A new UNICEF report reveals that children in several of the world's most affluent countries have seen significant setbacks in their academic achievement, mental health, and physical well-being in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Titled 'Report Card 19: Child Well-being in an Unpredictable World', the study draws on data from 2018 and 2022 to provide a detailed analysis of how children in 43 OECD and EU member states have been impacted.

Findings from the report show that many young learners are struggling to catch up, with noticeable declines in core subjects such as reading and mathematics.

The report attributes considerable learning setbacks to school closures that lasted anywhere from three to twelve months, leaving students an estimated 7 to 12 months behind where they should be academically.

Children from underprivileged backgrounds were hit hardest, further deepening educational inequalities.

Alarmingly, around 8 million 15-year-olds, roughly half of that age group, were found to lack basic literacy and numeracy skills, unable to comprehend simple written material.

The analysis also reveals a troubling decline in mental health, with life satisfaction among children falling sharply in 14 of the 32 countries where such data was available.

While nations like Japan showed some progress, many others recorded troubling declines.

The lingering effects of the pandemic, coupled with growing economic instability, have worsened mental health challenges among children.

Meanwhile, persistent issues like bullying—both in person and online—and exposure to violence continue to threaten their overall well-being.

The pandemic also intensified negative trends in children's physical health across high-income nations.

In 14 of the 43 countries studied, rates of overweight and obesity rose, reinforcing a longstanding concern. Experts point to poor dietary habits and the aggressive promotion of unhealthy foods as major drivers behind the increase.

Reduced opportunities for physical activity during lockdowns further contributed to the decline in children's health.

UNICEF is calling on governments and relevant stakeholders to act swiftly to counter these alarming trends.

Key recommendations include boosting investment in education recovery efforts, particularly in literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional learning for vulnerable children, expanding access to mental health services, scaling up prevention programs, and addressing persistent issues like bullying, violence, and digital safety.

Additional recommendations include promoting healthier diets, improving access to nutritious foods, and curbing the aggressive marketing of unhealthy products.

The report also underscores the need to actively involve children, listening to their voices and including them in shaping policies that affect their lives.

"We must adopt a comprehensive, whole-of-childhood approach that supports children at every stage of development," said Bo Viktor Nylund, Director of UNICEF Innocenti, emphasizing the urgent need to respond to the wide-ranging challenges today’s children face.

The report cautions that gains in child well-being remain fragile and could easily be undone by global crises—including climate change, economic instability, and the threat of future pandemics.

The findings serve as a stark reminder that even in the world’s richest countries, securing a brighter future for children demands urgent and sustained action.