GITNUXREPORT 2025

Human Trafficking Prostitution Statistics

Global human trafficking exploits millions, mostly women and children, generating billions.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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The global profit from human trafficking is estimated at $150 billion annually

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Human trafficking generates around $32 billion in annual revenue within the commercial sex industry

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The primary countries of origin for trafficked persons in Europe include Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria

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In the Asia-Pacific region, the prevalence of sex trafficking is highest, accounting for about 46% of all trafficking cases

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The average duration of trafficking victimization for sex trafficking victims can be up to 4 years, depending on the region

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Globally, around 1.2 million children are exploited through commercial sexual exploitation each year

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Human trafficking is the third largest criminal activity worldwide, after drug and arms trafficking

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Less than 1% of victims are identified and rescued globally, indicating a huge detection gap

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Over 15,000 minors are estimated to be trafficked for sexual exploitation in the United States each year

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According to the Global Slavery Index, an estimated 50 million people are living in modern slavery globally, including forced labor and sexual exploitation

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The global demand for paid sex is a significant driver of sex trafficking, with millions of clients annually

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NGOs estimate that for every identified victim, there are at least 8 more who remain undetected, highlighting the scale of the hidden problem

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Domestic servitude, forced labor, and sex trafficking are the most common types of human trafficking, with sexual exploitation accounting for 66% of cases

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Child sex trafficking victims often face higher levels of physical and emotional abuse, with about 76% experiencing violence

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Human trafficking victims often fail to seek help due to fear, shame, or misinformation about available assistance

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Many trafficking victims are forced into prostitution through debt bondage or false promises of employment

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Many trafficked individuals are forced into prostitution through coercive control, including psychological abuse, physical violence, and threats

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Nearly 50% of trafficking victims in some regions are subjected to repeated abuse, making rescue and recovery more difficult

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Research indicates that victims often experience long-term psychological trauma, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, even after rescue

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Trafficking victims are often hidden within other industries such as hospitality, domestic work, and agriculture, making detection difficult

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Traffickers frequently target vulnerable populations, including homeless youth, LGBTQ+ individuals, and women with histories of abuse

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A report by the International Labour Organization states that less than 1% of victims are ever rescued and provided with comprehensive support, indicating significant gaps in intervention

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An estimated 4.8 million people are victims of forced sexual exploitation globally

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Approximately 79% of human trafficking victims are female

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About 27% of victims trafficked for sexual exploitation are children

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The average age of entry into sex trafficking is 12-14 years old

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In the United States, sex trafficking victims are usually targeted by their traffickers for an average of 3-4 years before rescue

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In Europe, estimates suggest that one in ten sex workers are trafficked

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The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that for every 10 victims of trafficking detected, 9 remain hidden

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Female victims account for approximately 70% of human trafficking cases globally

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In 2022, the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline received over 22,000 reports, with 84% related to sex trafficking

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The majority of trafficked children are exploited within their own countries, not necessarily internationally

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In Japan, foreign women constitute about 84% of all sex trafficking victims

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Approximately 54% of trafficking victims identified in the United States are US citizens, while 46% are foreign nationals

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The median age of victims rescued from sex trafficking in the Philippines is 15 years old

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In Canada, half of all human trafficking victims are minors, predominantly for sexual exploitation

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Women aged 18-24 are most vulnerable to sexual exploitation trafficking, especially in urban areas

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Approximately 17% of trafficking victims worldwide are migrants, often exploited during or after migration

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Researchers estimate that 70% of trafficked women are forced into commercial sex work soon after entering trafficking situations

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Data suggests that in some countries, trafficked children are exploited as young as 9 years old

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In the United States, most sex trafficking victims are women aged 15 to 29, with a significant proportion being minors

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The number of trafficking victims identified annually in Mexico has increased by approximately 25% over the past five years, mainly for sexual exploitation

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In Australia, approximately 10% of sex workers have reported being trafficked or coerced into the industry

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Key Highlights

An estimated 4.8 million people are victims of forced sexual exploitation globally
Approximately 79% of human trafficking victims are female
About 27% of victims trafficked for sexual exploitation are children
The global profit from human trafficking is estimated at $150 billion annually
The average age of entry into sex trafficking is 12-14 years old
In the United States, sex trafficking victims are usually targeted by their traffickers for an average of 3-4 years before rescue
Globally, around 1.2 million children are exploited through commercial sexual exploitation each year
In Europe, estimates suggest that one in ten sex workers are trafficked
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that for every 10 victims of trafficking detected, 9 remain hidden
Human trafficking is the third largest criminal activity worldwide, after drug and arms trafficking
Domestic servitude, forced labor, and sex trafficking are the most common types of human trafficking, with sexual exploitation accounting for 66% of cases
Female victims account for approximately 70% of human trafficking cases globally
In 2022, the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline received over 22,000 reports, with 84% related to sex trafficking

Despite global efforts, over 4.8 million people are victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation annually—a harrowing crisis fueled by greed, secrecy, and a shocking gap in detection and rescue.

Economic Impact and Trafficking Profits

The global profit from human trafficking is estimated at $150 billion annually
Human trafficking generates around $32 billion in annual revenue within the commercial sex industry

Economic Impact and Trafficking Profits Interpretation

With a staggering $150 billion profit worldwide, including $32 billion from commercial sex alone, human trafficking profits fuel a shadow economy that rivals the GDP of some nations, reminding us that beneath the facade of exploitation lies a lucrative and deeply entrenched global crisis.

Geographic and Regional Data

The primary countries of origin for trafficked persons in Europe include Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria
In the Asia-Pacific region, the prevalence of sex trafficking is highest, accounting for about 46% of all trafficking cases
The average duration of trafficking victimization for sex trafficking victims can be up to 4 years, depending on the region

Geographic and Regional Data Interpretation

These stark statistics reveal that while Eastern Europe's Moldovas, Romanians, and Bulgarians are often caught in trafficking's grip, the Asia-Pacific region bears nearly half the burden of sex trafficking, with victims often trapped for years—reminding us that behind the numbers are lives enduring prolonged suffering that demands urgent global action.

Prevalence and Scope of Human Trafficking

Globally, around 1.2 million children are exploited through commercial sexual exploitation each year
Human trafficking is the third largest criminal activity worldwide, after drug and arms trafficking
Less than 1% of victims are identified and rescued globally, indicating a huge detection gap
Over 15,000 minors are estimated to be trafficked for sexual exploitation in the United States each year
According to the Global Slavery Index, an estimated 50 million people are living in modern slavery globally, including forced labor and sexual exploitation
The global demand for paid sex is a significant driver of sex trafficking, with millions of clients annually
NGOs estimate that for every identified victim, there are at least 8 more who remain undetected, highlighting the scale of the hidden problem

Prevalence and Scope of Human Trafficking Interpretation

Despite being the third largest global criminal enterprise, human trafficking and sexual exploitation remain overwhelmingly invisible, with less than 1% of victims rescued and millions of lives hidden in the shadows—an urgent call for intensified detection and comprehensive action in the face of relentless demand.

Trafficking Victim Types and Vulnerabilities

Domestic servitude, forced labor, and sex trafficking are the most common types of human trafficking, with sexual exploitation accounting for 66% of cases
Child sex trafficking victims often face higher levels of physical and emotional abuse, with about 76% experiencing violence
Human trafficking victims often fail to seek help due to fear, shame, or misinformation about available assistance
Many trafficking victims are forced into prostitution through debt bondage or false promises of employment
Many trafficked individuals are forced into prostitution through coercive control, including psychological abuse, physical violence, and threats
Nearly 50% of trafficking victims in some regions are subjected to repeated abuse, making rescue and recovery more difficult
Research indicates that victims often experience long-term psychological trauma, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, even after rescue
Trafficking victims are often hidden within other industries such as hospitality, domestic work, and agriculture, making detection difficult
Traffickers frequently target vulnerable populations, including homeless youth, LGBTQ+ individuals, and women with histories of abuse
A report by the International Labour Organization states that less than 1% of victims are ever rescued and provided with comprehensive support, indicating significant gaps in intervention

Trafficking Victim Types and Vulnerabilities Interpretation

Despite the staggering prevalence of human trafficking, with over two-thirds of cases involving sexual exploitation and nearly half of victims enduring repeated abuse, the pervasive concealment within industries like domestic work and agriculture, coupled with inadequate rescue efforts affecting less than 1%, underscores a grim reality where victims remain trapped in silence, shame, and fear amidst a global failure to address and eradicate this modern form of slavery.

Victim Demographics and Age Statistics

An estimated 4.8 million people are victims of forced sexual exploitation globally
Approximately 79% of human trafficking victims are female
About 27% of victims trafficked for sexual exploitation are children
The average age of entry into sex trafficking is 12-14 years old
In the United States, sex trafficking victims are usually targeted by their traffickers for an average of 3-4 years before rescue
In Europe, estimates suggest that one in ten sex workers are trafficked
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) reports that for every 10 victims of trafficking detected, 9 remain hidden
Female victims account for approximately 70% of human trafficking cases globally
In 2022, the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline received over 22,000 reports, with 84% related to sex trafficking
The majority of trafficked children are exploited within their own countries, not necessarily internationally
In Japan, foreign women constitute about 84% of all sex trafficking victims
Approximately 54% of trafficking victims identified in the United States are US citizens, while 46% are foreign nationals
The median age of victims rescued from sex trafficking in the Philippines is 15 years old
In Canada, half of all human trafficking victims are minors, predominantly for sexual exploitation
Women aged 18-24 are most vulnerable to sexual exploitation trafficking, especially in urban areas
Approximately 17% of trafficking victims worldwide are migrants, often exploited during or after migration
Researchers estimate that 70% of trafficked women are forced into commercial sex work soon after entering trafficking situations
Data suggests that in some countries, trafficked children are exploited as young as 9 years old
In the United States, most sex trafficking victims are women aged 15 to 29, with a significant proportion being minors
The number of trafficking victims identified annually in Mexico has increased by approximately 25% over the past five years, mainly for sexual exploitation
In Australia, approximately 10% of sex workers have reported being trafficked or coerced into the industry

Victim Demographics and Age Statistics Interpretation

With nearly 5 million victims worldwide—most of whom are women and children trapped in abusive cycles of exploitation for years before rescue—the sobering reality is that while data reveals the depths of this issue, the true scale remains hidden, exposing the urgent need for global vigilance and decisive action against human trafficking's shadowy reach.