Working Children, Ages 5-17 (1995-1997)

Initiating and Mobilizing Action Against Child Labor in the Philippines

The Philippines is literally a young nation with a high percentage of young people in its overall population. Children between ages 5-17 number 22.4 million, comprising a third of the overall Philippine population. Working children from 16% of the overall population of children between ages 5-7. That means that one out of six children work.

Economic Sector	Occupational Group

• In the last 12 months, 3.7 million children of ages 5-17 worked. These children are predominantly from rural households (67.1%). Almost half (49%) are between ages 5-14.
• In the last week, 2.85 million children between ages 5-17 worked. Of this number, half are between ages 5-14, consisting of approximately 1.4 million children.
• Working children consist largely of boys (65%) rather than girls.
• 60% are in unpaid family work in their own households, 17.2% work in their own homes; 53% work in family farms.