Half of Developing Countries' Children Under 5 Poor or Undernourished

Nearly half of all children under the age of five in developing regions are living in poverty, are under‑nourished, or experience both conditions, a new report from the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) at the University of Oxford announced today. The study, which compiles data from national surveys and international databases, highlights the widespread nature of child deprivation across low‑ and middle‑income countries.

The analysis maps out the distribution of nutritional deficits and school attendance rates, revealing that the most severe gaps are concentrated in sub‑Saharan Africa and South Asia. OPHI’s findings underscore the complex interplay between economic hardship, food insecurity, and educational access, suggesting that interventions must address multiple dimensions of deprivation simultaneously. The report also identifies regional variations in the prevalence of stunting and anemia, providing policymakers with granular evidence to target resources more effectively.

OPHI’s research calls for coordinated action among governments, international agencies, and civil society to tackle the dual crises of child poverty and malnutrition. By quantifying the scale of these challenges, the study aims to inform the design of more targeted nutrition and education programs, ultimately improving long‑term outcomes for millions of vulnerable children.