49.4% of Children in Ecuador Live in Poverty

According to the latest data published by the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (Inec), 49.4% of children in Ecuador live in poverty due to unmet basic needs, in the context of Children’s Day, which is commemorated this Sunday.

Poverty due to unmet basic needs is defined as when households lack access to education, health, sanitation, among others.

“Knowing the reality of children based on transparent and timely information is key to caring for early childhood, through the implementation of strategic and prioritized public policies,” noted Inec.

It is estimated that in 2025, there will be more than 3.5 million children in Ecuador, of which 1.8 million are boys and 1.7 million are girls, and more than 2.2 million households in the country have at least one child. The INEC reported reported as well that 19.3% of children under two years old suffer from chronic child malnutrition.

Regarding access to technology, the data indicates that 52.5% of children of those same ages use the internet, 48.8% use a mobile phone, 25% use a computer, and 10% use a tablet.

In the area of child development, eight out of ten children have access to one or more toys, while only four out of ten have access to one or more books in their home.

53.9% of children under five years of age are free from physical abuse, while 46.6% are not victims of psychological abuse.

Regarding language development, children aged 43 to 59 months understand an average of 30 words, and the institution specified that those with mothers with higher education understand 31% more.