Conflict-Affected Countries, Children and Adolescents in

In 2013, the World Bank estimated that globally more than 1.5 billion people lived in countries affected by conflict and violence. At the same time, the international community has witnessed a surge in forced displacement and complex refugee crises. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimated that by the end of 2014 there were some 19.5 million refugees and an estimated 38.2 million internally displaced people (IDP). By most estimates, more than half of these internally displaced and refugee populations are under the age of 18. This entry examines the development and well-being of children in armed conflict.