GITNUXREPORT 2026

Hr In The Sex Industry Statistics

Human trafficking and severe violence plague the sex industry globally, devastating millions of women and children.

Rajesh Patel

Team Lead & Senior Researcher with over 15 years of experience in market research and data analytics.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

65% of sex workers earn below poverty line

Statistic 2

Average sex worker income $20/hour but 40% coerced

Statistic 3

50% of earnings taken by pimps

Statistic 4

In India, sex workers earn 50% less than average wage

Statistic 5

70% debt bonded in sex work

Statistic 6

Global sex industry $180 billion, workers get <10%

Statistic 7

In the US, street workers earn $100/night, 60% expenses

Statistic 8

80% of brothel workers paid daily, no savings

Statistic 9

In Thailand, average $5/client, 10 clients/day

Statistic 10

45% report wage theft by managers

Statistic 11

Migrant sex workers earn 30% less due to no papers

Statistic 12

In Brazil, favelas sex workers $2/service

Statistic 13

60% no access to pensions/social security

Statistic 14

Porn performers average $300/scene, no residuals

Statistic 15

In China, rural migrants in sex work earn 1/3 urban wage

Statistic 16

75% pay protection fees to police/pimps

Statistic 17

Escorts lose 40% to platforms fees

Statistic 18

In South Africa, township workers $1/client

Statistic 19

55% work 12+ hours/day for minimal pay

Statistic 20

No overtime pay in brothels, 90% cases

Statistic 21

In Germany, legal workers still 50% exploited

Statistic 22

Street workers income dropped 50% post-COVID

Statistic 23

68% cannot afford housing

Statistic 24

Trans sex workers 2x poverty rate

Statistic 25

In Philippines, bar fines take 70% earnings

Statistic 26

40% forced into higher risk acts for pay

Statistic 27

HIV prevalence among sex workers is 11.8% globally

Statistic 28

30-50% of sex workers have chlamydia or gonorrhea

Statistic 29

In sub-Saharan Africa, 36% of sex workers HIV positive

Statistic 30

50% of sex workers worldwide lack condom access

Statistic 31

Syphilis rates 10 times higher in sex workers

Statistic 32

In India, 7.4% HIV among sex workers

Statistic 33

21% of US sex workers test HIV positive

Statistic 34

TB rates 5x higher in sex workers

Statistic 35

40% of sex workers have mental health disorders

Statistic 36

In China, 27.8% HCV in sex workers

Statistic 37

65% of sex workers report forced sex without condoms

Statistic 38

In Brazil, 33% HIV among trans sex workers

Statistic 39

25% of sex workers have untreated STIs

Statistic 40

Maternal mortality 2x higher for sex workers

Statistic 41

In Australia, 12% gonorrhea in sex workers

Statistic 42

70% of sex workers lack healthcare access

Statistic 43

HPV rates 90% in sex workers

Statistic 44

In Kenya, 27% HIV in sex workers

Statistic 45

Drug overdose death rates 10x higher

Statistic 46

55% depression rates in sex workers

Statistic 47

In Thailand, 20% HIV among sex workers

Statistic 48

80% report sexual health stigma

Statistic 49

Suicide rates 4x higher

Statistic 50

In South Africa, 58% TB/HIV co-infection

Statistic 51

45% alcohol dependency

Statistic 52

In Europe, 14% syphilis in sex workers

Statistic 53

60% lack STI screening regularly

Statistic 54

In Vietnam, 9% HIV

Statistic 55

75% report condom negotiation violence

Statistic 56

35% hepatitis B prevalence

Statistic 57

In Canada, 26.5% HIV in trans sex workers

Statistic 58

50% of sex workers face arrest for health services access

Statistic 59

Approximately 4.8 million people are victims of forced sexual exploitation globally

Statistic 60

99% of victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation in Europe are women and girls

Statistic 61

Over 25 million people are trafficked worldwide, with sex trafficking comprising a significant portion

Statistic 62

In India, 80% of trafficked persons are women and girls forced into prostitution

Statistic 63

71% of human trafficking victims detected globally are trafficked for sexual exploitation

Statistic 64

In the US, sex trafficking generates $150 billion annually

Statistic 65

27 million people are trafficked globally, many into sex work

Statistic 66

In Southeast Asia, 30% of sex workers are minors trafficked

Statistic 67

Trafficking for sexual exploitation accounts for 58% of all trafficking cases in the EU

Statistic 68

In Nigeria, 60% of trafficked women end up in sex work in Europe

Statistic 69

79% of trafficked persons in Ukraine are for sexual exploitation

Statistic 70

Globally, 2.5 million people are in forced prostitution

Statistic 71

In Thailand, 200,000 children are trafficked into sex industry

Statistic 72

90% of sex trafficked victims in the US are US citizens

Statistic 73

In South Africa, 80% of sex workers report trafficking experiences

Statistic 74

50% of trafficking victims in Asia are for sexual purposes

Statistic 75

In Mexico, 47,000 women and girls trafficked into sex work yearly

Statistic 76

Eastern Europe supplies 20% of sex trafficked to Western Europe

Statistic 77

In Cambodia, 25% of sex workers are under 18 and trafficked

Statistic 78

US sex trafficking hotlines receive 10,000+ signals monthly

Statistic 79

65% of sex traffickers are known to victims

Statistic 80

In the Philippines, 60,000 children trafficked for sex annually

Statistic 81

75% of trafficked sex workers in India are from Nepal/Bangladesh

Statistic 82

Globally, child sex trafficking affects 1.2 million children yearly

Statistic 83

In Brazil, 500,000 women trafficked into sex work

Statistic 84

EU detects 10,000+ trafficking victims yearly, 70% sexual

Statistic 85

In China, 200,000 women trafficked for sex yearly

Statistic 86

Sex trafficking revenue $99 billion in Asia alone

Statistic 87

40% of US sex trafficking victims are LGBTQ youth

Statistic 88

In Russia, 100,000 women trafficked to sex industry abroad yearly

Statistic 89

67% of countries criminalize sex work

Statistic 90

In the US, sex workers arrested 80,000 times yearly pre-Nordic model

Statistic 91

94% of countries have anti-prostitution laws

Statistic 92

Sweden's model increased stigma, 60% sex workers underground

Statistic 93

In India, sex workers denied voter ID 90% of time

Statistic 94

75% of sex workers face police harassment

Statistic 95

Only 5 countries fully decriminalized sex work

Statistic 96

In Russia, sex workers fined 100% of arrests

Statistic 97

68% of sex workers evicted due to occupation disclosure

Statistic 98

In the UK, 20,000 sex workers risk deportation if migrant

Statistic 99

France's law increased evictions 30%

Statistic 100

85% of sex workers denied bank accounts

Statistic 101

In Canada, Bill C-36 criminalizes clients, 50% income loss

Statistic 102

90% face employment discrimination if disclosed

Statistic 103

In China, sex work punishable by 15 days detention

Statistic 104

Ireland's law led to 92% drop in safe advertising

Statistic 105

70% of trans sex workers legally misgendered in courts

Statistic 106

In the Philippines, sex workers classified as criminals

Statistic 107

60% denied child custody due to sex work

Statistic 108

In Germany, legal but 400 brothels unlicensed

Statistic 109

US FOSTA-SESTA closed safe sites, 70% displacement

Statistic 110

55% report judicial bias

Statistic 111

In Turkey, sex work legal but only in brothels, 80% illegal

Statistic 112

82% face immigration denial

Statistic 113

In Nevada, licensed brothels stigmatize workers

Statistic 114

58% of sex workers worldwide experience physical violence from clients

Statistic 115

49% of sex workers report rape by clients in past year

Statistic 116

In Canada, 39% of sex workers assaulted weekly

Statistic 117

68% of street-based sex workers experience violence

Statistic 118

In South Africa, 54% of sex workers raped in past year

Statistic 119

73% of sex workers in India face violence from police

Statistic 120

Globally, 45-75% of sex workers experience violence

Statistic 121

In Baltimore, 52% of sex workers beaten by clients

Statistic 122

92% of sex workers in Vancouver faced violence

Statistic 123

In Australia, 47% of sex workers report client violence

Statistic 124

60% of underage sex workers experience sexual violence daily

Statistic 125

In Kenya, 59% of sex workers physically abused monthly

Statistic 126

80% of sex workers in China report beatings

Statistic 127

In the UK, 28% of sex workers assaulted by clients yearly

Statistic 128

65% of indoor sex workers face violence from managers

Statistic 129

In Brazil, 76% of trans sex workers experience violence

Statistic 130

55% of sex workers globally fear reporting violence

Statistic 131

In the US, 40-60% of sex workers homeless due to abuse

Statistic 132

70% of sex workers in Mexico face police violence

Statistic 133

In Ireland, 50% of sex workers report sexual assault

Statistic 134

62% of sex workers in Thailand beaten by partners

Statistic 135

In Germany, post-legalization, violence against sex workers rose 30%

Statistic 136

85% of street sex workers experience harassment

Statistic 137

In Scotland, 67% of sex workers face violence from clients

Statistic 138

45% of sex workers worldwide have PTSD from violence

Statistic 139

In the Philippines, 72% of sex workers abused by police

Statistic 140

51% of sex workers in San Francisco report violence

Statistic 141

64% of migrant sex workers face extortion violence

Statistic 142

In Sweden, 80% of sex workers report client violence

Statistic 143

69% of child sex workers experience daily violence

Statistic 144

42% of sex workers in New Zealand post-decriminalization still face violence

1/144

Sources

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Behind the grim statistics that paint a global picture of forced sexual exploitation—where millions, disproportionately women and girls, endure violence, health crises, and criminalization for mere survival—lies a critical yet ignored workforce whose basic human rights and safety are systematically denied.

Key Takeaways

Approximately 4.8 million people are victims of forced sexual exploitation globally
99% of victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation in Europe are women and girls
Over 25 million people are trafficked worldwide, with sex trafficking comprising a significant portion
58% of sex workers worldwide experience physical violence from clients
49% of sex workers report rape by clients in past year
In Canada, 39% of sex workers assaulted weekly
HIV prevalence among sex workers is 11.8% globally
30-50% of sex workers have chlamydia or gonorrhea
In sub-Saharan Africa, 36% of sex workers HIV positive
67% of countries criminalize sex work
In the US, sex workers arrested 80,000 times yearly pre-Nordic model
94% of countries have anti-prostitution laws
65% of sex workers earn below poverty line
Average sex worker income $20/hour but 40% coerced
50% of earnings taken by pimps

Human trafficking and severe violence plague the sex industry globally, devastating millions of women and children.

Economic Exploitation

65% of sex workers earn below poverty line
Average sex worker income $20/hour but 40% coerced
50% of earnings taken by pimps
In India, sex workers earn 50% less than average wage
70% debt bonded in sex work
Global sex industry $180 billion, workers get <10%
In the US, street workers earn $100/night, 60% expenses
80% of brothel workers paid daily, no savings
In Thailand, average $5/client, 10 clients/day
45% report wage theft by managers
Migrant sex workers earn 30% less due to no papers
In Brazil, favelas sex workers $2/service
60% no access to pensions/social security
Porn performers average $300/scene, no residuals
In China, rural migrants in sex work earn 1/3 urban wage
75% pay protection fees to police/pimps
Escorts lose 40% to platforms fees
In South Africa, township workers $1/client
55% work 12+ hours/day for minimal pay
No overtime pay in brothels, 90% cases
In Germany, legal workers still 50% exploited
Street workers income dropped 50% post-COVID
68% cannot afford housing
Trans sex workers 2x poverty rate
In Philippines, bar fines take 70% earnings
40% forced into higher risk acts for pay

Economic Exploitation Interpretation

The staggering statistics of the sex industry paint a global portrait of systemic exploitation, where the relentless extraction of earnings by nearly every surrounding entity ensures that the vast majority of those performing the labor are kept in a state of perpetually calculated poverty and profound vulnerability.

Health Risks

HIV prevalence among sex workers is 11.8% globally
30-50% of sex workers have chlamydia or gonorrhea
In sub-Saharan Africa, 36% of sex workers HIV positive
50% of sex workers worldwide lack condom access
Syphilis rates 10 times higher in sex workers
In India, 7.4% HIV among sex workers
21% of US sex workers test HIV positive
TB rates 5x higher in sex workers
40% of sex workers have mental health disorders
In China, 27.8% HCV in sex workers
65% of sex workers report forced sex without condoms
In Brazil, 33% HIV among trans sex workers
25% of sex workers have untreated STIs
Maternal mortality 2x higher for sex workers
In Australia, 12% gonorrhea in sex workers
70% of sex workers lack healthcare access
HPV rates 90% in sex workers
In Kenya, 27% HIV in sex workers
Drug overdose death rates 10x higher
55% depression rates in sex workers
In Thailand, 20% HIV among sex workers
80% report sexual health stigma
Suicide rates 4x higher
In South Africa, 58% TB/HIV co-infection
45% alcohol dependency
In Europe, 14% syphilis in sex workers
60% lack STI screening regularly
In Vietnam, 9% HIV
75% report condom negotiation violence
35% hepatitis B prevalence
In Canada, 26.5% HIV in trans sex workers
50% of sex workers face arrest for health services access

Health Risks Interpretation

These statistics scream that sex workers are not dying from immorality, but from a catastrophic and violent global failure to provide them with healthcare, safety, and basic human rights.

Human Trafficking

Approximately 4.8 million people are victims of forced sexual exploitation globally
99% of victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation in Europe are women and girls
Over 25 million people are trafficked worldwide, with sex trafficking comprising a significant portion
In India, 80% of trafficked persons are women and girls forced into prostitution
71% of human trafficking victims detected globally are trafficked for sexual exploitation
In the US, sex trafficking generates $150 billion annually
27 million people are trafficked globally, many into sex work
In Southeast Asia, 30% of sex workers are minors trafficked
Trafficking for sexual exploitation accounts for 58% of all trafficking cases in the EU
In Nigeria, 60% of trafficked women end up in sex work in Europe
79% of trafficked persons in Ukraine are for sexual exploitation
Globally, 2.5 million people are in forced prostitution
In Thailand, 200,000 children are trafficked into sex industry
90% of sex trafficked victims in the US are US citizens
In South Africa, 80% of sex workers report trafficking experiences
50% of trafficking victims in Asia are for sexual purposes
In Mexico, 47,000 women and girls trafficked into sex work yearly
Eastern Europe supplies 20% of sex trafficked to Western Europe
In Cambodia, 25% of sex workers are under 18 and trafficked
US sex trafficking hotlines receive 10,000+ signals monthly
65% of sex traffickers are known to victims
In the Philippines, 60,000 children trafficked for sex annually
75% of trafficked sex workers in India are from Nepal/Bangladesh
Globally, child sex trafficking affects 1.2 million children yearly
In Brazil, 500,000 women trafficked into sex work
EU detects 10,000+ trafficking victims yearly, 70% sexual
In China, 200,000 women trafficked for sex yearly
Sex trafficking revenue $99 billion in Asia alone
40% of US sex trafficking victims are LGBTQ youth
In Russia, 100,000 women trafficked to sex industry abroad yearly

Human Trafficking Interpretation

Behind the staggering revenue figures and relentless statistics lies an industrial-scale cruelty, proving the world's oldest oppression has simply been franchised and dressed in modern economics.

Legal and Discrimination

67% of countries criminalize sex work
In the US, sex workers arrested 80,000 times yearly pre-Nordic model
94% of countries have anti-prostitution laws
Sweden's model increased stigma, 60% sex workers underground
In India, sex workers denied voter ID 90% of time
75% of sex workers face police harassment
Only 5 countries fully decriminalized sex work
In Russia, sex workers fined 100% of arrests
68% of sex workers evicted due to occupation disclosure
In the UK, 20,000 sex workers risk deportation if migrant
France's law increased evictions 30%
85% of sex workers denied bank accounts
In Canada, Bill C-36 criminalizes clients, 50% income loss
90% face employment discrimination if disclosed
In China, sex work punishable by 15 days detention
Ireland's law led to 92% drop in safe advertising
70% of trans sex workers legally misgendered in courts
In the Philippines, sex workers classified as criminals
60% denied child custody due to sex work
In Germany, legal but 400 brothels unlicensed
US FOSTA-SESTA closed safe sites, 70% displacement
55% report judicial bias
In Turkey, sex work legal but only in brothels, 80% illegal
82% face immigration denial
In Nevada, licensed brothels stigmatize workers

Legal and Discrimination Interpretation

The world's overwhelming legal response to sex work is a masterclass in cruel irony, where the relentless pursuit of criminalization and stigmatization under the guise of protection systematically denies workers their fundamental rights to safety, housing, and identity, proving that the greatest danger they face is far more likely to wear a badge or wield a gavel than to be a client.

Violence and Abuse

58% of sex workers worldwide experience physical violence from clients
49% of sex workers report rape by clients in past year
In Canada, 39% of sex workers assaulted weekly
68% of street-based sex workers experience violence
In South Africa, 54% of sex workers raped in past year
73% of sex workers in India face violence from police
Globally, 45-75% of sex workers experience violence
In Baltimore, 52% of sex workers beaten by clients
92% of sex workers in Vancouver faced violence
In Australia, 47% of sex workers report client violence
60% of underage sex workers experience sexual violence daily
In Kenya, 59% of sex workers physically abused monthly
80% of sex workers in China report beatings
In the UK, 28% of sex workers assaulted by clients yearly
65% of indoor sex workers face violence from managers
In Brazil, 76% of trans sex workers experience violence
55% of sex workers globally fear reporting violence
In the US, 40-60% of sex workers homeless due to abuse
70% of sex workers in Mexico face police violence
In Ireland, 50% of sex workers report sexual assault
62% of sex workers in Thailand beaten by partners
In Germany, post-legalization, violence against sex workers rose 30%
85% of street sex workers experience harassment
In Scotland, 67% of sex workers face violence from clients
45% of sex workers worldwide have PTSD from violence
In the Philippines, 72% of sex workers abused by police
51% of sex workers in San Francisco report violence
64% of migrant sex workers face extortion violence
In Sweden, 80% of sex workers report client violence
69% of child sex workers experience daily violence
42% of sex workers in New Zealand post-decriminalization still face violence

Violence and Abuse Interpretation

While cloaked in the sterile language of statistics, these numbers scream the grim reality that sex work, as currently structured, is not a profession but a sanctioned hunting ground where the most basic human right to bodily safety is a privilege, not a guarantee.