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The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said Thursday that more than 371,500 children would be born on the first day of 2021.
“Children born today enter a very different world than a year ago, and a New Year provides a new opportunity to reinvent it,” said Henrietta Fore, UNICEF Executive Director.
Logistics classification
As always, the Pacific island nation of Fiji will welcome the first baby of the new year and the United States the last.
It is estimated that more than half of these births worldwide take place in the 10 countries of India: 59,995; China: 35,615; Nigeria: 21,439; Pakistan: 14,161; Indonesia: 12,336; Ethiopia – 12,006 – United States (10,312), Egypt – 9,455; Bangladesh: 9,236; and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) – 8,640.
In total, UNICEF estimates an average life expectancy of 84 years for the 140 million children it projects will be born in 2021.
More to celebrate
The year will also mark the 75th anniversary of UNICEF.
In the course of 2021, UNICEF and its partners will mark the historic anniversary with events and announcements that celebrate three-quarters of a century of protecting children from conflict, disease and exclusion, and defending their right to survival, health and the education.
“Children born today will inherit the world we began to build for them today,” recalled the head of UNICEF.
“Let’s make 2021 the year we start to build a more just, safer and healthier world for children,” he added.
COVID challenges
Meanwhile, as the number of COVID-19 cases continues to rise, so do the needs of children and their families, the UN agency said.
From delivering life-saving health supplies, to building water and hygiene facilities, to keeping girls and boys connected to education and protection, UNICEF works to slow the spread of the pandemic and minimize its impact. in children around the world.
