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Climate Hazards Disrupt Education for 1 in 10 Students Globally, UNICEF Reports
Confirmed
In Short: One in 10 students from pre-primary to upper secondary globally had their education interrupted by climate hazards last year, according to a new report by UNICEF.
UNICEF's latest report, 'Learning Interrupted: Global Snapshot of Climate-Related School Disruptions in 2025,' reveals that climate hazards disrupted the education of more than 171 million students worldwide, affecting one in 10 students from pre-primary to upper secondary levels.
The report, which analyzed data from 106 countries and territories, found that storms, floods, heatwaves, droughts, and wildfires were the leading causes of school disruptions, with storms alone affecting 109 million students globally.
UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell emphasized the disproportionate impact on girls and the long-term economic consequences, stating, 'For millions of children, climate hazards do not just disrupt classes; they also destroy their schools, uproot their families and deprive the most vulnerable.
The agency also highlighted that 75 percent of the affected children live in low- and lower-middle-income countries, where education systems often lack the resources to maintain learning during climate emergencies. UNICEF is calling for increased investment in climate-resilient school infrastructure and stronger climate and education data systems.
What's confirmed
- “For millions of children, climate hazards do not just disrupt classes; they also destroy their schools, uproot their families and deprive the most vulnerable,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.
- Storms were the leading cause of climate-related school disruptions in 2025, affecting 109 million students worldwide, while floods affected at least 70 million and heatwaves disrupted the schooling of approximately 50 million children, according to the analysis.
What's still developing
- UNICEF urged governments and their partners to spend more on building new educational facilities to withstand climate and environmental hazards.
- But the agency also estimates that there could be some long-term consequences of these disasters too, stating that inaction could result in at least $200bn in lost lifetime earnings among students whose schooling was disrupted by climate-related hazards in 2025 alone.
- UNICEF said these pressures can also increase the risk of child marriage, making it more difficult for girls to return to school after institutions reopen.