Working children make up 3.1% of Philippines’ child population in 2025

By Heather Caitlin P. Mañago, Researcher

THE SHARE of working children in the Philippines rose to 3.1% of the total child population in 2025 from 2.7% a year earlier, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.

The number of working children was estimated at 869,000 in 2025, slightly higher than the 861,000 recorded in 2024.

The PSA defines working children as those aged five to 17 years who are engaged in a family business or any economic activity, regardless of pay, for at least one hour a week.

Boys accounted for 61.6% of working children in 2025, while girls made up 38.4%.

The services sector had the biggest share of working children at 48.7% last year, down from 50.4% in 2024.

Agriculture accounted for 41.2% of working children in 2025, up from 40.7% a year earlier.

Industry posted the smallest share at 10.1%, rising from 8.9% in 2024.

Majority of working children, or 69.1%, worked 20 hours or less a week in 2025, lower than 73.8% in 2024, the PSA said.

Meanwhile, the number of working children engaged in “child labor” was estimated at 514,000 in 2025, up from 509,000 a year earlier.

The PSA defines child labor as work performed by children in hazardous conditions or for more than 40 hours a week.

Child laborers accounted for 59.1% of all working children in 2025, unchanged from 2024 but lower than 62% in 2023.

Of the 514,000 children engaged in child labor, 72.7% or 374,000 were boys, while 27.3% or 140,000 were girls.

The agriculture industry had the largest share of child laborers at 65.5%, followed by services at 25.8% and industry at 8.7%.