Key Facts
- More than 72 million children attend school hungry
- 19% of food-insecure children have repeated a grade
- Hunger increases the likelihood of failing a math test by 20%
- 1 in 10 children drop out of school due to hunger
- Hunger increases emotional issues like anxiety and depression that interfere with learning.
Nearly half of the global school-age kids struggle with food insecurity, but no child should have to try to learn on an empty stomach.
According to UNICEF, education is a fundamental right of every child, but a Global Education Monitoring report team and UNESCO report found that over 244 million children still miss out on education due to hunger, and more than 72 million children globally attend school hungry. Lack of access to regular nutritious meals significantly impacts a child’s learning ability.
A common effect of childhood hunger is the increased likelihood of repeating a grade in school. Research shows that 19% of children in food-insecure households are likely to repeat a grade. A recent UNICEF report estimates that hunger can reduce academic performance by up to 20%.
The brain uses over 20% of the body’s energy, stored as glucose, to function. When the brain’s supply of glucose starts to run low, students may begin to find cognitive functions like memory, concentration, and problem-solving difficult. This means that while a child might be physically present in class, their ability to engage with and retain information may be severely diminished if they are hungry.
When it comes to taking a test, studies show that hunger might lead to lower academic grades in subjects relating to language and sciences. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) suggests that malnutrition may be a common reason for lower test scores among students. Malnourished children lack the nutrients they need to concentrate in school, and with a lack of concentration comes poor working memory, which affects an individual’s test-taking abilities. The FAO highlights that students suffering from malnutrition may be 20% more likely to perform poorly on math tests.
The effects of childhood hunger do not end with failing a test. Research shows that when kids go hungry, they are 50% more likely to drop out of school to contribute to family income.
In Bangladesh, studies have shown that hunger and poverty often push children out of school. For instance, the World Bank highlights that in some rural areas of Bangladesh, families struggling with food insecurity depend on children’s labor to survive. As a result, 1 in 10 Bangladeshi children aged 5-17 is engaged in some form of child labor.
In the Philippines, similar patterns emerge. A UNICEF report on child labor states that in food-insecure households, children are often forced to leave school early to earn money. Over 10% of Filipino children between ages 5-14 are involved in child labor, with hunger being one of the driving factors behind these decisions. Studies show that in the Philippines, children are 37% less likely to complete primary school due to hunger.
Food insecurity impacts children’s emotional well-being. Studies show that people who experience hunger may have a higher risk of developing anxiety and depression. Some may experience outbursts and irritability, while others may have trouble managing emotions, impacting their school performance and behavior.
The long-term psychological effects of hunger can affect a child’s social relationships by making them socially isolate themselves, enter conflict with peers, and find it harder to make friends.
Millions of children still rely on one meal a day to survive. Thrive aims to reduce the impact of hunger by providing nutritious meals to students so no child has to experience hunger while trying to learn.
