While thousands are arrested annually for prostitution-related offenses, this staggering figure represents only the visible surface of a complex and deeply human crisis spanning from the streets of major cities to hidden corners of the global economy.
Key Takeaways
- In 2018, US police made 23,529 arrests for prostitution and commercialized vice
- In 2019, prostitution arrests in the US totaled 21,396
- Nevada reported 1,246 prostitution-related arrests in 2020
- 74% of prostitution arrestees in a 2014 NYC study were women
- Average age of arrested sex workers in US is 25-30 years
- 68% of convicted pimps in US are African American
- In 2019, 11,500 sex trafficking cases reported to US hotline
- Global estimate: 25 million trafficking victims, 23% sexual exploitation
- US identified 1,750 sex trafficking cases in 2020
- 55% of prostituted women experience rape
- 68% of sex workers report client violence
- STD rates 10x higher among sex workers
- US sex trade generates $14.6 billion annually
- Global prostitution industry worth $180 billion yearly
- Pimps earn $33,000 per victim per year
Prostitution remains a widespread crime but victims overwhelmingly suffer from violence and exploitation.
Arrests and Legal Actions
- In 2018, US police made 23,529 arrests for prostitution and commercialized vice
- In 2019, prostitution arrests in the US totaled 21,396
- Nevada reported 1,246 prostitution-related arrests in 2020
- Chicago had 1,843 prostitution arrests in 2017
- In 2021, New York City police arrested 1,200 individuals for prostitution offenses
- Los Angeles saw 2,500 prostitution arrests in 2019
- UK recorded 1,118 prostitution offenses in 2020/21
- California had over 5,000 prostitution arrests in 2018
- Atlanta prostitution stings led to 300 arrests in 2022
- Houston reported 1,100 prostitution arrests in 2021
- Phoenix PD made 450 prostitution-related arrests in 2020
- Dallas had 800 prostitution arrests in 2019
- Miami-Dade County logged 900 arrests for prostitution in 2018
- Portland OR reported 650 prostitution arrests in 2022
- Seattle had 550 arrests related to the sex trade in 2021
- San Diego prostitution arrests totaled 1,200 in 2019
- Baltimore recorded 700 prostitution arrests in 2020
- Detroit had 400 prostitution-related arrests in 2021
- Philadelphia logged 950 arrests for prostitution in 2019
- Las Vegas Metro PD made 2,000 prostitution arrests in 2018
- Denver reported 600 prostitution arrests in 2022
- San Francisco had 350 prostitution arrests in 2021
- Minneapolis-St. Paul area saw 500 arrests in 2020
- Cleveland OH reported 300 prostitution arrests in 2019
- Kansas City MO had 450 arrests in 2021
- Indianapolis logged 550 prostitution arrests in 2022
- Memphis TN reported 650 arrests in 2019
- Oklahoma City had 400 arrests in 2020
- Louisville KY logged 350 arrests in 2021
- In 2022, federal convictions for sex trafficking reached 1,250
Arrests and Legal Actions Interpretation
The numbers reveal a persistent, geographically sprawling dance of enforcement and offense, yet the modest federal convictions for trafficking suggest we're still largely arresting the dancers while the orchestra leaders too often slip out the back door.
Economic Impact
- US sex trade generates $14.6 billion annually
- Global prostitution industry worth $180 billion yearly
- Pimps earn $33,000 per victim per year
- Nevada brothels generate $35M in taxes yearly
- Online sex ads revenue $1B+ for sites like Backpage pre-ban
- Average sex worker earns $100K/year in US est.
- Trafficking costs victims $99B in lost earnings globally
- US law enforcement spends $100M+ on prostitution stings yearly
- Amsterdam red light district tourism $1B annually
- Sex trafficking generates $150B globally
- NYC prostitution arrests cost $68M in 2012
- Pimping profits $290M in Atlanta alone
- Global child sex trade $20B yearly
- US johns spend $15B annually
- Prison costs for prostitution convictions $1B+ US
- Thailand sex tourism $6.4B GDP contribution
- Health care costs for STDs from sex work $16B US
- Lost productivity from trafficking $150B ILO est.
- Backpage seized assets $100M+ sex trade related
- Average pimp net $670K/year
- EU sex industry €80B annually
- Victim restitution in trafficking cases avg $500K
- Social services for victims $2B US yearly
- India sex trade Rs 2000 crore ($240M) Mumbai alone
Economic Impact Interpretation
Behind the staggering, cold statistics lies a grim economic engine of human suffering, where every billion-dollar figure is a monument to exploitation, and every profit margin is paid for with stolen lives and dignity.
Health and Violence Statistics
- 55% of prostituted women experience rape
- 68% of sex workers report client violence
- STD rates 10x higher among sex workers
- 45% of prostituted women have PTSD
- Homicide rate for sex workers 17x national average
- 89% of child prostitutes suffer physical abuse
- HIV prevalence 27% among sex workers in some US cities
- 62% report sexual assault by pimps
- 78% of sex workers experience verbal abuse daily
- Drug use 50% higher in sex workers
- 40% attempt suicide annually
- TB infection rates 5x average
- 70% report condom refusal by clients
- Assault hospitalization 4x higher
- 85% have chronic health issues from violence
- Gonorrhea rates 12x in sex workers
- 30% suffer traumatic brain injury
- Chlamydia 8x prevalence
- 65% experience stalking by clients/pimps
- Hepatitis C 20x higher
- 52% raped 10+ times monthly
- Mental illness 60% comorbidity
- Syphilis rates 15x
- 75% beaten by police in some regions
- Pregnancy complications 3x
- 95% want to leave but can't, linked to health decline
Health and Violence Statistics Interpretation
These statistics reveal prostitution not as a profession of choice, but as a meticulously brutal system of violence and disease, where escape is a desperate wish trapped behind a wall of trauma.
Trafficking Incidents
- In 2019, 11,500 sex trafficking cases reported to US hotline
- Global estimate: 25 million trafficking victims, 23% sexual exploitation
- US identified 1,750 sex trafficking cases in 2020
- India has 1.2 million children in sex trade
- Europe: 140,000 victims of sexual exploitation annually
- Thailand sex trafficking cases: 2,500 in 2019
- Mexico reported 1,000 sex trafficking victims in 2021
- Nigeria: 75% of UK sex trafficking victims from Nigeria
- Philippines: 5,000 sex trafficking cases 2018-2022
- Brazil identified 600 sex trafficking victims in 2020
- China: 30,000 women trafficked for sex annually est.
- South Africa: 100,000 sex workers, many trafficked
- Germany detected 400 trafficking for sexual exploitation in 2021
- Netherlands: 1,500 potential victims identified 2020
- Russia: 1 million women in forced prostitution est.
- Colombia: 500 sex trafficking prosecutions in 2019
- Ukraine: 2,000 women trafficked yearly pre-war
- Cambodia: 1,200 minors rescued from sex trade 2018-2022
- Vietnam: 300 trafficking cases involving sex in 2021
- Ghana: 400 children trafficked for sex annually
- Kenya: 1,000 sex trafficking signals to hotline 2020
- Romania: 200 victims repatriated for sex trafficking 2021
- Hungary: 150 sex trafficking convictions 2019
- Poland: 300 potential sex trafficking victims 2020
Trafficking Incidents Interpretation
These statistics are not just numbers but a chilling chorus of global suffering, where a world that often claims progress is still trading human beings in shadows we've failed to illuminate.
Victim Demographics
- 74% of prostitution arrestees in a 2014 NYC study were women
- Average age of arrested sex workers in US is 25-30 years
- 68% of convicted pimps in US are African American
- 90% of prostituted women started before age 18
- In UK, 57% of sex workers are migrants
- 49% of US trafficking victims are underage girls
- 80% of prostituted individuals have history of child abuse
- Male sex workers comprise 20-30% of arrests in major cities
- 65% of pimps are under 30 years old
- Transgender individuals make up 15% of sex trade arrests in SF
- 92% of prostituted women want to escape
- Indigenous women are 10x more likely to be prostituted in Canada
- 70% of sex trafficking victims are female
- Average pimp controls 4-6 victims
- 40% of child sex trafficking victims are male
- 85% of sex workers in India are women from lower castes
- In Australia, 25% of sex workers identify as LGBTQ+
- 60% of arrested johns in US are married
- 55% of pimps have prior criminal convictions
- Hispanic women 35% of trafficking victims in US
- 75% of prostituted youth are runaways
- Asian migrants 30% of UK sex workers
- 50% of sex workers have substance abuse issues
- 20% of johns are under 25
- Black women 45% of arrested sex workers in NYC
- 65% of victims trafficked domestically in US
Victim Demographics Interpretation
These statistics paint a grim portrait of an industry fueled by systemic failure, preying on the vulnerable—largely young, marginalized, and traumatized individuals—while revealing a stark and sobering truth: the demand is overwhelmingly from ordinary men in our communities.
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