Final answer:
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of child labor for children aged 5-14, with agriculture being the primary sector of employment. Historical industrialization patterns and compulsory education laws have influenced these rates, with Britain leading the way in creating legislation to limit child labor.
Step-by-step explanation:
Regions with the highest rates of child labor among children aged 5-14 are predominantly found in sub-Saharan Africa, followed by central and southern Asia. According to UNICEF in 2020, there were over 86 million children engaged in child labor in sub-Saharan Africa, and central and southern Asia had over 26 million. The majority of these children, around 70%, are involved in agriculture and livestock herding. Historical context shows that as nations industrialize, the instances of child labor tend to shift, with improvements often seen once compulsory education laws are implemented, as observed in the United States and western and central Europe during the nineteenth century.
In contrast, industrialization in places like Russia and Japan started later, resulting in child labor and the involvement of married women in the workforce persisting for longer periods. Notably, Britain was the first nation to impose regulations on child labor with the Factory Act of 1819, leading an international movement towards eradicating such practices and mandating education for the youth.