Child Labor in Africa: The 7 Worst-Affected Countries

Child labor remains one of the most urgent human rights issues across Africa. It involves the employment of children under 18 in ways that hinder their education, health, and overall development. At the heart of this crisis lies extreme poverty, which forces many families to rely on the income generated by their children’s labor.

In many African countries, children are found working in dangerous conditions—from mining and logging to armed conflict. Others are exploited as street beggars, domestic workers, or even trafficked for sexual purposes.

To identify the most critical hotspots, the global risk consultancy Maplecroft developed a Child Labor Index, highlighting countries where children face the gravest risks. Below are the seven worst countries in Africa for child labor, based on that data.

Nigeria: Millions of Children Forced into Work

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is home to an estimated 15 million child laborers under the age of 14. The causes are deeply rooted in poverty and lack of access to education. Children here are commonly seen selling goods on the street, begging, washing cars, shining shoes, or working as apprentices in mechanics’ shops and salons.

Many children also serve as domestic help or laborers on family farms. These jobs are often physically demanding and expose children to exploitation, malnutrition, and hazardous conditions. For most of these children, education is a luxury they can’t afford.

Burundi: A Nation Where Childhood Means Work

In Burundi, over 68% of the population lives below the poverty line. As a result, nearly 1 in 5 children is engaged in some form of labor. Girls are often employed as domestic workers, while many children work on family farms or larger plantations.

Even though primary education is officially free, only around 71% of children are enrolled in school. Ongoing conflict in the country has also pushed many young people into armed groups or left them orphaned, forcing them to work to survive.

Zimbabwe: Children on the Plantations

Child labor is widespread in Zimbabwe, especially in agriculture. An estimated 96% of working children are involved in farming tea, cotton, and sugarcane, as well as logging and fishing industries. Others work in mining, retail, and even begging in city streets.

Despite government efforts, economic instability and weak enforcement of labor laws allow these practices to continue.

South Sudan: Education or Survival?

In South Sudan, nearly half of children between 10 and 14 are working. With only 31.5% of children regularly attending school, labor becomes a more common path. Around 60% of working children are employed in agriculture, while others work in services or informal industry.

Armed conflict has made life even harder. Many children have been recruited into militias, while others are simply trying to support their families after losing parents to war or disease.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Working in the Shadows

The DRC is notorious for its use of child labor, particularly in mining. Children are often forced to work in gold, tungsten, and coltan mines—minerals essential to modern electronics. Over 3.3 million children in the DRC work in agriculture, services, or industry, often under extremely dangerous conditions.

Many children also lack official birth records or citizenship, pushing them further into the shadows of the informal labor market. Sexual exploitation is also alarmingly common in conflict zones.

Somalia: Children on the Front Lines

In Somalia, nearly 40% of children aged 5 to 14 are involved in child labor. While many work in agriculture—fishing, grain harvesting, or herding livestock—others are employed in construction or mining.

Some are even recruited into armed groups or forced into criminal and extremist activity. The country also struggles with human trafficking and child sexual exploitation, especially in areas where law enforcement is weak or nonexistent.

Eritrea: The Worst Offender

Eritrea ranks among the world’s worst countries for child labor. Government-run programs sometimes assign children as young as nine to work in agriculture or public service projects. Many are also forced into mandatory military training before they even reach adulthood.

Although laws against child labor exist, enforcement is minimal. Children are frequently subjected to forced labor, and commercial sexual exploitation is a growing concern in the region.

Final Thoughts

Child labor in Africa is a deeply complex issue, driven by poverty, conflict, and lack of education. While some countries have taken steps to improve child protection laws, implementation remains inconsistent. Ending child labor will require sustained efforts—through policy, education, and international support—to ensure that all children can grow up safe, healthy, and free.