Unicef analysis also finds children in eight countries spend more than half the year in temperatures above 35C

Almost half a billion children are growing up in parts of the world where there are at least twice the number of extremely hot days every year compared with six decades ago, analysis by Unicef has found.

The analysis by the UN’s children’s agency examined for the first time data on changes in children’s exposure to extreme heat over the past 60 years.

As the planet continues to warm, people worldwide are facing more frequent and severe climate threats such as extreme heat and heatwaves. Children are more vulnerable to such hazards.

To assess the speed and scale at which extremely hot days – defined as reaching more than 35C (95F) – are increasing, researchers did a comparison between a 1960s and a 2020-to-2024 temperature average.