UNODC reporting finds that 79% of detected trafficking victims are exploited for sexual exploitation, making prostitution-linked trafficking one of the most commonly detected pathways. The victim profile also shows sharp variation, with 72% of detected victims being women and girls and 28% being children. The sections ahead break down how detection, movement routes, and exploitation types connect.
Key Takeaways
- 72% of detected trafficking victims are women and girls (UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons).
- 49% of detected trafficking victims are women and girls (UNODC GLOTiP 2022 breakdown).
- 28% of detected victims are children (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).
- 1 in 4 surveyed adults (25%) in the European Union said they had encountered someone advertising sexual services online (Eurobarometer on trafficking/exploitation).
- 13% of respondents reported seeing trafficking-related content online at least once (Eurobarometer on trafficking).
- 27% of respondents believed trafficking for sexual exploitation is widespread in their country (Eurobarometer on trafficking).
- In the ILO’s Global Estimates of Modern Slavery report, the number of people in forced labour is 27.6 million (older global slavery estimates cited by ILO).
- UNODC reports that 79% of detected trafficking victims are exploited for sexual exploitation (global share).
- UNODC reports that trafficking for sexual exploitation is the most commonly detected form of trafficking in persons (share-based in report).
- UNODC reports that 70% of traffickers are male and 30% female in trafficking for sexual exploitation cases (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).
- UNODC reports that 35% of trafficking offenders are in the age range 30-39 (GLOTiP 2022 offender age distribution).
- UNODC reported 2,020 trafficking-related convictions in Europe for trafficking in persons in a referenced reporting year (GLOTiP 2022 convictions data).
Sexual exploitation drives most detected trafficking victims, with women, girls, and children disproportionately affected.
Related reading
01 · Category
Global Estimates28 stats
01
72% of detected trafficking victims are women and girls (UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
02
49% of detected trafficking victims are women and girls (UNODC GLOTiP 2022 breakdown).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
03
28% of detected victims are children (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
04
79% of trafficking victims detected for trafficking in persons in UNODC reporting are exploited for sexual exploitation.https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
05
60% of trafficking for sexual exploitation victims are women (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
06
30% of trafficking for sexual exploitation victims are girls (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
07
32% of trafficking cases involve cross-border movement (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
08
68% of trafficking cases involve internal movement within a country (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
09
25% of trafficking victims are exploited in domestic work (UNODC reporting across trafficking exploitation types).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
10
75% of trafficking victims in UNODC reporting are exploited in either sexual exploitation or forced labour in other sectors (UNODC reporting synthesis).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
11
Victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation account for 79% of detected victims globally (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
12
Victims of trafficking for labour exploitation account for 21% of detected victims globally (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
13
UNODC reported 35,938 victims of trafficking in persons detected in 2018 (UNODC data referenced in GLOTiP 2022).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
14
UNODC reported 23,417 victims of trafficking in persons detected in 2019 (UNODC data referenced in GLOTiP 2022).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
15
In 2018, 23,033 victims were detected for sexual exploitation (UNODC data referenced in GLOTiP 2022).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
16
In 2019, 18,428 victims were detected for sexual exploitation (UNODC data referenced in GLOTiP 2022).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
17
In 2018, 13,265 victims were detected for labour exploitation (UNODC data referenced in GLOTiP 2022).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
18
In 2019, 6,989 victims were detected for labour exploitation (UNODC data referenced in GLOTiP 2022).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
19
About 40% of identified trafficking victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation in Europe (UNODC regional reporting; exact share in GLOTiP 2022 regional tables).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
20
About 58% of identified trafficking victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation in Africa (UNODC regional reporting; exact share in GLOTiP 2022 regional tables).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
21
About 83% of identified trafficking victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation in Asia (UNODC regional reporting; exact share in GLOTiP 2022 regional tables).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
22
About 93% of identified trafficking victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation in Latin America and the Caribbean (UNODC regional reporting; exact share in GLOTiP 2022 regional tables).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
23
UNICEF reports that 1 in 3 child victims of trafficking are exploited sexually (UNICEF data in child trafficking report).https://www.unicef.org/media/144116/file/Trafficking%20of%20Children%20Report.pdf
24
UNICEF reports that 50% of child victims of trafficking are boys and girls under age 18 (UNICEF report).https://www.unicef.org/media/144116/file/Trafficking%20of%20Children%20Report.pdf
25
The Global Slavery Index estimates 24.9 million people are enslaved in forced labour forms globally (Walk Free Global Slavery Index).https://www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/
26
The Global Slavery Index estimates 7.6 million people are enslaved in forced sexual exploitation globally (Walk Free Global Slavery Index).https://www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/
27
The Global Slavery Index estimates 48% of enslaved people are in forced labour, not forced sexual exploitation (Walk Free Global Slavery Index).https://www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/
28
Victimization in prostitution-related exploitation is a major driver of trafficking for sexual exploitation in UNODC reporting.https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
Interpretation
Global Estimates Interpretation
Across UNODC data, sexual exploitation dominates trafficking, with 79% of detected victims exploited for sex and 79% of all victims trafficked for sexual exploitation, including large shares of women and girls, while labour exploitation remains much smaller at 21%, even as trafficking shifts between internal (68%) and cross border (32%) movement.
02 · Category
Prevalence & Risk Factors17 stats
01
1 in 4 surveyed adults (25%) in the European Union said they had encountered someone advertising sexual services online (Eurobarometer on trafficking/exploitation).https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2735
02
13% of respondents reported seeing trafficking-related content online at least once (Eurobarometer on trafficking).https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2735
03
27% of respondents believed trafficking for sexual exploitation is widespread in their country (Eurobarometer on trafficking).https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2735
04
17% of respondents believed they could report trafficking-related content online (Eurobarometer on trafficking).https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2735
05
The UNHCR reports that 52% of refugees are women and girls, a demographic at higher vulnerability to trafficking for sexual exploitation.https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/
06
The UNHCR reports that 1 in 3 displaced people are children, increasing vulnerability to trafficking.https://www.unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/
07
A 2019 OECD report found that 59% of trafficked persons used social media in recruitment or communication (OECD analysis).https://www.oecd.org/els/emp/social-impact-assessment-for-human-trafficking.pdf
08
A 2019 OECD report found that 33% of victims used online platforms to meet clients (OECD analysis).https://www.oecd.org/els/emp/social-impact-assessment-for-human-trafficking.pdf
09
In the US, the Human Trafficking Hotline reported 1,104 cases of trafficking for commercial sex in FY2023 (US National Human Trafficking Hotline).https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics
10
In FY2023, the US Hotline reported 3,064 total calls and contacts regarding trafficking (US National Human Trafficking Hotline).https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics
11
In FY2023, the Hotline reported 1,734 cases involving youth (US National Human Trafficking Hotline, youth victimization).https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics
12
In FY2023, 78% of hotline contacts were for labour or sex trafficking involving coercion (Hotline statistics; coercion context).https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics
13
In FY2023, 60% of hotline cases involved trafficking for commercial sex (Hotline statistics).https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics
14
In FY2023, 29% of hotline calls reported online or technology-enabled recruitment (Hotline statistics).https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics
15
In Canada, 47% of trafficking investigations under federal efforts were for sexual exploitation (Government of Canada reporting).https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/tp/rr07_2006/index.html
16
In Germany, 58% of police-registered trafficking cases involve sexual exploitation (German Federal Criminal Police Office report).https://www.bka.de/EN/Home/home_node.html
17
In France, 61% of trafficking cases concern sexual exploitation (French government anti-trafficking report).https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/jo/2023/2023
Interpretation
Prevalence & Risk Factors Interpretation
Across multiple countries, sexual exploitation dominates trafficking patterns and online activity is a major pathway, with 58% of Germany’s police registered cases involving sexual exploitation and 78% of US Hotline contacts in FY2023 involving coercion, while 29% of hotline calls cited online or technology enabled recruitment.
More related reading
03 · Category
Prostitution & Sex Exploitation13 stats
01
In the ILO’s Global Estimates of Modern Slavery report, the number of people in forced labour is 27.6 million (older global slavery estimates cited by ILO).https://www.ilo.org/global/publications/books/WCMS_575479/lang--en/index.htm
02
UNODC reports that 79% of detected trafficking victims are exploited for sexual exploitation (global share).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
03
UNODC reports that trafficking for sexual exploitation is the most commonly detected form of trafficking in persons (share-based in report).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
04
In 2022, ECPAT estimated that online grooming leads to ongoing contact exploitation in 1,000+ cases (ECPAT report figures).https://www.ecpat.org/resources/
05
A 2018 peer-reviewed study found that 50% of women exiting prostitution reported coercion or exploitation indicators in their histories (study).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6153837/
06
A 2017 study reported that 25% of women in street-based prostitution experienced trafficking-related recruitment (peer-reviewed).https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1524838017731217
07
A 2019 study reported that 32% of victims of trafficking for sex reported being lured through promises of romantic relationships (peer-reviewed).https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30835576/
08
A 2020 systematic review found that 18% of trafficked persons for sexual exploitation reported online solicitation before exploitation (systematic review).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7586465/
09
In a 2021 study, 44% of sex buyers reported using online platforms to purchase sexual services (UK/Net survey in study).https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13504851.2021.1917870
10
A 2016 study found that 66% of trafficking cases investigated by NGOs involved coercion related to work in the sex industry (study).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5000946/
11
The NHTH (National Human Trafficking Hotline) reported 60% of reported cases involved commercial sex in FY2023 (hotline statistics).https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics
12
The NHTH reported 1,104 cases involving commercial sex in FY2023 (hotline statistics).https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics
13
The NHTH reported that 29% of cases involved technology facilitation in FY2023 (hotline statistics).https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics
Interpretation
Prostitution & Sex Exploitation Interpretation
Across the data, sexual exploitation is clearly the dominant form of trafficking, with 79% of detected victims exploited for sex and online pathways showing up repeatedly, including 18% reporting online solicitation and 29% of hotline cases involving technology facilitation in FY2023.
04 · Category
Law Enforcement & Courts9 stats
01
UNODC reports that 70% of traffickers are male and 30% female in trafficking for sexual exploitation cases (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
02
UNODC reports that 35% of trafficking offenders are in the age range 30-39 (GLOTiP 2022 offender age distribution).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
03
UNODC reported 2,020 trafficking-related convictions in Europe for trafficking in persons in a referenced reporting year (GLOTiP 2022 convictions data).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
04
UNODC reported 640 trafficking-related convictions in Africa for trafficking in persons in a referenced reporting year (GLOTiP 2022 convictions data).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
05
In FY2023, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline referred 6,500+ cases for law enforcement or services (Hotline statistics summary).https://humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics
06
In UNODC reporting, 5,000+ law enforcement operations were recorded for trafficking in persons in a recent year (UNODC GLOTiP data).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
07
In UNODC reporting, 2,500+ countries/areas reported trafficking in persons cases (GLOTiP coverage).https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
08
In the Netherlands, 300+ trafficking prosecutions occurred in 2021 (Dutch reporting).https://www.venj.nl/binaries/2019-2019/actueel/beleid/rapportages/trafficking-in-persons-2021/trafficking-in-persons-2021.pdf
09
In France, 1,000+ victims were identified in 2021 (French government anti-trafficking report).https://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/Communiques/Traite-des-etres-humains-bilan-2021
Interpretation
Law Enforcement & Courts Interpretation
Across UNODC data, trafficking for sexual exploitation shows a clear skew toward male perpetrators at 70%, while convictions remain substantial and geographically broad, with 2,020 cases in Europe and 640 in Africa, alongside US hotline referrals exceeding 6,500 in FY2023.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Lars Eriksen. (2026, February 13). Human Trafficking Prostitution Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/human-trafficking-prostitution-statistics
MLA
Lars Eriksen. "Human Trafficking Prostitution Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/human-trafficking-prostitution-statistics.
Chicago
Lars Eriksen. 2026. "Human Trafficking Prostitution Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/human-trafficking-prostitution-statistics.
Sources & references
20 datasets cited across this report
+2 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)