Working children in the Republic of Yemen: The results of the 2010 National Child Labour Survey

The 2010 National Child Labour Survey was designed to provide indicators on three main aspects of children’s lives: economic activity, schooling and unpaid household services. The survey covered 9,571 households containing 67,617 individuals, 23,535 of whom were children between 5 and 17 years of age.

In 2010, the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) of the Republic of Yemen, in collaboration with ILO-IPEC, the Social Development Fund and UNICEF, conducted the first National Child Labour Survey (NCLS) in Yemen. The NCLS was designed to provide indicators on three main aspects of children’s lives: economic activity, schooling and unpaid household services. The survey covered 9,571 households containing 67,617 individuals, 23,535 of whom were children between 5 and 17 years of age.

Children aged 5-17 constitute 34.3% of the Yemeni population. The report says that of the 7.7 million children in this age group, 1.6 million, or 21%, are employed (Table 1). The employment rate is higher among older children than younger children. While 11% of children aged 5-11 years old are employed, this figure increases to 28.5% among children aged 12 14 and further to 39.1% among children aged 15-17.