Are one in six children living through war?

This More or Less podcast episode investigates the accuracy of the claim that one in six children globally are living through war. Host Lizzy McNeill interviews Siri Aas Rustad, research director at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), the source of the statistic. Rustad explains the methodology behind the figure, highlighting that it encompasses a broad definition of "conflict," including events ranging from large-scale wars to gang violence and even individual killings, within a 50-kilometer radius. The discussion reveals that while the overall statistic is technically accurate based on their definition, it might be misleading as it significantly inflates the number of children directly experiencing the horrors of war. The interview concludes by emphasizing the nuanced nature of the data and the importance of understanding the methodology before interpreting such statistics.