UNICEF’s analysis has found that nearly 500 million children are growing up in regions where the frequency of extremely hot days has more than doubled compared to 60 years ago. This marks the first time the UN’s children’s agency has evaluated changes in children’s exposure to extreme heat over such an extended period.
As global temperatures continue to rise, people everywhere are encountering more severe climate threats, including frequent and intense heatwaves. Children are particularly at risk from these extreme conditions.

To gauge the increase in extremely hot days, defined as those exceeding 35°C (95°F), researchers compared data from the 1960s with averages from 2020 to 2024. Their findings reveal that approximately 466 million children, or one-fifth of the global child population, now reside in areas where the number of these extreme hot days has at least doubled annually compared to six decades ago.
The study also indicated that children in West and Central Africa experience the highest levels of exposure to extreme heat, with these regions showing the most pronounced increases over time.
According to the analysis, 123 million children—about 39% of the child population in the region—face temperatures exceeding 35°C for an average of four months each year. This includes 212 days in Mali, 202 days in Niger, 198 days in Senegal, and 195 days in Sudan.
David Knaute, a UNICEF regional climate expert for West and Central Africa, stated, “This new UNICEF analysis provides a stark warning about the rapid and extensive impact of extremely hot days on children. It urgently calls on governments to act promptly to manage temperature increases.”
Exposure to extreme heat can cause heat stress, which poses significant health risks for children. Heat stress is associated with child malnutrition, non-communicable diseases, and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases like malaria and dengue fever, which thrive in high temperatures.
Knaute highlighted that children are “particularly susceptible” to extreme heat. Unlike adults, their bodies warm up more quickly, sweat less efficiently, and take longer to cool down. When children’s bodies can’t effectively manage heat, it leads to heat stress, increasing their risk of heatstroke and even death.
Last year was the hottest year on record, and scientists anticipate further rises in global temperatures beyond preindustrial levels, which could have catastrophic effects for both humanity and the environment.
UNICEF’s analysis showed that children in eight countries, including Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sudan, and South Sudan, spend more than half of the year experiencing temperatures above 35°C. Mali, for instance, faced an unprecedented heatwave earlier this year with temperatures soaring to 44°C.
Knaute pointed out that the Sahel region, which spans Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Sudan, is particularly prone to extreme heat. This transitional area between the arid Sahara and the more fertile lands to the south naturally intensifies heating, and dust from the desert exacerbates climate disruption.
Additionally, the lack of resilient infrastructure, access to clean drinking water, and suitable health services aggravates the impact of extreme heat on children in this region.

Extreme heat also impacts children in ways beyond physical health, such as disrupting their education. Shruti Agarwal, a senior adviser on climate change and sustainable economies at Save the Children, pointed out that rising temperatures are increasingly leading to school closures, which hampers academic progress.
Earlier this year, South Sudan closed all schools in anticipation of a heatwave reaching 45°C that was expected to last two weeks. Agarwal expressed concern that as extreme heat events become more frequent, children’s learning outcomes will be adversely affected, which could hinder overall human development.
Additionally, she mentioned that extreme heat can indirectly threaten children’s health by contributing to crop failures or rising food prices, which may result in malnutrition.
To address these challenges, Agarwal suggested that health and education systems need to be prepared to handle extreme heat and that children should be involved in the planning and execution of these measures. UNICEF advises countries to implement climate actions that ensure children’s right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment by cutting emissions and adhering to climate agreements.
Knaute emphasized the urgency of taking action now, stating, “There is still hope for the future, but immediate action is essential. Delaying is not an option.”