Due to the war in Ukraine and rising inflation, the number of children living in poverty in Eastern Europe and Central Asia has increased by 19% since 2021 (an increase of 4 million).

According to the new UNICEF study, The impact of the war in Ukraine and subsequent economic downturn on child poverty in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, it is the youngest who pay the highest price for the economic crisis caused by the war in Ukraine.

In the Russian Federation, 2.8 million more children now live in families living below the poverty line, with Ukraine hosting the second-largest share (half a million more), followed by Romania, with an additional 110,000 children.

The publication shows that the surge in child poverty could lead to an additional 4,500 children dying before their first birthday and the loss in education could equate to 117,000 more children dropping out of school this year alone.

The document is available on the UNICEF website in the dedicated news item.

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