The number of children in Belarus has increased by 6.1% over eight years. This is according to a statistical review for International Children's Day (June 1) published on the Belstat website, as reported by BELTA.
The number of children in Belarus has increased by 6.1% over eight years. This is according to a statistical review for International Children's Day (June 1) published on the Belstat website, as reported by BELTA.
As of January 1, there were 1,865 thousand children under 18 living in Belarus. Compared to the beginning of 2010, their number increased by 107 thousand (by 6.1%). Children under 6 years of age account for 43.4% of the total number of children (809 thousand), and those under 14 years of age - 42.2% (or 786 thousand). There are 270 thousand children aged 15-17 in the republic (14.4%).
Last year, 103 thousand children were born in Belarus and, in accordance with the annual trend, there were more boys than girls (53 thousand versus 50 thousand). Last year, there were 1099 cases of twin births, and 16 families had triplets.
The trend towards the birth of second and subsequent children, which has emerged in recent years, continues. Last year, the proportion of second-born children was 39.5% of the total number of births, and third and subsequent children accounted for 20.3%, whereas in 2010 these figures were 36.1% and 11.6% respectively.
The state pays special attention to strengthening material support for families in connection with the birth and upbringing of children. The amount of benefits for the birth of a child in May 2018 increased by 12.4% compared to the same period last year, and the amount of benefits for childcare for children under 3 years of age increased by 19.4%.
Significant attention is paid to the protection of children left without parental care. As of the beginning of 2018, the number of orphans in the republic was 19.1 thousand, of whom 15.7 thousand were raised in families and 3.4 thousand were in children's residential institutions.
The majority of children (78.9%) live in cities and urban-type settlements.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted by UN member states, are inextricably linked with human rights in general and children's rights in particular. Caring for children is the basis for ensuring economic and social sustainability. Achieving the SDGs is the responsibility of adults who must ensure that the world becomes a better place for children.