More than one in four children in Fiji face multidimensional poverty, new report warns

More than a quarter of Fiji’s children are growing up without the basic essentials they need to survive and thrive — a reality the Government describes as a national wake-up call.

A new report released yesterday by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection, in partnership with UNICEF, reveals that 28.2 per cent of children in Fiji live in multidimensional poverty, meaning they face several overlapping deprivations at once, from poor nutrition to unsafe housing, lack of clean water, limited healthcare access and disrupted education.

Drawing on data from the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, which covered nearly 8,000 children nationwide, the report Multidimensional Child Poverty in Fiji is the first of its kind for the country.

“The true measure of our nation’s progress is in how our children grow up – healthy, safe, educated, and able to pursue their dreams,” said the Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran.

“Poverty is not just about how much a family earns; a child’s reality is shaped by many more dimensions.”

Key findings

• Youngest children most at risk: 63.2 per cent of children aged 0–23 months and 42.4 per cent of those aged 24–59 months are deprived of three or more essential needs such as good nutrition, safe housing and clean water.
• Rural children hit harder: 34.7 per cent of rural children experience multidimensional poverty, compared to 23.2 per cent of urban children.
• Central division most affected: Child deprivation is highest in the central division (34.4 per cent) and lowest in the western division (21.7 per cent).
• Nutrition is the most critical gap: 56.1 per cent of infants are not exclusively breastfed, while 58.1 per cent of young children do not meet international feeding standards for variety and quantity.
• Housing and water remain major issues: 57.9 per cent of children are deprived of adequate housing, and up to 49.8 per cent face water deprivation.

UNICEF Pacific’s Deputy Representative Roshni Basu said the findings illustrate the long-term consequences of unmet basic needs.

“When a child is unable to access nutritious food, clean water, or a safe place to sleep, their future is stolen before it even begins,” she said. “Together with the Government of Fiji and our partners, UNICEF is committed to urgently act on these findings as the cost of waiting is measured in lost childhoods, and every day without action is a day too many.”

What must change

The report calls for increased awareness and education on nutrition, health and hygiene, especially among high-risk families. It recommends prioritised support for children in rural communities, the central division, and households with low education levels or many children.
It also calls for accelerated action to improve housing and water access and urges stronger cross-sector collaboration to tackle the multiple hardships children face.

The report further recommends deeper research into the health and nutrition of children aged 5 to 17 years to ensure no child is left behind.