A new government study, released with Save the Children, reveals a staggering crisis: nearly two-thirds of South Sudanese children are trapped in the worst forms of child labor—and in some regions, that figure rises to 90%.

This isn’t just about poverty. Relentless flooding, disease outbreaks, and ongoing conflict have uprooted families, while the loss of US aid has pushed millions to the brink of starvation. Desperation is driving children into dangerous, exploitative work, forcing girls into marriage for survival, and pushing boys into armed groups.

Simple jobs turning into deadly work 

What begins as small tasks quickly turns into life-threatening labor. In one southern region near Uganda, nine out of ten children are working — not studying. Many are mining gold or toiling on farms. Mining, deadly even for adults, can be a death sentence for children. 

As reported by Aljazeera, Chris Nyamandi, Save the Children’s South Sudan country director said: 

Education remains the strongest protective factor, when nearly two-thirds of a country’s children are working – and in some areas, almost every child – it signals a crisis that goes beyond poverty.   

Research shows that education is one of the strongest protections against exploitation—yet for many South Sudanese children, school is no longer an option. Exploitation often follows gender lines: boys are pushed into dangerous work like mining or armed groups, while girls face forced marriage, domestic servitude, and sexual abuse.

Shockingly, awareness of the law isn’t enough to stop it. The study found that 70% of children working in dangerous or illegal conditions came from homes where adults knew hazardous child labor was prohibited. Meanwhile, two-thirds of children didn’t even know that help existed.

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