest 10 per cent of the population have fallen further behind those at
the median since 2008.
These inequalities are at their most extreme in Bulgaria and Mexico, and at their least severe in Iceland and
Norway.
Economic disadvantage undermines equal opportunities: in every country studied, 15-year-olds from better-off
families achieve substantially better educational results than their less-advantaged peers.
Figure G10 Reduce inequality

Average country performance across three indicators: Palma ratio (017 years of age), bottom-end inequality
(017 years) and impact of socio-economic status on student performance (15 years)
Iceland
Norway
Denmark
Finland
Cyprus
United Kingdom
Switzerland
Ireland
Germany
Slovenia
Sweden
Netherlands
Austria
Canada
Luxembourg
Republic of Korea
Australia
Croatia
Belgium
Italy
Malta
Turkey
Poland
Slovakia
Latvia
New Zealand
Portugal
Spain
Estonia
Hungary
Czech Republic
Japan
Lithuania
France
United States
Greece
Chile
Romania
Israel
Bulgaria
Mexico
75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125
Note: One data point for Mexico is an outlier and has been excluded from the calculation of the results for Goal 10 (2014, Palma ratio based on
households with children). The inclusion of the outlier would result in no change for Mexico.
Figure 10.1 In most countries, the income share of the top 10 per cent exceeds that of the bottom 40 per cent
Palma ratio based on households with children, 2014 and 2008
3.0
2.5
2.0
Palma Ratio
1.5
Country average 2014: 1.17
1.0
0.5
0.70
0.74
0.76
0.81
0.82
0.83
0.83
0.85
0.86
0.86
0.94
0.99
1.00
1.00
1.00
1.01
1.01
1.02
1.05
1.06
1.06
1.07
1.10
1.12
1.12
1.19
1.20
1.21
1.35
1.36
1.46
1.50
1.56
1.61
1.64
1.64
1.73
1.77
1.89
2.21
2.80
0.0
No nd
y
Fin n
Cyp y
pub Slov d
a
a
Be ds
Au m
De tria
atia
lta
Fra k
nce
a
Ge blic
Cro s
Hu an
y
d
rg
Kin nd
Can m
A ada
eal a
and
and
Est y
Por nia
Sp l
Lith ain
Ro nia
nia
ited atvia
Gre s
ece
ria
Tur l
key
Me ile
o
a
e
rwa
an
Sw ngar
Ital
ar
ru
te
eni
Ne f Kore
ch ovaki
li
ede
xic
lan
Lux zerlan
tug
Isra
lgiu
gdo
bou
Ne ustra
Ch
Ma
Jap
rlan
lga
la
ited Irela
ua
ma
nm
Sta
s
pu
rm
Pol
Ice
L
Sw
Bu
em
Re
the
wZ
S
o
it
lic
Un
Cze
Un
Re
2014 2008
Note: The Palma ratio is the ratio of the income share of the top 10 per cent and the bottom 40 per cent of the population in an income distribution.
A value of 1.0 indicates that the income of the top 10 per cent is the same as that of the bottom 40 per cent. Values above 1.0 show that the share
of the top 10 per cent is bigger, and values below 1.0 indicate that it is smaller. Values below 1.0 therefore suggest lower levels of inequality.
Source: See Figure 1.1.
Income inequality affects children the income share of the top gap between the richest and poorest
in many ways. Recent evidence 10 per cent of the population is segments of the population has
suggests that children growing up the same as that of the bottom narrowed are the Netherlands,
in countries with less equality tend 40 per cent. A value of less than Portugal, Romania and the United
to have worse outcomes in 1.0 indicates that the bottom Kingdom, whereas it has widened
education, health and life 40 per cent receives a bigger significantly in Australia, Estonia,
satisfaction.25 Moreover, in share of income than the richest Greece, Hungary, Slovakia and Spain.
countries with higher income 10 per cent; conversely a value
The highest levels of inequality by
inequality, childrens family income greater than 1.0 indicates that the this measure are to be found in
plays a larger role in determining bottom 40 per cent receives a Latin America, in Chile and Mexico,
their access to educational smaller share. though inequality is also well above
opportunities and resources. the international average in
The lowest ratio is found in Iceland,
One of the key SDG indicators on where there has been a marked Bulgaria, Greece, Israel, Latvia,
inequality uses the Palma ratio, narrowing of the gap between the Turkey and the United States.
which measures the income share top 10 per cent and the bottom Taking account of the poorest
of the bottom 40 per cent of the 40 per cent of households with
10 per cent
population relative to the top children since the financial crash of
2008. The consequent reduction in In the spirit of the SDGs, which
10 per cent. Figure 10.1 looks at
seek to leave no one behind, this
this relationship for households the income of the richest group has
report includes an additional
with children in 41 high-income taken Icelands Palma ratio to
indicator that focuses on the
countries. This is a child-focused below even the other Nordic
poorest children. In Report Cards 9
adaptation of the Palma ratio, countries of Finland, Norway and
and 13, UNICEF tracked how far
where a value of 1.0 indicates that Sweden. Other countries where the
Figure 10.2 In most countries, the poorest 10 per cent of households with children have fallen further behind
the median income since 2008
Relative income gap between median income and that of the bottom 10 per cent of households with children,
2014 and 2008
80
70
60
50
Per cent
40
30
20
10
34.2
37.1
38.5
38.6
39.0
41.9
42.3
42.3
43.0
44.0
44.1
44.6
44.6
44.9
45.2
45.7
46.6
46.7
49.2
49.2
49.5
50.6
51.6
52.2
52.8
53.7
53.7
56.6
56.8
58.9
59.7
59.8
60.3
61.1
62.4
63.2
64.6
65.0
65.7
67.4
71.1
0
No nd
y
De and
Fin rk
d
Un ether tria
Kin nds
m
any
Fr d
Re uxem ance
lic bourg
Cyp a
s
Re alia
lic
Est y
Por nia
Gre al
ece
Sp l
Me in
Ro ico
Bu nia
ria
Cro ia
Lith atia
Tur a
ited key
tes
via
an
en
and
Slo lta
Be nia
Hu m
Can ry
Pol a
and
Slo ile
e
Sw rwa
Ital
u
e
i
ad
lan
an
tug
vak
uan
Isra
a
a
nga
gdo
lgiu
pub
Ch
Kor
r
Jap
Ma
lga
Ne wed
la
Lat
ma
ve
x
nm
Sta
N Aus
tr
rm
la
rl
Irel
eal
Ice
Cze Aus
itze
Ge
of
wZ
S
ch
ited
Un
pub
L
Note: Relative income gap (bottom-end inequality) is measured as the gap between household income of a child at the 50th percentile (the
median) and that of a child at the 10th percentile, reported as a percentage of the median. Data for Chile are for 2015.
Sources: See Figure 1.1.
behind the median income the because median income has children, in addition to focusing
bottom 10 per cent of households declined even more.26 on the bottom 40 per cent.
with children were falling. Figure
In 23 of the countries for which Socio-economic background
10.2 shows the position of such
there are data, the poorest children affects achievement
households in 2014, as well as
were even further behind the The adverse impacts of inequality
changes since 2008.
median income in 2014 than they of opportunity can last a lifetime.
In this and the previous indicator, were in 2008. There is particular One way in which this plays out is
Iceland leads the way. A child cause for concern in Estonia, through the impact of socio-
from a family in the 10th percentile Greece, Hungary, Italy, Portugal,
economic status on students
in Iceland is closer to the national Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain,
educational achievement. Evidence
median than the equivalent child where the poorest 10 per cent of
suggests that childrens family
in any other country. The strong children are in a substantially
backgrounds cause their paths to
improvement in their relative worse position. In Portugal, this is
diverge early in life, even before
position since 2008 is not, despite the fact that the Palma
they start school.27
however, because the incomes ratio improved between 2008 and
of the poorest 10 per cent of 2014. This goes to show the The Programme for International
households have risen (in fact, importance of tracking the position Student Assessment (PISA) has
they have shrunk); rather it is of the poorest 10 per cent of developed a broad measure of
Figure 10.3 Socio-economic advantage leads to better school results in all 39 countries studied
The score-point difference in reading, mathematics and science associated with a one-unit increase in the ESCS
index
60
50
Score point difference
40 Country average 2014: 38.1
30
20
10
20.6
26.6
27.4
29.9
30.5
31.1
31.4
31.8
31.9
32.0
32.9
33.3
35.0
35.3
35.5
36.4
37.7
37.9
38.4
38.5
38.5
38.8
39.4
39.7
41.4
41.6
41.8
42.0
42.1
42.3
43.6
43.7
44.4
45.7
46.3
46.4
47.1
52.1
56.3
0
ia
m
key
ain
rg
Jap l
Sw an
Slo en
ia
a
a
ds
lta
eal a
Be nd
m
Cze of K y
Re rea
Fra c
nce
Ice ia
Por d
al
ited Italy
tes
Est le
De nia
Can rk
ada
No e
y
Ro nd
Cro a
atia
Slo nd
Ge nia
Fin y
d
d
e
rwa
an
gar
ni
i
Ne ulgari
li
ec
lan
lan
Lux erlan
ited ithuan
vak
Ne Austr
v
tug
Isra
a
gdo
lgiu
bou
stra
pub
Ch
Ma
rlan
ed
a
a
a
Lat
Sp
ma
ve
nm
Sta
o
Tur
rm
Gre
Irel
Pol
pub Hun
Kin
em
Au
the
itz
wZ
B
L
Sw
lic
ch
Un
Un
Re
Note: All values are statistically significant. US 2006 data are not available, as there are no data on reading. Data for Mexico are excluded due to
low rates of enrolment. At the time of the PISA 2015 survey more than one in four Mexican students between the ages of 15-17 were out of school
(26.7 per cent); children from the lowest income quintile make up almost half (45 per cent) of non-attendees in this age group, see UNICEF (2016).
Nios y nias fuera de la Escuela en Mxico, https://www.unicef.org/mexico/spanish/UNICEF_NFE_MEX.pdf. Socio-economic advantage led to a
19.8 score-point difference in Mexico in 2015. Data on the ESCS index are missing for Austria in the 2012 round. Missing countries: Cyprus and
Mexico.
Source: OECD PISA survey, various waves.
socio-economic background the The results are both remarkable and the equivalent of almost two years
economic, social and cultural status consistent. Students aged 15 from schooling.
(ESCS) index. It is derived from five advantaged backgrounds in socio- At the other end of the range,
indices: parental education, economic terms achieved better Turkey is the country where socio-
occupational status of parents, results in the three core subjects in economic background has least
family wealth, cultural possessions 2015 than their less-advantaged influence on school results in part
(art objects and classical literature) peers across all 39 industrialized because there was a smaller
countries studied. On average variation in academic performance.
and educational resources. Figure
across the OECD countries, the
10.3 shows the association between The influence of socio-economic
performance difference associated
a one-unit increase in the ESCS background on educational
with a one-unit increase in the PISA
index and students results across performance is persistent over
ESCS index is equivalent to more
the three subjects of reading, time. However, between 2006 and
than one year of schooling. 2015, big improvements in equity
mathematics and science. A higher
The biggest impact of all is found in were made in Chile, Germany and
value indicates that socio-economic
France, where a one-unit increase in Turkey, while France, Finland and
background has a greater impact on particularly the Republic of Korea
the ESCS index is associated with
students achievement. moved in a more inequitable
an average improvement across the
direction.
three subjects of 56 score points,
Box 5 Looking through the migration

lens: including every child
Within Goal 10 on reducing inequality, Target 10.7 aims Basic education is a fundamental right guaranteed to
to facilitate orderly, safe, regular and responsible all children. Despite this, Children on the Move
migration and mobility of people, including through the demonstrates that the quality, type and amount of
implementation of planned and well-managed education varies according to the legal status of the
migration policies. child, rather than according to her/his actual
educational needs. Similarly, according to
Around 50 million of the worlds children have been
international law and the CRC, children in the
uprooted, either across borders or within their own
migration pathway should have access to appropriate
countries. One refugee in every two is a child. In
healthcare; yet in practice, entitlement to general
Europe, one asylum application in four is from a minor.
healthcare services is quite restricted. Access to
These children may be migrants, refugees, internally
social assistance is also restricted for migrant
displaced or stateless. First and foremost, however,
children, as all EU Member States require a valid
they are children no matter where they come from or
residence permit before social security payments can
who they are. States have a shared responsibility and a
be made. This policy automatically disadvantages
legal obligation to protect displaced children. The
undocumented and irregular migrants.
extent to which displaced children are protected from
abuse and deprivation depends on how well migration The table below highlights some of the most severe
is managed, on how migrant children are integrated instances of lack of legal entitlements for migrant
into society and on their access to necessary services. and refugee children in European countries. Practical
obstacles, combined with limited support measures,
In the European context, national responses to the
mean that these children are frequently
recent inflow of children seeking sanctuary in Europe
disadvantaged, leaving them at risk of poverty.
were swift, using whatever resources were
immediately available. While significant attention has
Undocumented migrant children excluded from
been given to children on the move, the sheer number
schooling
and scale of the increasing influx of children has
resulted in enormous stress on European socio- Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Latvia and Lithuania
political and economic systems. Despite the ratification
No specific maternity-care provision for migrants
of relevant international treaties and many examples of
good practice in individual countries, there are chronic Bulgaria, Cyprus, Finland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland
deficiencies in all European Union members migration, and Slovakia
asylum and child-rights structures, systems and Undocumented migrant children only entitled to
services that impede their ability to provide support emergency healthcare
and services for children in need. Access to services
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Finland, Lithuania, Luxembourg and
varies and shifts according to childrens asylum status Slovakia
and/or place in the migration process, and some
groups such as unaccompanied minors tend to be Source: UNICEF CEE/CIS (2016). Children on the Move is an
ongoing study of legal entitlements for migrant children.
prioritized over others.
Developed from data provided in Byrne, K. (2016, on file with
authors) Law, Policy and Practice Affecting Refugee and
UNICEFs study Children on the Move (2016) offers an Migrant Children in Europe.
overview of the policy and practice environment
affecting refugee and migrant children across Europe.
The review covers the legal entitlements of various In order to meet SDG Target 10.7, which guarantees
categories of children on the move: asylum seekers, safe, regular and responsible migration for every
unaccompanied minors, undocumented migrants, child, it is necessary to break the link between
refugees or those subject to return proceedings. entitlements and legal status for children on the
Access to education, health and social services are move, and to provide services on the basis of their
basic entitlements that should be provided to all rights and needs. Protection of Europes borders and
children on the move, irrespective of their legal status. protection of children are not mutually exclusive.
Source for this box: Toczydlowska, E. and DCosta, B. (2017). Migration and Inequality: Making policies inclusive for every child,
Innocenti Research Brief 2017-14, UNICEF Office of Research Innocenti, Florence; UNICEF CEE/CIS (2016). Children on the
Move, an ongoing study of legal entitlements for migrant children. Developed from data provided in Byrne, K. (2016, on file with
authors) Law, Policy and Practice Affecting Refugee and Migrant Children in Europe.
G O A L 1 1 M A K E C I T I E S I N C L U S I V E , S A F E , R E S I L I E N T A N D S U S T A I N A B L E
GOAL 11
Make cities and human settlements inclusive,
safe, resilient and sustainable
Half of all high-income countries studied fail to meet the safe levels for urban air quality established by the World
Health Organization; children are especially vulnerable to such pollution.
The average level of urban air-pollution concentration for the group of countries studied exceeds the safety
threshold.
Figure G11 Make cities safe

Average country performance on one indicator: annual average concentrations of fine particle pollution (PM2.5)
in urban areas, weighted by proportion of child population living in urban areas (019 years of age)
Ireland
Norway
Australia
Estonia
Finland
Sweden
Portugal
Iceland
New Zealand
Slovakia
Croatia
Romania
United States
United Kingdom
Mexico
Spain
Poland
Austria
Canada
Denmark
Hungary
Cyprus
France
Germany
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Switzerland
Greece
Turkey
Italy
Luxembourg
Malta
Japan
Netherlands
Chile
Belgium
Israel
65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115
Note: Missing countries: Latvia, Lithuania, Republic of Korea and Slovenia. The data point (2013) for Korea for annual average PM2.5
concentrations in urban areas, weighted for child population, is an outlier and has been excluded from the calculation of the results for Goal 11.
The inclusion of the outlier would result in the Republic of Korea ranking 38th on Goal 11.
G O A L 1 1 M A K E C I T I E S I N C L U S I V E , S A F E , R E S I L I E N T A N D S U S T A I N A B L E
Figure 11.1 Childrens health is threatened by high levels of air pollution

Annual average PM2.5 concentrations per cubic metre for 2013, 2010 and 2005 in urban areas, weighted by
proportion of child population (019) living in urban areas
30
25
PM2.5 concentrations
20
15
Country average 2013: 10.7
10
5
10.0
10.7
10.7
11.1
11.4
11.7
11.8
12.1
12.3
12.3
12.7
13.2
13.4
14.8
14.9
16.4
18.1
23.5
24.8
4.8
4.8
5.3
5.8
5.9
6.2
6.2
6.8
7.4
7.9
7.9
8.3
8.8
8.9
9.0
9.2
9.3
9.5
9.7
0
Un ted S ia
s
m
o
ain
Au d
Can a
ada
ark
Cyp y
rus
nce
Cze Bulg y
aria
itze lic
Gre d
ece
key
y
rg
lta
n
ds
Be ile
m
lic Israel
ea
No d
y
lia
Fin a
d
Por en
al
d
and
Cro a
Ro tia
an
rwa
Ital
tate
stri
oni
Ne Japa
xic
an
rlan
an
lan
Ne Icelan
tug
vak
nga
gdo
lgiu
bou
stra
pub
Ch
Kor
a
Ma
rlan
ed
ma
Sp
nm
Tur
rm
Fra
Irel
eal
Pol
Me
Est
Sw
Slo
Hu
Kin
em
Au
Re
the
Ge
De
of
wZ
Sw
Lux
ch
ited
i
Un
pub
Re
2013 2010 2005
Note: Data are weighted to account for the child population (aged 019) living in urban settings, according to the most recent United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) figures, the population for 2013 is the average of the 2010 and the 2015 reports (data reported every five years).
Urbanization rates on average across the country groups were 73.8 per cent in 2005, 74.9 per cent in 2010 and 75.4 per cent in 2013. Data for Latvia
in 2010 were 7.9, and for 2005 8.0. For Lithuania data for 2010 were 9.1, and for 2005 9.5. Data for 2013 missing for both Latvia and Lithuania.
Missing countries: Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia.
Source: Brauer et al. (2016). Ambient Air Pollution Exposure Estimation for the Global Burden of Disease 2013, Environmental Science and
Technology, vol. 50, no. 1, pp. 7988; UNDP (2017). Urban and Rural Population by Age and Sex, 19802015. Available at: nin.tl/UNDP2017
Making cities sustainable and safe The official SDG indicator for not meet this standard, while the
for human habitation will involve monitoring air pollution is 11.6.2, international average is just over the
reducing the levels of air pollution which measures annual mean levels safe level. Levels of air pollution were
that currently afflict the inhabitants of of fine particulate matter in cities. more than twice the safe level in the
many urban areas. Figure 11.1 shows the annual urban areas of Israel and the
average levels of air pollution in 38 Republic of Korea. Children in Belgian
Children are particularly susceptible
OECD and EU countries, measured cities faced the highest levels of air
to air pollution, because they breathe
in concentrations of PM2.5. This is pollution in Europe.
in more air per unit of body weight
particulate matter with a diameter of
than adults. Their lungs are especially
less than 2.5 microns so fine that it One source of encouragement is that
vulnerable to damage from such
is able not only to penetrate inside air quality improved between 2005
pollution both while developing in the
the lungs, but also to enter the and 2013 in almost all the high-
womb and during the first years of
bloodstream, causing a variety of income countries studied: the
life, while studies indicate that
ultrafine particles can do permanent health problems.30 The data have exceptions were Denmark, Iceland
been weighted to take account of the and New Zealand, where there was
damage to childrens brain tissue.28
proportion of children in each country no improvement, and Canada and
In addition, nearly 600,000 children
living in urban areas. Turkey, where there was a
under the age of 5 die annually from
diseases caused or exacerbated by The World Health Organization has deterioration. The biggest
the effects of air pollution globally.29 established a safe level of air quality improvements over this period were
Outdoor play and exercise can do of below 10 micrograms of PM2.5 seen in Malta, Mexico and Spain,
more harm than good in heavily per cubic metre. Of the 38 countries with the United States also making
polluted environments. included in the sample, nearly half do significant progress.
G O A L 1 2 E N S U R E S U S T A I N A B L E P R O D U C T I O N A N D C O N S U M P T I O N P A T T E R N S
GOAL 12
Ensure sustainable consumption and
production patterns
Young people in high-income countries are largely aware of todays environmental challenges: an average of
62 per cent of 15-year-olds are familiar with at least five of a set of seven key environmental issues.
Young people are most aware of air pollution and the extinction of plants and animals, and least familiar with
genetically modified organisms and nuclear waste.
Figure G12 Ensure sustainable consumption

Average country performance on one indicator: students familiar with five or more environmental issues (15 years
of age)
Portugal
Slovenia
Turkey
Estonia
Lithuania
Canada
Bulgaria
Ireland
United Kingdom
Poland
Finland
Latvia
Norway
Croatia
Italy
Spain
Greece
Australia
Denmark
United States
Sweden
Republic of Korea
Hungary
Czech Republic
France
Chile
Iceland
Luxembourg
Slovakia
Austria
Switzerland
Belgium
Netherlands
Israel
New Zealand
Japan
Romania
70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125
Note: Missing countries: Cyprus, Germany, Malta and Mexico.
G O A L 1 2 E N S U R E S U S T A I N A B L E P R O D U C T I O N A N D C O N S U M P T I O N P A T T E R N S
Figure 12.1 The majority of 15-year-olds in the OECD countries are aware of at least five environmental issues
Percentage of 15-year-old students familiar with, or knowing something about, five or more environmental issues
90
80
70
60
Per cent
50
40
30
20
10
82.0
75.8
73.0
72.6
72.3
71.0
71.0
70.1
67.8
66.8
66.3
66.2
65.4
64.6
64.5
63.4
62.7
62.6
61.7
61.0
60.6
60.1
58.6
58.5
58.4
58.3
57.9
57.6
57.6
57.3
56.0
55.2
53.5
53.0
49.7
44.4
38.3
0
Slo al
ia
key
Lith nia
Can a
ada
ria
and
d
via
Cro y
atia
Gre n
d
m
Au ce
lia
rk
s
den
ea
y
lic
nce
ile
d
Slo rg
Au a
itze ria
d
the um
ds
eal l
and
Ro an
nia
e
rwa
Ital
gar
e
i
i
ai
lan
ited Irelan
Lux celan
rlan
tug
ven
uan
vak
Isra
Un enma
gdo
bou
stra
pub
Ch
t
Kor
e
Jap
lga
st
rlan
Lat
o
Sp
ma
Sta
i
Tur
Fra
Pol
g
pub Swe
Est
Fin
Cze Hun
No
Por
l
Bu
Be
Kin
em
Re
of
wZ
I
ited
D
Sw
lic
Ne
ch
Ne
Un
Re
Note: Germany is excluded on account of a high rate of missing values. Mexico is excluded due to low rates of enrolment in upper-secondary
school at the time of the PISA 2015 tests (65 per cent) see UNICEF (2016). Nios y nias fuera de la Escuela en Mxico, p.29:
https://www.unicef.org/mexico/spanish/UNICEF_NFE_MEX.pdf. However, in Mexico in 2015, 60 per cent of 15-year-old students were
familiar with, or knew something about, five or more environmental issues. Missing countries: Cyprus, Germany, Malta and Mexico.
Source: OECD PISA survey 2015.
For SDG 12, indicator 12.8.8 is the use of genetically modified Lithuania, Slovenia and Turkey. At the
most directly relevant to children and organisms (GMOs) opposite end of the scale, in Japan,
youth, since this measures the level nuclear waste New Zealand and Romania, less than
of environmental awareness among 50 per cent of students are this
15-year-old students as they the consequences of clearing aware.
approach the end of secondary forests for other land use
Some issues are more widely
education. It is a plausible air pollution
recognized than others. In general,
assumption that the greater is young extinction of plants and animals air pollution had the highest level of
peoples understanding of
environmental problems and
water shortage. recognition, with around 83 per cent
of students having some knowledge
humans impact on nature, the more Figure 12.1 compares the results of it, followed by the extinction of
they will be able to contribute to across 37 countries. plants and animals (79 per cent). The
global progress towards
On average, 62 per cent of students issues with which they were least
sustainability.
are at least familiar with five or more acquainted were the use of GMOs
The 2015 PISA asked students if they environmental issues. Portugal (42 per cent) and nuclear waste
were familiar with, or could explain (55 per cent). Awareness of the
stands out, with 82 per cent
well, each of the following seven key effects of greenhouse gases fell in
awareness; in a further seven
environmental problems: the middle, with 65 per cent of
countries, more than seven students
students able to explain the problem.
the increase in greenhouse in ten have this level of knowledge:
gases in the atmosphere Bulgaria, Canada, Estonia, Ireland,
G O A L 1 6 P R O M OT E P E A C E F U L A N D I N C LU S I V E S O C I E T I E S F O R S U S TA I N A B L E D E V E LO P M E N T
GOAL 16
Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable
development, provide access to justice for all and build
effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
All high-income countries have to address high rates of violence affecting children, as they seek to develop
peaceful and inclusive societies.
Rates of child homicide are far higher in the Americas than in Europe in Mexico the rate is nine times the
average for the countries examined, while in the US it is four times the average.
At least one child in ten in countries surveyed regularly experiences bullying, with the incidence particularly high
in the Baltic States.
On average, one woman in five reports having suffered physical violence from adults before the age of 15.
Figure G16 Promote peace and justice

Average country performance across two indicators: homicide rates (019 years of age) and bullying rates
(1115 years)
Iceland
Italy
Greece
Spain
Sweden
Czech Republic
Switzerland
Japan
Ireland
Denmark
Croatia
Malta
Slovenia
Netherlands
Germany
United Kingdom
Hungary
Australia
Luxembourg
Poland
France
Turkey
Republic of Korea
Romania
Israel
Slovakia
Portugal
Austria
Finland
Norway
Lithuania
Belgium
New Zealand
Bulgaria
Estonia
Cyprus
Canada
Latvia
Chile
United States
55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115
Note: Missing country: Mexico. One data point (2014) for Lithuania has been excluded (children aged 1115 who had experienced bullying at least
twice in the past month); one data point for Mexico (2012/13) has been excluded (child homicide rate: deaths of children aged 019 by intentional
assault per 100,000). These are outliers, and their inclusion in calculating the results for Goal 16 would result in Lithuania ranking 39th and Mexico
ranking 41st.
Figure 16.1 The Americas have high rates of child murder

Child homicide rate (deaths of children aged 019 by intentional assault per 100,000)
7
Child homicide rates (per 100,000 population)
1 Country average 2012/13: 0.65 per 100,000
0
0.00
0.01
0.13
0.17
0.19
0.19
0.19
0.19
0.20
0.21
0.24
0.25
0.26
0.27
0.28
0.31
0.32
0.32
0.37
0.38
0.38
0.42
0.43
0.46
0.48
0.52
0.55
0.62
0.66
0.76
0.78
0.84
0.90
1.23
1.91
2.66
5.98
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Jap (2013
Sp (2011
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ma (2010
lga (2011
Kor 2011
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uan (2012
012
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Fra l (201
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201
201
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Can s (20
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ds
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ad
li
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our
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at
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l
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Lat
Sta
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Tur
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Cro
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Pol
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in
Au
Sw
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Bu
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Kin
F
Au
Re
Ro
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of
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ch
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2012/13 2010 2006
Note: Mexico is excluded from the composite League Table, as it is an outlier with a child homicide rate over three standard deviations higher than
the country average as reported here. Figures are three-year averages around the year in brackets. Earlier estimates are averages for the three
years preceding. Country average is unweighted. Missing countries: Greece, Iceland, Slovenia and Slovakia.
Source: WHO mortality database, 2016.
The first official SDG indicator countries of the Americas: Chile, most recent year available should
under Goal 16 is 16.1.1, which the United States and Mexico. In also give cause for concern.
tracks the rate of intentional Chile and the United States, child Although the massacre on Utya
homicides per 100,000 people. murder rates are respectively Island of 22 July 2011 must have
Figure 16.1 adapts this to show the around three and four times the affected the 2012 figure, the trend
number of children murdered in 37
average for high-income countries; was already rising between 2006
high-income nations.
these rates have declined slightly and 2009.
While the international average for since 2009. In Mexico, by contrast, Bullying: everyday violence
the countries included is 0.65 the rate has risen from under 3 per
deaths per 100,000 population, this Most children in high-income
100,000 in 2006 to almost 5 in 2009
conceals an extraordinary variation. countries are more likely to
and to 6 in 2012/13, a trend that
Of course, even the murder of one experience violence on an everyday
can be attributed to the rise in
child is unacceptable, but rates are basis in the form of bullying.
violence related to illegal drug
very low indeed in most European Bullying has recently been the
gangs over that period.
countries, and the international focus of a UN General Assembly
average would also be much lower The highest child homicide rate in resolution and a report from the
were it not for the much higher Europe is in Norway, where the Office of the UN Special
child homicide rates in three rising trend between 2006 and the Representative of the Secretary-
Figure 16.2 More than one child in ten in rich countries experiences chronic bullying
Percentage of children aged 1115 who had experienced bullying at least twice in the past month
30
25
20
Per cent
15

10
5
10.0
10.3
10.5
10.9
11.3
11.6
12.0
12.7
13.3
13.9
14.7
15.0
15.1
16.6
22.7
29.2
4.5
4.6
5.2
5.3
5.5
6.3
6.4
6.6
7.6
7.9
8.1
8.3
8.4
9.3
9.5
0
ark
ece
y
and
n
atia
d
lta
y
ds
ain
blic
ia
a
any
ry
and
el
ce
g
nd
ia
m
al
m
a
ada
ria
a
via
ia
rwa
Ital
ani
stri
oni
ede
lan
our
ven
vak
tug
uan
Isra
nga
gdo
lgiu
n
Ma
rlan
lga
la
Lat
Sp
nm
pu
rm
Cro
Can
Gre
Fra
Irel
Pol
m
Est
Ice
Fin
Au
mb
No
Por
Sw
Slo
Slo
Lith
Bu
Hu
Be
Kin
Re
Ro
the
De
Ge
e
Lux
Ne
ch
ited
Cze
Un
Note: Chronic bullying refers to when children have experienced bullying two or more times in the previous month. Data for 2014 are not available
for Switzerland. Countries missing from HBSC in 2014 include Turkey and the United States. Estimates for Belgium and the United Kingdom are
based on population weights for regional samples (excluding the Brussels region for Belgium, and Northern Ireland in the case of the United
Kingdom). Data for Japan, which records 14.3 per cent of 1012-year-olds and 1315-year-olds who report having been lightly bumped or hit or
kicked while pretending to play (more than 2 or 3 times a month), are available from the Japanese National Center for Research on Education
201315 Bullying Follow-up Survey, but are not included in the comparison above. Missing countries: Australia, Chile, Cyprus, Japan, Republic of
Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States.
Source: HBSC study, various waves.
General on Violence against repeated bullying. However, the Stopping adult violence against
Children. The report makes it clear overall average conceals significant children
that bullying includes violence of an differences between countries. Target 16.2 aims to end abuse,
emotional and psychological, as While chronic bullying in Sweden exploitation, trafficking and all
well as of a physical kind. It links and Iceland affects less than forms of violence against and
experiences of bullying to ill-health, 5 per cent of children, Lithuania has torture of children. All of these
low self-esteem, poorer educational a startlingly high rate of forms of violence against children
outcomes, depression and 29.2 per cent, and its Baltic exist in high-income countries,
thoughts of suicide.31 Figure 16.2 neighbours, Estonia and Latvia, which are all too often the end
gives some indication of the scale destination for children trafficked
have the next highest incidence. In
of the problem, showing the into prostitution or other forms of
Estonia, the rate of bullying has at
proportion of children aged 1115 exploitation. In the absence of
least declined since 2006, though
who reported having experienced more detailed comparative data,
the biggest improvement over this Figure 16.3 shows the results of a
bullying at school two or more
period has been in Greece, where survey by the European Union
times a month.
the chronic bullying rate declined Agency for Fundamental Rights that
An average of around one child in from 22.9 per cent in 2006 to reflects the levels of adult physical
nine experiences regular and 6.4 per cent in 2014.
Figure 16.3 One girl in five under the age of 15 experiences physical violence from adults
Percentage of women aged 1829 who reported having experienced physical violence before the age of 15
45
40
35
30
Per cent
25
20
15
10
5
11.3
11.7
12.2
12.7
12.8
15.3
15.7
16.1
16.2
18.0
19.6
20.5
21.9
22.9
23.7
24.0
24.7
25.9
30.0
30.2
30.9
31.8
34.9
40.0
44.6
8.0
8.4
9.5
0
ds
ia
rus
nd
lta
ece
and
ia
a
ain
y
m
a
ry
ark
l
any
atia
blic
ia
via
ria
nce
rg
a
uga
Ital
ani
stri
oni
ede
lan
ven
uan
vak
nga
lgiu
gdo
bou
Ma
rlan
lga
a
Lat
Sp
nm
Cyp
pu
rm
Cro
Gre
Fra
Pol
Irel
Est
t
Fin
Au
Por
Sw
Slo
Slo
Lith
Bu
Hu
Be
Kin
em
Re
Ro
the
Ge
De
Lux
Ne
ch
ited
Cze
Un
Note: Physical violence was defined as: hair-pulling, slapping, hitting, kicking, beating or stabbing. Missing countries: Australia, Canada, Chile,
Iceland, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey and the United States. Insufficient country coverage
to include in calculation of Goal 16.
Source: FRA European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, gender-based violence against women survey dataset, 2012.
violence against girls aged under over a long period at least two evidence suggests that boys are
15. Women aged 1829 were asked decades. However, it is interesting marginally more likely to suffer
if, before the age of 15, they had to note that Finland, which has a corporal punishment.33 The
experienced violence from an adult, high rate of reported physical experience of such violence is not
such as hair-pulling, slapping, violence, was one of the first only a violation of all childrens
hitting, kicking, beating or stabbing. European countries to ban corporal rights, but can also be extremely
Figure 5.1 used corresponding punishment (in 1983), while the damaging, increasing the chances
questions about past experiences nation with the lowest incidence, of domestic violence occurring in
later life.34
of sexual violence. Slovenia, has only recently (in
October 2016) passed legislation
The rate of such violence is lowest
prohibiting it in the home.32
in the Netherlands and Slovenia,
where 8 per cent of women The inclusion here only of girls is a
recalled being assaulted during consequence of data availability,
childhood, and is highest in Estonia rather than because physical
(45 per cent) and Finland violence or corporal punishment is
(40 per cent). The nature of the directed more at girls than boys. If
survey reflects national experience anything, the limited international
Box 6 How national averages hide the

vulnerable: the example of indigenous children
Values of non-discrimination and inclusion lie at the Goal 4: Quality Education Despite progress in many
heart of the Agenda for Sustainable Development, countries, closing the education gap between
reflected in its central promise of leaving no one indigenous and non-indigenous children remains a
behind. National averages, however, conceal forms challenge. According to a 2015 Australian
of vulnerability, often rendering invisible the most government report, Aboriginal and Torres Strait
disadvantaged and excluded children. These may Islander children continued to lag behind their non-
include indigenous children, Roma, undocumented indigenous peers in reading and numeracy, with low
migrants, children with disabilities or those outside attendance being one of the critical factors behind
family care. This box focuses on one such group, by this achievement gap. Language is a factor in low
presenting selected statistics on indigenous children school attendance, and preschool programmes have
from four geographically diverse countries (Australia, an important role to play in supporting indigenous
Canada, Mexico and Norway). languages. For instance, in 2015, around half of the
1,000 Sami children enrolled in Norwegian preschool
Goal 1: End Poverty Indigenous children face rates
were in Sami-language kindergartens. Yet official
of poverty higher than the national average. In 2010,
statistics on the language of children leaving
38 per cent of all Aboriginal children (First Nations,
kindergarten do not include the Sami language.
Inuit and Mtis) in Canada lived in income poverty,
compared to 17 per cent of non-indigenous children. The SDG agenda is a window of opportunity to bring
Further disaggregation by identity shows that half the a dramatic change to the lives of not just indigenous
children of Status First Nations in Canada lived in children and youth, but all excluded children. In
poverty. In Mexico, 78.6 per cent of children and efforts to improve data collection, attention should be
adolescents in indigenous households and 90.8 per paid to the specific need for data on such groups,
cent of those who spoke an indigenous language recognizing their particular cultural and linguistic
were in poverty in 2014. This compared with 50.7 per contexts and ensuring respect for their rights. Such
cent of non-indigenous children and adolescents. data and monitoring can support a stronger national
focus on policy responses for inclusion and equity.
Goal 3: Health and Well-being Indigenous children
perform poorly on many health and well-being Source: Richardson, D., Bruckauf, Z., Toczydlowska, E. and
indicators. In 2011, 11 per cent of Aboriginal and Chzhen, Y. (2017). Comparing Child-Focused SDGs in High-
Income Countries: Indicator development and overview,
Torres Strait Islander babies in Australia were born Innocenti Working Paper 2017-08, UNICEF Office of Research
with low birthweight more than twice the proportion Innocenti, Florence.
of non-indigenous babies. Data collected in 2014
showed that adolescent birth rates among the Sami
people of Norway were more than double the national
average. Aboriginal children in Canada experience
higher rates of injury, suicide, obesity, infant mortality
and health conditions, such as tuberculosis.
C O N C L U S I O N B U I L D I N G T H E F U T U R E
BUILDING THE FUTURE

Conclusion
All the worlds countries came indicators, there are still gulfs changes in norms that are key to
together in 2015 to draw up a between them in other areas. attaining the goals of gender
roadmap to the more equitable, Countries differ most in their rates equality, peaceful societies and
inclusive and healthy world they of child poverty and food insecurity, environmental sustainability. The
aspired to reach by 2030. This though there is also significant surest route for countries to attain
Report Card delivers a child-centred variation in the rates of adolescent the aspirations laid out in the
assessment of where high-income suicide and chronic bullying. Agenda for Sustainable
nations stand at the start of this National income levels are far from Development is to place children at
journey towards sustainable explaining all of these differences: the centre of their policy priorities.
development. It compares the for example, Slovenia is far ahead
performance of 41 OECD and EU of much wealthier countries on
Leave no child behind
countries on 25 indicators, focusing many indicators. This demonstrates National averages often conceal
on the goals and targets most that government policies and extreme inequalities and the severe
relevant to children in high-income priorities matter if children are to disadvantage of groups at the
countries and adapting the global make sustained progress. Countries bottom of the scale. Some children
indicators according to the that rank high in the league table are left so far behind that they may
availability of cross-country data. on reducing inequality also tend to be missing from available data:
score well on ending poverty, those that are undocumented, out
There are many positive stories
ensuring healthy lives, quality of school or in institutional care, to
within these pages. The vast
education and inclusive economies. name but a few. Data-collection
majority of high-income countries
have seen declines in the rates of Based on the evidence collated in efforts should aim to be as
neonatal mortality, adolescent this Report Card, UNICEF calls for inclusive as possible, and be
suicide, teenage births and high-income countries to take sensitive to children who may
drunkenness. Nearly all preschool action in five key areas. regularly be left out or who are
children engage in organized invisible to official statistics. The
Put children at the heart of data available should also allow for
learning one year before the start
equitable and sustainable disaggregation by key individual
of compulsory schooling. Young
progress characteristics. A first step towards
people show a high level of
environmental awareness nearly Improving the well-being of all future equality and sustainability is
everywhere. Child homicide rates children today is essential for to identify those at the greatest risk
are almost universally low. achieving both equity and of falling behind.
sustainability. Advances on each of
Yet high-income countries are still Improve the collection of
the child-centred indicators
far from delivering for their children comparable data, including
presented in this Report Card
the vision held out by the SDGs. on violence against children,
should reinforce progress in others.
Income inequality is growing, early childhood development,
Policies that reduce gaps in
adolescents mental health is migration and gender
material well-being, health and
worsening and child obesity is
education among children today This Report Card has revealed that
increasing. Not a single country
will translate into a reduction in internationally comparable statistics
does well on all indicators or has
inequalities in adult life and on high-income countries are
shown positive trends on all fronts.
contribute to the well-being of lacking in four key SDG areas:
Although countries have moved future generations of children. The violence against children, early
forward in unison on some younger generation will spearhead childhood development, migration
C O N C L U S I O N B U I L D I N G T H E F U T U R E
and gender. In the first two areas, Honour the commitment

rich countries lag behind their lower- to global sustainable
income peers, which tend to collect development
these data via internationally
The overarching SDG framework
comparable household surveys.
engages all countries in a global
Some of the most urgent child-
endeavour. High-income countries
rights violations in high-income
are accountable not only for their
countries relate to migration and
own performance in pursuing the
the SDG framework challenges
goals, but also for their
all countries to respect the rights
commitments to global
of all children, irrespective of their environmental sustainability and
migration status. Yet appropriate development assistance on which
indicators that measure the present and future well-being of
performance in this domain are children worldwide unquestionably
lacking. Finally, given that girls depends.
tend to do better than boys on
many childhood indicators, there
is a paucity of data reflecting the
processes that lead to womens
disadvantage in the labour market
and under-representation in
public life.
Use these rankings to help

tailor policy responses to
national contexts
This Report Card shows that no

country does well on all indicators of
well-being for children covered here,
and all countries face challenges in
achieving these child-focused
targets within the framework of the
SDGs. The league table presented in
this report indicates which countries
come closest to achieving child-
focused targets for each goal, and
may allow other countries to craft
policy responses that are
appropriate to their own contexts.
The rankings are to be read as an
invitation to national discussions on
what the appropriate policy
responses should be.
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Office of Research Innocenti, Florence. Research Innocenti, Florence.
Chzhen, Y., Bruckauf, Z. and
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University Education More Important for a Development Goal 1.2: Multidimensional Growing Inequality and Unequal
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Working Paper 2017-06, UNICEF Office of
Research Innocenti, Florence.
Bruckauf, Z. and Hayes, N. (2017). Quality
International abbreviations
International abbreviations (ISO) for Abbreviations and acronyms

countries covered in the Report Card
AT Austria CASEN La Encuesta de Caracterizacin Socioeconmica Nacional (Chile)

AU Australia CIS Canadian Income Survey
BE Belgium CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child
BG Bulgaria ECEC early childhood education and care
CA Canada ESCS economic, social and cultural status
CH Switzerland EU European Union
CL Chile EU-SILC European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions
CY Cyprus FIES Food Insecurity Experience Scale
CZ Czech Republic GMO genetically modified organism
DE Germany HBSC Health Behaviour in School-aged Children
DK Denmark HILDA Household, Income and Labour Dynamics (Australia)
EE Estonia ISCWeB International Survey of Childrens Well-Being
ES Spain MCS-ENIGH El Mdulo de Condiciones Socioeconmicas de la Encuesta Nacional
de Ingresos y Gastos de los Hogares (Mexico)
FI Finland
MDG Millennium Development Goal
FR France
MICS Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey
GR Greece
MODA Multiple Overlapping Deprivation Analysis
HR Croatia
NEET not in employment, education or training
HU Hungary
OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
IE Ireland
PISA Programme for International Student Assessment
IL Israel
SDG Sustainable Development Goal
IS Iceland
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
IT Italy
WHO World Health Organization
JP Japan
KR Republic of Korea
LT Lithuania
LU Luxembourg
LV Latvia
MT Malta
MX Mexico
NL Netherlands
NO Norway
NZ New Zealand
PL Poland
PT Portugal
RO Romania
SE Sweden
SI Slovenia
SK Slovakia
TR Turkey
UK United Kingdom
US United States
Acknowledgements
The Innocenti Report Card 14 project was Kate Pickett (University of York)
coordinated by the UNICEF Office of
Tom Slaymaker (Senior Statistics and
Research Innocenti and assisted by a
Monitoring Specialist, Data and Analytics,
panel of advisors and reviewers. Research
UNICEF New York)
was completed at the end of March 2017.
The Report Card was written by Chris Jan Vandemoortele (Independent Advisor)
Brazier.
The full text and the background papers UNICEF advisors

can be downloaded from the UNICEF
Prerna Banati (Chief, Programme and
Office of Research website:
Planning, UNICEF Office of Research)
www.unicef-irc.org
Sarah Cook (Director, UNICEF Office of
Research)
Research and data analysis
Bina D'Costa (Migration Specialist,
Zlata Bruckauf (Social and Economic
UNICEF Office of Research)
Policy Consultant, UNICEF Office of
Research) Sudhanshu Handa (Former Chief, Social
and Economic Policy Unit, UNICEF Office
Yekaterina Chzhen (Social and Economic
of Research)
Policy Specialist, UNICEF Office of
Research) Goran Holmqvist (Associate Director,
Jose Cuesta (Chief, Social and Economic
Policy Unit, UNICEF Office of Research) Dale Rutstein (Chief, Communication Unit,
Dominic Richardson (Senior Education
Specialist, UNICEF Office of Research)
Administrative support at the UNICEF
Emilia Toczydlowska (Social and Economic
Office of Research Innocenti was
Policy Consultant, UNICEF Office of
provided by Cinzia Iusco Bruschi and
Research)
Laura Meucci. Production was overseen
by Eve Leckey.
Advisory board
Romina Boarini (OECD Statistics

Directorate)
Dorothy Currie (St Andrews University,

HBSC network)
Dave Gordon (University of Bristol)
Bergsteinn Jnsson (Executive Director,

UNICEF Iceland)
Eric Marlier (Luxembourg Institute of

Socio-Economic Research)
Susan Nicolai (Development Progress

Project, Overseas Development Institute)
Previous issues in this series:
A league table of child poverty in rich nations

A league table of child deaths by injury in rich nations

A league table of teenage births in rich nations

A league table of educational disadvantage in rich nations

A league table of child maltreatment deaths in rich nations

Child poverty in rich countries 2005

Child poverty in perspective: An overview of child
well-being in rich countries

The child care transition: A league table of early childhood
education and care in economically advanced countries

The children left behind: A league table of inequality in
child well-being in the worlds rich countries

Measuring child poverty: New league tables of child
poverty in the worlds rich countries

Child well-being in rich countries: A comparative overview

Children of the recession: The impact of the economic
crisis on child well-being in rich countries

Fairness for children: A league table of inequality in child
well-being in rich countries
Graphics: MCC, UK (mccdesign.com)

Printed by: ABC Tipografia, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
Innocenti Report Card 14, 2017
Building the Future:
UNICEF Office of Research Innocenti

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Fax: +39 055 2033 220
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ISBN: 978-88-6522-050-4
ISSN: 2519-108X
United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF)

June 2017
ISBN: 978-88-6522-050-4
eISBN: 978-92-1-060790-2
Sales no.: E.17.XX.1

Building The Future - Children and The Sustainable Development Goals in Rich Countries

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Building The Future - Children and The Sustainable Development Goals in Rich Countries

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UNICEF

Innocenti Report Card 14

In 1988 the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) established a research

Cover photo Shutterstock

UNICEF Office of Research Innocenti

Building the Future

The Sustainable Development Goals have set

Goal Target (by 2030 unless specified)

1.3 Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and

2.2 End all forms of malnutrition

3.5 Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse,

Report Card 14 indicator Relationship to SDG global indicators

Official SDG measure of food insecurity applied to households with children

Obesity is a form of malnutrition, and is highly relevant for high-income

Neonatal mortality rate Official SDG indicator

Participation rate in organized learning (one year before official primary

Box 2 UNICEFs global role

Today, the SDGs place an unprecedented demand on national

This Report Card is an example of UNICEFs data work outside its

League Table Country performance across nine child-relevant goals

Higher Average Lower insufficient data

Reduced Sustainable Responsible Peace, justice and

Figure G1 End poverty

Country average 2014: 21.0%

Below average Average Above average 2008

40 Country average 2014: 37.5%

Below average Average Above average 2008

40 Country average 2014: 34.7%

Below average Average Above average 2009

Figure G2 End hunger

Below average Average Above average

Figure 2.2 Rates of obesity have increased in most high-income countries

Country average 2014: 15.2%

Below average Average Above average 2010 2006

collects data from children on their It is a cause for concern that in 22

Box 3 Breastfeeding in high-income countries

Estimates by time and prevalence

Figure G3 Ensure health

2015 2010 2005

2012/13 2009 2006

25 Country average 2014: 23.1%

Below average Average Above average 2010 2006

Figure 3.4 Adolescent drunkenness has declined markedly since 2010

10 Country average 2013/14: 6.9%

Below average Average Above average 2010

2015 2010 2005

Note: The country average is unweighted.

Figure G4 Inclusive education

Below average Average Above average 2012 2006

Box 4 Measuring quality in early

Country average 2014: 95.3% 2013/14 2010 2005

Country average 2014: 81.6%

On average, 95 per cent of children produces a greater variety of

However, the data above cover only

Country average 2014: 6.3%

Figure 5.2 Attitudes that reinforce gender inequality remain entrenched

15 Country average: 13.9%

Male respondent Female respondent

Societal attitudes contribute to young women consistently notwithstanding the overall

Figure 5.3 Girls do more housework than boys at ages 8 and 12

Difference at age 8 Difference at age 12

Figure G8 Inclusive economic growth