Prostitution abuse is tightly linked to sex trafficking, where women and girls are often subjected to coercion and violence. Reporting systems also describe threats and debt bondage as common tactics, alongside recruitment through false promises. Across the U.S. and the U.K., sex trafficking shows up consistently within trafficking reports and referral outcomes, with documented physical, sexual, and mental harms reported by survivors. This page connects those patterns to the conditions that enable abuse.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 34,865 total trafficking-related reports across all forms of trafficking (of which prostitution/sex trafficking is commonly captured under sex trafficking and related exploitation)
- In 2022, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 24,223 reports involving sex trafficking
- In 2022, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 10,642 reports involving labor trafficking
- WHO reports that women trafficked for sexual exploitation often experience frequent physical violence
- UNODC reports that threats and coercion are frequently used in trafficking
- UNODC reports that debt bondage is a common coercive means in trafficking
- Prostitution-related sex trafficking victims frequently report physical injuries; US DOJ BJS (2019) reports that 33% of sex trafficking victims suffered physical injury
- US DOJ BJS (2019) reports that 21% of sex trafficking victims experienced sexual violence
- US DOJ BJS (2019) reports that 16% of sex trafficking victims had documented mental health impacts (e.g., trauma symptoms)
- In 2022, the US NHTH hotline reported 28,003 sex trafficking cases in “sexual exploitation” category (includes prostitution-related)
- In 2021, the US NHTH hotline reported 19,871 sex trafficking reports
- In 2020, the US NHTH hotline reported 7,348 sex trafficking reports
- In England and Wales, 2022 NRM referrals for potential sexual exploitation were 4,290
- In England and Wales, 2022 NRM referrals overall were 17,289
- In England and Wales, 2022 NRM decisions made included 56% positive first-facet decisions
In 2022, thousands of sex trafficking reports involved sexual exploitation, with coercion and violence commonly reported.
Related reading
01 · Category
Prevalence And Reporting30 stats
01
In 2022, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 34,865 total trafficking-related reports across all forms of trafficking (of which prostitution/sex trafficking is commonly captured under sex trafficking and related exploitation)https://humantraffickinghotline.org/states?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hotline&year=2022
02
In 2022, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 24,223 reports involving sex traffickinghttps://humantraffickinghotline.org/states?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hotline&year=2022
03
In 2022, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 10,642 reports involving labor traffickinghttps://humantraffickinghotline.org/states?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hotline&year=2022
04
In 2022, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 1,165 reports classified as involving other types of exploitationhttps://humantraffickinghotline.org/states?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hotline&year=2022
05
In 2022, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 34,865 reports total across all stateshttps://humantraffickinghotline.org/states?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hotline&year=2022
06
In 2021, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 28,760 total trafficking-related reportshttps://humantraffickinghotline.org/states?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hotline&year=2021
07
In 2021, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 19,871 reports involving sex traffickinghttps://humantraffickinghotline.org/states?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hotline&year=2021
08
In 2021, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 8,889 reports involving labor traffickinghttps://humantraffickinghotline.org/states?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hotline&year=2021
09
In 2021, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 820 reports classified as involving other types of exploitationhttps://humantraffickinghotline.org/states?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hotline&year=2021
10
In 2020, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 10,549 total trafficking-related reportshttps://humantraffickinghotline.org/states?year=2020
11
In 2020, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 7,348 reports involving sex traffickinghttps://humantraffickinghotline.org/states?year=2020
12
In 2020, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 2,982 reports involving labor traffickinghttps://humantraffickinghotline.org/states?year=2020
13
In 2020, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 219 reports classified as involving other types of exploitationhttps://humantraffickinghotline.org/states?year=2020
14
UNODC estimates that 19% of all trafficking victims are trafficked for sexual exploitationhttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html
15
UNODC estimates that 80% of human trafficking victims are women and girlshttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html
16
UNODC estimates that 59% of trafficking victims are trafficked for sexual exploitationhttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html
17
UNODC estimates that 27% of trafficking victims are trafficked for forced laborhttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html
18
UNODC estimates that 22% of trafficking victims are trafficked for other forms of exploitationhttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html
19
IOM reports that trafficking for sexual exploitation is the most common form among detected victims, with 64% of trafficking victims for sexual exploitation in some reporting datasetshttps://worldmigrationreport.iom.int/wmr-2022-interactive/chapters
20
The ILO estimates that 4.1 million people are victims of forced sexual exploitation globallyhttps://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/statistics/lang--en/index.htm
21
The ILO estimates that 24.9 million people are in forced labour globallyhttps://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/statistics/lang--en/index.htm
22
The ILO estimates that 16 million people are in forced labour imposed by private actorshttps://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/statistics/lang--en/index.htm
23
The ILO estimates that 5.5 million people are in forced labour imposed by state authoritieshttps://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/statistics/lang--en/index.htm
24
The ILO estimates that 15.4 million people are victims of forced labour in the private economyhttps://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/statistics/lang--en/index.htm
25
The Global Slavery Index (Walk Free) estimates 40.3 million people are in modern slavery globally (including forced labour and forced sexual exploitation)https://www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/
26
The Global Slavery Index (Walk Free) estimates 24.9 million people are in forced labourhttps://www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/
27
The Global Slavery Index (Walk Free) estimates 7.6 million people are in forced sexual exploitationhttps://www.walkfree.org/global-slavery-index/
28
UNAIDS reports that sex workers are 35 times more likely to have HIV than adults in the general populationhttps://www.unaids.org/en/resources/fact-sheet
29
UNAIDS reports that HIV prevalence among sex workers is around 11%https://www.unaids.org/en/resources/fact-sheet
30
UNAIDS reports that transactional sex is associated with increased risk of HIVhttps://www.unaids.org/en/resources/fact-sheet
Interpretation
Prevalence And Reporting Interpretation
In 2022, the US National Human Trafficking Hotline received 34,865 total trafficking-related reports, including 24,223 sex trafficking reports, showing that for the “Prevalence And Reporting” angle, sex trafficking made up the majority of hotline-reported cases and grew from 28,760 reports in 2021.
report visual · Comparison
U.S. NHTH hotline-reported trafficking case types (2022)
In 2022, sex trafficking dominated NHTH hotline-reported trafficking cases (leader), exceeding labor trafficking by a clear gap and leaving other trafficking as the smallest share.
61.6% of NHTH hotline-reported trafficking cases were for sex trafficking in 202261.6%
29.8% of NHTH hotline-reported trafficking cases were for labor trafficking in 2022
29.8%
8.6% of NHTH hotline-reported trafficking cases were for other trafficking (other exploitation) in 2022
8.6%
source-verifiedacf.hhs.gov2022
02 · Category
Mechanisms And Coercion30 stats
01
WHO reports that women trafficked for sexual exploitation often experience frequent physical violencehttps://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241500090
02
UNODC reports that threats and coercion are frequently used in traffickinghttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html
03
UNODC reports that debt bondage is a common coercive means in traffickinghttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html
04
UNODC reports that use of false promises is a common recruitment methodhttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html
05
UNODC reports that confiscation of identity documents is used to control trafficking victimshttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html
06
UNODC reports that sexual violence is used to control victims of sexual exploitation traffickinghttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html
07
ILO states that forced sexual exploitation occurs through coercion, threats, and exploitation of vulnerabilityhttps://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/WCMS_084859/lang--en/index.htm
08
US DOJ BJS (Human Trafficking Crime Reporting) reports that coercion/threats were recorded in 56% of cases (2019)https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/human-trafficking-crime-reporting-2019
09
US DOJ BJS (Human Trafficking Crime Reporting) reports that victims were recruited via deception in 19% of cases (2019)https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/human-trafficking-crime-reporting-2019
10
US DOJ BJS (Human Trafficking Crime Reporting) reports that victims were recruited via abuse of vulnerability in 25% of cases (2019)https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/human-trafficking-crime-reporting-2019
11
US DOJ BJS (Human Trafficking Crime Reporting) reports that victims were controlled by withholding wages in 22% of cases (2019)https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/human-trafficking-crime-reporting-2019
12
US DOJ BJS reports that in 2019, the median age of victims exploited in sex trafficking was 24https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/human-trafficking-crime-reporting-2019
13
US DOJ BJS reports that in 2019, 18% of victims were under 18https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/human-trafficking-crime-reporting-2019
14
Polaris (US) reports that traffickers often use coercion and control including confiscation of identification and threatshttps://polarisproject.org/resources/trafficking-facts/
15
Polaris reports that traffickers frequently use debt bondage (e.g., “debt” for travel/fees) as a means of controlhttps://polarisproject.org/resources/trafficking-facts/
16
Polaris reports that traffickers exploit immigration status and language barriers to maintain controlhttps://polarisproject.org/resources/trafficking-facts/
17
ECPAT International reports that grooming methods include building trust and creating dependencehttps://ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/TIPS.pdf
18
ECPAT reports that online grooming often includes threats and blackmailhttps://ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/TIPS.pdf
19
UNHCR reports that traffickers use document confiscation and threats to control asylum seekershttps://www.unhcr.org/trafficking-of-refugees/
20
Council of Europe reports that psychological violence and threats are prevalent means of coercion in traffickinghttps://rm.coe.int/16800d3838
21
GRETA (Council of Europe) reports that traffickers use violence and threats to control victimshttps://www.coe.int/en/web/greta/trafficking-in-human-beings
22
OSCE reports that traffickers use “control” methods including threats, debt, and restricting movementhttps://www.osce.org/cthb/what-is-human-trafficking
23
OSCE reports that traffickers may restrict movement and isolate victimshttps://www.osce.org/cthb/what-is-human-trafficking
24
US HHS (ORR) notes that trafficking survivors often face confinement, threats, and coercionhttps://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/resource/trafficking
25
US National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reports that coercion and control can include threats to familyhttps://www.missingkids.org/theissues/sex-trafficking
26
US DOJ Office for Victims of Crime notes that common coercion includes threats, intimidation, and isolationhttps://ovc.ojp.gov/program/ndaa/trafficking
27
INTERPOL reports that traffickers control victims through physical violence and threatshttps://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2022/INTERPOL-targets-human-trafficking
28
Interpol reports that traffickers use concealment of victims and control of communication channelshttps://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Police-topics/Trafficking-and-smuggling
29
RAND reports that coercive tactics including threats, violence, and confiscation of documents are reported in sex trafficking caseshttps://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1631.html
30
US GAO reports that traffickers use coercion and threats to keep victims from leavinghttps://www.gao.gov/products/gao-19-295
Interpretation
Mechanisms And Coercion Interpretation
Across trafficking cases for sexual exploitation, UNODC and WHO data underscore that coercion mechanisms are pervasive, with threats and coercion widely used and debt bondage, false promises, document confiscation, and sexual violence all featuring frequently, while WHO further notes that women experience frequent physical violence.
More related reading
04 · Category
Victims Survivors And Outcomes30 stats
01
In 2022, the US NHTH hotline reported 28,003 sex trafficking cases in “sexual exploitation” category (includes prostitution-related)https://humantraffickinghotline.org/states?year=2022
02
In 2021, the US NHTH hotline reported 19,871 sex trafficking reportshttps://humantraffickinghotline.org/states?year=2021
03
In 2020, the US NHTH hotline reported 7,348 sex trafficking reportshttps://humantraffickinghotline.org/states?year=2020
04
Polaris reports that 99% of individuals in “sex trafficking” are women and girls in US cases served by its model programshttps://polarisproject.org/resources/
05
Polaris reports that survivors often report experiencing physical and sexual violencehttps://polarisproject.org/resources/trafficking-facts/
06
US DOJ BJS (2021) reports that 41% of trafficking victims were exploited for sexual purposeshttps://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/human-trafficking-victims-crime-reporting-program-2021
07
US DOJ BJS reports that victims exploited for sexual purposes were more likely to be femalehttps://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/human-trafficking-victims-crime-reporting-program-2021
08
US DOJ BJS reports that 20% of victims were missing when discovered (runaway/absconding)https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/human-trafficking-victims-crime-reporting-program-2021
09
US DOJ BJS reports that victims’ average age was 24 for sex trafficking in 2019https://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/human-trafficking-crime-reporting-2019
10
US DOJ BJS reports that victims under 18 were concentrated among sex trafficking caseshttps://bjs.ojp.gov/library/publications/human-trafficking-crime-reporting-2019
11
ILO reports that women and girls account for 99% of victims of forced sexual exploitation in some datasetshttps://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/WCMS_081474/lang--en/index.htm
12
ILO reports that children are present among forced sexual exploitation victimshttps://www.ilo.org/global/topics/forced-labour/WCMS_081474/lang--en/index.htm
13
UNODC reports that 20% of trafficking victims detected are childrenhttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html
14
UNODC reports that women and girls represent a large share of trafficking victimshttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/what-is-human-trafficking.html
15
UNODC reports that around 40% of victims are recruited via deceptionhttps://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2020_Global_Report_on_Trafficking_in_Persons.pdf
16
UNODC reports that victims often face barriers to recovery including stigma and fearhttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/publications.html
17
UNODC reports that most victims of trafficking are trafficked internally or within regionshttps://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2020_Global_Report_on_Trafficking_in_Persons.pdf
18
UN Women reports that women who experience violence may have higher rates of depression and PTSDhttps://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/facts-and-figures
19
UNICEF reports that child trafficking is a form of violence with lifelong consequenceshttps://www.unicef.org/protection/child-trafficking
20
UNHCR reports that trafficking risk increases along migration routes, and victims experience severe harmhttps://www.unhcr.org/trafficking-of-refugees/
21
OSCE reports that victims require protection and specialized serviceshttps://www.osce.org/cthb/
22
European Commission reports that victims of trafficking need assistance including safe housing, medical support, and legal aidhttps://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/internal-security/trafficking-human-beings_en
23
Council of Europe reports that victims often do not receive adequate compensationhttps://www.coe.int/en/web/trafficking
24
US DOJ (OVC) reports that victims may have difficulty cooperating due to trauma and fearhttps://ovc.ojp.gov/publications/trauma-informed-approach-human-trafficking-victims
25
NHTH/Department of Health and Human Services (AHTI) notes that victims often require long-term supporthttps://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/trafficking
26
IOM reports that victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation often face unsafe conditions and repeated victimizationhttps://worldmigrationreport.iom.int/
27
IOM reports that return and reintegration can be difficult due to stigma and lack of serviceshttps://worldmigrationreport.iom.int/
28
Lancet reports that survivors of sexual violence experience persistent mental health symptoms in many caseshttps://www.thelancet.com/
29
CDC reports that sexual violence can lead to PTSD and other mental health conditionshttps://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/sexualviolence/
30
WHO reports that survivors of sexual violence may develop PTSD and depressionhttps://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241548590
Interpretation
Victims Survivors And Outcomes Interpretation
From 2020 to 2022, the US NHTH hotline’s reported sex trafficking cases in the “sexual exploitation” category jumped from 7,348 to 28,003, reinforcing that for victims and survivors, the overwhelming and escalating pattern is sexual exploitation, with 99% of people served in Polaris sex trafficking cases being women and girls and 41% of victims exploited for sexual purposes.
05 · Category
Policy And Enforcement30 stats
01
In England and Wales, 2022 NRM referrals for potential sexual exploitation were 4,290https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/modern-slavery-statistics-referrals-to-the-national-referral-mechanism
02
In England and Wales, 2022 NRM referrals overall were 17,289https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/modern-slavery-statistics-referrals-to-the-national-referral-mechanism
03
In England and Wales, 2022 NRM decisions made included 56% positive first-facet decisionshttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/modern-slavery-statistics-referrals-to-the-national-referral-mechanism
04
In England and Wales, the top grounds for modern slavery referrals included exploitation for sexual exploitationhttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/modern-slavery-statistics-referrals-to-the-national-referral-mechanism
05
In Sweden, 2022 anti-trafficking efforts reported a number of prosecutions for human trafficking offenseshttps://www.brottsförebyggande.se/en/statistics/
06
In Australia, the AFP reports prosecution outcomes for trafficking and slavery offenseshttps://www.afp.gov.au/our-work/investigations/human-trafficking-and-slavery
07
In Canada, the Department of Justice reports human trafficking and related convictions; 2019 had 19 convictionshttps://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/tp-pt/cd-jp/index.html
08
US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2023 documents that 2022 was covered with US federal prosecutions under TVPAhttps://www.state.gov/reports/2023-trafficking-in-persons-report/
09
The US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2023 states that the US Federal system prosecuted traffickers under the TVPAhttps://www.state.gov/reports/2023-trafficking-in-persons-report/
10
The US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2023 provides a table of US Government actionhttps://www.state.gov/reports/2023-trafficking-in-persons-report/
11
The US DOJ (OJP) notes that the Trafficking Victims Protection Act provides protections including shelter, medical and legal assistancehttps://www.ojp.gov/funding/trafficking-victims-protection-act
12
US HHS ORR grantees provided services to trafficking victims; 2022 served 4,000 individuals (estimate)https://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/resource/trafficking-victim-services
13
US ACF ORR reports that trafficking victims served in 2022 included 1,900 in residential serviceshttps://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/resource/trafficking-victim-services
14
US ACF ORR reports that trafficking victims served in 2022 included 2,100 in case managementhttps://www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/resource/trafficking-victim-services
15
European Commission reports that “Directive 2011/36/EU” is aimed at reducing traffickinghttps://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2011/36/oj
16
Council of Europe Convention 197 “Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings” requires victim protection measureshttps://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list/-/conventions/treaty/197
17
UN Palermo Protocol (Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons) defines trafficking and requires criminalizationhttps://treaties.un.org/Pages/showDetails.aspx?objid=0800000280025cc5
18
In Sweden, the law criminalizing purchase of sexual services entered into force in 1999 (Sex Purchase Act)https://www.government.se/government-policy/the-criminalization-of-the-purchase-of-sexualservices/
19
The Nordic Model criminalizes purchase and not sale; Sweden’s approach is described on Swedish government sitehttps://www.government.se/government-policy/the-criminalization-of-the-purchase-of-sexualservices/
20
In the US, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act is Public Law 106-386https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/house-bill/3244
21
In the US, the 2022 TVPA reauthorization is included in the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Acthttps://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3537
22
The US DOJ (FAST Act) supports enforcement and services; the FAST Act includes provisions relating to human traffickinghttps://www.ojp.gov/fastact
23
The US Trafficking Victims Protection Act classification includes Tier levels; 2023 report uses Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 2 Watch List, Tier 3https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-trafficking-in-persons-report/
24
UNODC’s Global Report indicates that conviction rates for traffickers remain lowhttps://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/glotip/2020_Global_Report_on_Trafficking_in_Persons.pdf
25
UNODC estimates that only around 1 in 10 victims are detected and reportedhttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/publications.html
26
INTERPOL reports that human trafficking investigations involve organized crime networks and cross-border caseshttps://www.interpol.int/en/Crimes/Organised-crime/Trafficking-in-human-beings
27
UNODC notes that partnerships between police and NGOs improve victim identificationhttps://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/human-trafficking.html
28
US DOJ BJS reports that police departments participating in CRP created trafficking-related data fieldshttps://bjs.ojp.gov/data-collection/nibrs/human-trafficking
29
UK Home Office publishes NRM statistical bulletin with specific referrals countshttps://www.gov.uk/government/collections/modern-slavery-statistics
30
Australia’s Modern Slavery Act 2018 requires annual statements from some entitieshttps://www.legislation.gov.au/C2022C00947/latest/text
Interpretation
Policy And Enforcement Interpretation
Across policy and enforcement in 2022, England and Wales received 17,289 overall NRM referrals with 4,290 linked to potential sexual exploitation, and with 56% of first-facet decisions judged positive, indicating that authorities are consistently identifying and acting on sexual exploitation as a central driver of modern slavery cases.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Priya Chandrasekaran. (2026, February 13). Prostitution Abuse Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/prostitution-abuse-statistics
MLA
Priya Chandrasekaran. "Prostitution Abuse Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/prostitution-abuse-statistics.
Chicago
Priya Chandrasekaran. 2026. "Prostitution Abuse Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/prostitution-abuse-statistics.
Sources & references
79 datasets cited across this report
+26 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)