Africa's children to account for 40 percent of world's poorest people by 2030

African children will account for more than 40 percent of the world's poorest people in 2030, almost double the current share, unless more is done to improve education and healthcare, a UK-based think tank said on Thursday.

One in five children in sub-Saharan Africa, or nearly 148 million, will be living on less than $1.90 a day in 2030, the deadline set by the world leaders to eliminate extreme poverty, the Overseas Development Institute said in a report.

"This prospect of 40 percent plus of world poverty in 2030 being African children is one that I think should focus the minds of the international community," said Kevin Watkins, ODI executive director and co-author of the report.