Statistical review for the International Children's Day

The International Children's Day is celebrated annually on June 1st in more than 30 countries worldwide.

As of January 1, 2022, there were 199,378 children under 18 years of age living in the Vitebsk region, which constitutes 18.1% of the total population of the Republic of Belarus. Of these, 102,428 are boys (51.4%) and 96,950 are girls (48.6%). 162,338 children live in urban areas, accounting for 81.4%, while 37,040 children (18.6%) live in rural areas.

Belarus has a multi-level education system that ensures quality education and development for children. According to the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus, at the beginning of the 2021/2022 academic year, 46,297 children attended 504 preschool educational institutions in the Vitebsk region. In 347 general secondary education institutions, there were 115,895 students.

Attention to children's health is crucial for their future development, which is why organizing leisure activities and entertainment for children during the summer period is important. According to the Republican Center for Health Improvement and Sanatorium-Resort Treatment of the Population, 677 day and overnight camps for children operated, accommodating 40,956 children.

Cultural leisure and sports development play a significant role in children's lives. According to the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Belarus and the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Belarus, at the end of 2021, there were 1,446 club formations for children, with 16,204 children participating. 27 children's libraries operated, serving 76,236 readers. At the beginning of the 2021/2022 academic year, 57 art schools were functioning with 15,516 students. 154,125 children were engaged in physical education and sports. 52 specialized children's and youth Olympic reserve schools and children's and youth sports schools enrolled 18,869 students.

According to the sample survey of households on living standards as of early 2022, the percentage of children whose health is assessed by parents as poor was 1.2%, satisfactory – 21.4%, good – 77.4%.

It is no secret that children are active internet users. According to the sample survey of households on living standards, in 2021, 94.8% of children aged 6-17 used the Internet, of which 81.3% used it daily. In terms of Internet access frequency in 2021: from time to time – 5.1%, daily – 81.3%, at least once a week – 13.6%.

Internet users aged 6–17 access the internet for various purposes, for example: 98.8% – watching movies, listening to music, playing computer games, downloading; 81.2% – sending, receiving emails, negotiations; 77.9% of users access for education; 71.9% – social networking; 58.8% – reading, downloading newspapers, magazines, literature; 32.3% – searching for information about goods and services; 7.2% – ordering or selling goods and services.