Alarming trends face children and families of world’s 21st largest country

New analysis of forcibly displaced finds world’s fastest-growing population also among the youngest, and nearly last in school attendance

Toronto, September 14, 2016…The world’s 65.3 million forcibly displaced people—who would make up the world’s 21^st largest country based on population—are falling far behind others in terms of education, health, child marriage, and other key factors, a new report by Save the Children illustrates.

Forced to Flee: Inside the 21^st Largest Country examined indicators most relevant to the well-being of children and found results that demonstrate both the enormous challenges faced by refugees and Internally Displaced People as well as the notable contributions they could make to their host countries and communities if they were allowed to do so.

“Imagining all displaced people as citizens of one country recognizes their value as equal members of a global society and draws attention to the massive scale of the issues they face,” said Patricia Erb, President & CEO of Save the Children. “The number of families forced to flee their homes in search of safety continues to reach record highs — there is a global urgent need to engage in serious discussions about how to help displaced families integrate and begin to rebuild their futures.”

The analysis found that the world’s 21^st largest country:

-Has the fastest-growing population,

-Has one of the world’s youngest populations, with half the population under 18,

-Ranks 4^th to last on primary school attendance and almost last at the secondary school level,

-Is among the most dangerous places for harmful practices like child marriage,

-Is in the top half of the most urbanized countries,

-Loses too many children to preventable heath conditions such as malaria and pneumonia,

-Could have the 54^th largest economy in the world if people were given adequate access to employment.

As world leaders prepare to gather in New York for the UN General Assembly, Erb added, “Forcibly-displaced people face huge challenges, but if governments work together, along with non-governmental organizations and the private sector, we can improve their circumstances.”