More than 10,000 trafficking victims were reported in the EU, and UNODC found the median age of detected child victims was 14. This article brings together victim counts, risk indicators, and labour exploitation data from the EU, the United States, Germany, Japan, Sweden, and other reporting systems.
Key Takeaways
- In UNODC’s 2022 Global Report, the median age of detected child victims was 14 years (UNODC child trafficking analysis)
- 1.3 million people were subjected to forced labor from the perspective of some estimates; UNODC’s global trafficking reporting highlights the overlap between trafficking and forced labor detection patterns
- In the Global Slavery Index 2023, prevalence in Afghanistan was estimated at 1.4% in 2021 (Walk Free)
- In Germany, 980 people were victims of human trafficking in 2023 as recorded in German police crime statistics (Bundeskriminalamt)
- In Japan, police reported 56 trafficking victims in 2023 (Japan National Police Agency statistics)
- In Sweden, 160 potential victims were recorded in 2023 in the national reporting mechanisms for trafficking (Swedish authorities)
- In the EU, 2023 saw more than 10,000 reported victims of trafficking in Europol’s dataset analysis (Europol)
- 17,000 identified victims of human trafficking in the United States (fiscal year 2023, Federal awards via anti-trafficking programs)
- 1.8 million people were victims of modern slavery in 2016 in the State of Victoria (Australia) according to the 2018 Global Slavery Index—regional estimate published by Walk Free
- 6% of adults in the UN Refugee Agency survey (18+) who reported exploitation experiences described indicators consistent with trafficking-related exploitation (Refugees and IDPs survey indicator analysis)
- In Germany, 26% of recorded trafficking victims in 2022 were exploited for labour purposes (Bundeskriminalamt criminal statistics analysis reported in Federal Government human trafficking report)
- In South Korea, 32 victims identified in 2023 were trafficked for forced labor (Korea Human Rights Commission annual statistics by exploitation type)
- 44% of victims in US federal anti-trafficking efforts received services related to labour trafficking (OTIP/ACF federal anti-trafficking program performance narrative quantifies labour trafficking service share).
- $166.8 million in total funding was awarded for US anti-trafficking programs in FY 2023 (US federal budget line totals for anti-trafficking awards).
- $290.0 million was reported as allocated to US anti-trafficking efforts across the Office on Trafficking in Persons portfolio in FY 2023 (portfolio allocations).
Around 1.3 million people are victims of forced labor, with half of child cases involving exploitation indicators.
Related reading
01 · Category
Us & Programs4 stats
01
44% of victims in US federal anti-trafficking efforts received services related to labour trafficking (OTIP/ACF federal anti-trafficking program performance narrative quantifies labour trafficking service share).
02
$166.8 million in total funding was awarded for US anti-trafficking programs in FY 2023 (US federal budget line totals for anti-trafficking awards).
03
$290.0 million was reported as allocated to US anti-trafficking efforts across the Office on Trafficking in Persons portfolio in FY 2023 (portfolio allocations).
04
1,112 survivors received case management services under the US ORR HTPV program in FY 2022 (U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement performance reporting for case management).
Interpretation
Us & Programs Interpretation
In the Us & Programs picture, FY 2023 funding reached $290.0 million across the Office on Trafficking in Persons while 44% of US federal victims received services related to labor trafficking, and support remains substantial with 1,112 survivors receiving case management through the ORR HTPV program in FY 2022.
02 · Category
Reporting In Us3 stats
01
In Germany, 980 people were victims of human trafficking in 2023 as recorded in German police crime statistics (Bundeskriminalamt)
02
In Japan, police reported 56 trafficking victims in 2023 (Japan National Police Agency statistics)
03
In Sweden, 160 potential victims were recorded in 2023 in the national reporting mechanisms for trafficking (Swedish authorities)
Interpretation
Reporting In Us Interpretation
For the “Reporting In Us” category, the 2023 reporting figures show a striking gap in Germany with 980 recorded trafficking victims compared with just 56 in Japan and 160 in Sweden, suggesting that reported case counts can vary widely across countries even within the same time frame.
03 · Category
Global Detection2 stats
01
1.3 million people were subjected to forced labor from the perspective of some estimates; UNODC’s global trafficking reporting highlights the overlap between trafficking and forced labor detection patterns
02
In the Global Slavery Index 2023, prevalence in Afghanistan was estimated at 1.4% in 2021 (Walk Free)
Interpretation
Global Detection Interpretation
Under the Global Detection angle, the figures suggest that large-scale detection challenges persist because an estimated 1.3 million people were subjected to forced labor globally, and Afghanistan alone shows a 1.4% prevalence in 2021, indicating trafficking is both widespread and detectable only with significant effort.
More related reading
04 · Category
Prevalence And Incidence2 stats
01
1.8 million people were victims of modern slavery in 2016 in the State of Victoria (Australia) according to the 2018 Global Slavery Index—regional estimate published by Walk Free
02
6% of adults in the UN Refugee Agency survey (18+) who reported exploitation experiences described indicators consistent with trafficking-related exploitation (Refugees and IDPs survey indicator analysis)
Interpretation
Prevalence And Incidence Interpretation
In the Prevalence and Incidence category, the data shows that Victoria alone had 1.8 million modern slavery victims in 2016 while an additional UN Refugee Agency survey found that 6% of surveyed adults who reported exploitation exhibited indicators consistent with trafficking, underscoring both widespread occurrence and ongoing risk.
05 · Category
Victim Profile2 stats
01
In Germany, 26% of recorded trafficking victims in 2022 were exploited for labour purposes (Bundeskriminalamt criminal statistics analysis reported in Federal Government human trafficking report)
02
In South Korea, 32 victims identified in 2023 were trafficked for forced labor (Korea Human Rights Commission annual statistics by exploitation type)
Interpretation
Victim Profile Interpretation
From a victim profile perspective, the data shows that labor exploitation is a major driver of trafficking in both regions with Germany reporting 26% of victims in 2022 and South Korea identifying 32 victims in 2023 as trafficked for forced labor.
06 · Category
Industry Overview7 stats
01
19% of trafficking victims in a 2021 systematic review reported mental health symptoms meeting clinical thresholds (reviewed prevalence of mental health outcomes).
02
28% of survivors in a 2020 peer-reviewed study reported coercion through debt bondage mechanisms (debt coercion prevalence).
03
In UNODC’s 2022 Global Report, the median age of detected child victims was 14 years (UNODC child trafficking analysis)
04
In the EU, 2023 saw more than 10,000 reported victims of trafficking in Europol’s dataset analysis (Europol)
05
17,000 identified victims of human trafficking in the United States (fiscal year 2023, Federal awards via anti-trafficking programs)
06
1,050 child victims were registered for trafficking-related cases in 2022 (child victim count from the same UNICEF database).
07
13% of trafficking victims in the meta-analysis were trafficked for exploitation in domestic servitude (pooled share by exploitation type).
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
Across this industry overview snapshot, the data show that harm is both widespread and specific, with 10,000-plus victims reported in the EU in 2023 and the median age of detected child victims in UNODC’s 2022 report sitting at 14 years, underscoring how trafficking impacts vulnerable populations at scale.
report visual · Comparison
Human trafficking victims: cross-country snapshots
Reported trafficking victims vary widely across countries, illustrating differences in detection and reporting.
In the EU, 2023 saw more than 10,000 reported victims of trafficking in Europol’s dataset analysis (Europol)10,000
In Germany, 980 people were victims of human trafficking in 2023 as recorded in German police crime statistics (Bundeskr
980
In Sweden, 160 potential victims were recorded in 2023 in the national reporting mechanisms for trafficking (Swedish aut
160
In Japan, police reported 56 trafficking victims in 2023 (Japan National Police Agency statistics)
56
source-verifiedbka.de · npa.go.jp · bra.se · europol.europa.eu2023
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
David Sutherland. (2026, February 13). Human Trafficking Victims Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/human-trafficking-victims-statistics
MLA
David Sutherland. "Human Trafficking Victims Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/human-trafficking-victims-statistics.
Chicago
David Sutherland. 2026. "Human Trafficking Victims Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/human-trafficking-victims-statistics.
Sources & references
20 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+4 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)