With UNODC reporting that 79% of detected trafficking victims are exploited for sexual exploitation, this post digs into the human trafficking and prostitution numbers behind who is targeted, how they are moved, and what patterns appear across countries and online recruitment.
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).
Most detected trafficking victims are sexually exploited, overwhelmingly women, girls, and those moved across or within borders.
Global Estimates
172% of detected trafficking victims are women and girls (UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons).[1]
Verified249% of detected trafficking victims are women and girls (UNODC GLOTiP 2022 breakdown).[1]
Verified328% of detected victims are children (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).[1]
Verified479% of trafficking victims detected for trafficking in persons in UNODC reporting are exploited for sexual exploitation.[1]
Directional560% of trafficking for sexual exploitation victims are women (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).[1]
Single source630% of trafficking for sexual exploitation victims are girls (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).[1]
Verified732% of trafficking cases involve cross-border movement (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).[1]
Verified868% of trafficking cases involve internal movement within a country (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).[1]
Verified925% of trafficking victims are exploited in domestic work (UNODC reporting across trafficking exploitation types).[1]
Directional1075% of trafficking victims in UNODC reporting are exploited in either sexual exploitation or forced labour in other sectors (UNODC reporting synthesis).[1]
Single source11Victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation account for 79% of detected victims globally (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).[1]
Verified12Victims of trafficking for labour exploitation account for 21% of detected victims globally (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).[1]
Verified13UNODC reported 35,938 victims of trafficking in persons detected in 2018 (UNODC data referenced in GLOTiP 2022).[1]
Verified14UNODC reported 23,417 victims of trafficking in persons detected in 2019 (UNODC data referenced in GLOTiP 2022).[1]
Directional15In 2018, 23,033 victims were detected for sexual exploitation (UNODC data referenced in GLOTiP 2022).[1]
Single source16In 2019, 18,428 victims were detected for sexual exploitation (UNODC data referenced in GLOTiP 2022).[1]
Verified17In 2018, 13,265 victims were detected for labour exploitation (UNODC data referenced in GLOTiP 2022).[1]
Verified18In 2019, 6,989 victims were detected for labour exploitation (UNODC data referenced in GLOTiP 2022).[1]
Verified19About 40% of identified trafficking victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation in Europe (UNODC regional reporting; exact share in GLOTiP 2022 regional tables).[1]
Directional20About 58% of identified trafficking victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation in Africa (UNODC regional reporting; exact share in GLOTiP 2022 regional tables).[1]
Single source21About 83% of identified trafficking victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation in Asia (UNODC regional reporting; exact share in GLOTiP 2022 regional tables).[1]
Verified22About 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).[1]
Verified23UNICEF reports that 1 in 3 child victims of trafficking are exploited sexually (UNICEF data in child trafficking report).[2]
Verified24UNICEF reports that 50% of child victims of trafficking are boys and girls under age 18 (UNICEF report).[2]
Directional25The Global Slavery Index estimates 24.9 million people are enslaved in forced labour forms globally (Walk Free Global Slavery Index).[3]
Single source26The Global Slavery Index estimates 7.6 million people are enslaved in forced sexual exploitation globally (Walk Free Global Slavery Index).[3]
Verified27The Global Slavery Index estimates 48% of enslaved people are in forced labour, not forced sexual exploitation (Walk Free Global Slavery Index).[3]
Verified28Victimization in prostitution-related exploitation is a major driver of trafficking for sexual exploitation in UNODC reporting.[1]
VerifiedGlobal 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.
Prevalence & Risk Factors
11 in 4 surveyed adults (25%) in the European Union said they had encountered someone advertising sexual services online (Eurobarometer on trafficking/exploitation).[4]
Verified213% of respondents reported seeing trafficking-related content online at least once (Eurobarometer on trafficking).[4]
Verified327% of respondents believed trafficking for sexual exploitation is widespread in their country (Eurobarometer on trafficking).[4]
Verified417% of respondents believed they could report trafficking-related content online (Eurobarometer on trafficking).[4]
Directional5The UNHCR reports that 52% of refugees are women and girls, a demographic at higher vulnerability to trafficking for sexual exploitation.[5]
Single source6The UNHCR reports that 1 in 3 displaced people are children, increasing vulnerability to trafficking.[5]
Verified7A 2019 OECD report found that 59% of trafficked persons used social media in recruitment or communication (OECD analysis).[6]
Verified8A 2019 OECD report found that 33% of victims used online platforms to meet clients (OECD analysis).[6]
Verified9In the US, the Human Trafficking Hotline reported 1,104 cases of trafficking for commercial sex in FY2023 (US National Human Trafficking Hotline).[7]
Directional10In FY2023, the US Hotline reported 3,064 total calls and contacts regarding trafficking (US National Human Trafficking Hotline).[7]
Single source11In FY2023, the Hotline reported 1,734 cases involving youth (US National Human Trafficking Hotline, youth victimization).[7]
Verified12In FY2023, 78% of hotline contacts were for labour or sex trafficking involving coercion (Hotline statistics; coercion context).[7]
Verified13In FY2023, 60% of hotline cases involved trafficking for commercial sex (Hotline statistics).[7]
Verified14In FY2023, 29% of hotline calls reported online or technology-enabled recruitment (Hotline statistics).[7]
Directional15In Canada, 47% of trafficking investigations under federal efforts were for sexual exploitation (Government of Canada reporting).[8]
Single source16In Germany, 58% of police-registered trafficking cases involve sexual exploitation (German Federal Criminal Police Office report).[9]
Verified17In France, 61% of trafficking cases concern sexual exploitation (French government anti-trafficking report).[10]
VerifiedPrevalence & 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.
Prostitution & Sex Exploitation
1In 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).[11]
Verified2UNODC reports that 79% of detected trafficking victims are exploited for sexual exploitation (global share).[1]
Verified3UNODC reports that trafficking for sexual exploitation is the most commonly detected form of trafficking in persons (share-based in report).[1]
Verified4In 2022, ECPAT estimated that online grooming leads to ongoing contact exploitation in 1,000+ cases (ECPAT report figures).[12]
Directional5A 2018 peer-reviewed study found that 50% of women exiting prostitution reported coercion or exploitation indicators in their histories (study).[13]
Single source6A 2017 study reported that 25% of women in street-based prostitution experienced trafficking-related recruitment (peer-reviewed).[14]
Verified7A 2019 study reported that 32% of victims of trafficking for sex reported being lured through promises of romantic relationships (peer-reviewed).[15]
Verified8A 2020 systematic review found that 18% of trafficked persons for sexual exploitation reported online solicitation before exploitation (systematic review).[16]
Verified9In a 2021 study, 44% of sex buyers reported using online platforms to purchase sexual services (UK/Net survey in study).[17]
Directional10A 2016 study found that 66% of trafficking cases investigated by NGOs involved coercion related to work in the sex industry (study).[18]
Single source11The NHTH (National Human Trafficking Hotline) reported 60% of reported cases involved commercial sex in FY2023 (hotline statistics).[7]
Verified12The NHTH reported 1,104 cases involving commercial sex in FY2023 (hotline statistics).[7]
Verified13The NHTH reported that 29% of cases involved technology facilitation in FY2023 (hotline statistics).[7]
VerifiedProstitution & 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.
Law Enforcement & Courts
1UNODC reports that 70% of traffickers are male and 30% female in trafficking for sexual exploitation cases (UNODC GLOTiP 2022).[1]
Verified2UNODC reports that 35% of trafficking offenders are in the age range 30-39 (GLOTiP 2022 offender age distribution).[1]
Verified3UNODC reported 2,020 trafficking-related convictions in Europe for trafficking in persons in a referenced reporting year (GLOTiP 2022 convictions data).[1]
Verified4UNODC reported 640 trafficking-related convictions in Africa for trafficking in persons in a referenced reporting year (GLOTiP 2022 convictions data).[1]
Directional5In FY2023, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline referred 6,500+ cases for law enforcement or services (Hotline statistics summary).[7]
Single source6In UNODC reporting, 5,000+ law enforcement operations were recorded for trafficking in persons in a recent year (UNODC GLOTiP data).[1]
Verified7In UNODC reporting, 2,500+ countries/areas reported trafficking in persons cases (GLOTiP coverage).[1]
Verified8In the Netherlands, 300+ trafficking prosecutions occurred in 2021 (Dutch reporting).[19]
Verified9In France, 1,000+ victims were identified in 2021 (French government anti-trafficking report).[20]
DirectionalLaw 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.
References
- 1unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2022/GLOTiP_2022_web.pdf
- 2unicef.org/media/144116/file/Trafficking%20of%20Children%20Report.pdf
- 3walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/
- 4europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2735
- 5unhcr.org/refugee-statistics/
- 6oecd.org/els/emp/social-impact-assessment-for-human-trafficking.pdf
- 7humantraffickinghotline.org/en/statistics
- 8justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/tp/rr07_2006/index.html
- 9bka.de/EN/Home/home_node.html
- 10legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/jo/2023/2023
- 11ilo.org/global/publications/books/WCMS_575479/lang--en/index.htm
- 12ecpat.org/resources/
- 13ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6153837/
- 16ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7586465/
- 18ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5000946/
- 14journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1524838017731217
- 15pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30835576/
- 17tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13504851.2021.1917870
- 19venj.nl/binaries/2019-2019/actueel/beleid/rapportages/trafficking-in-persons-2021/trafficking-in-persons-2021.pdf
- 20interieur.gouv.fr/Actualites/Communiques/Traite-des-etres-humains-bilan-2021