HUMAN TRAFFICKING: THE FACTS
The headline facts
• An estimated 2.5 million people are in forced labor (including sexual exploitation) at any given time as a result of trafficking1
Of these:
o 1.4 million – 56% - are in Asia and the Pacific
o 250,000 – 10% - are in Latin America and the Caribbean
o 230,000 – 9.2% - are in the Middle East and Northern Africa
o 130,000 – 5.2% - are in sub-Saharan countries
o 270,000 – 10.8% - are in industrialized countries
o 200,000 – 8% - are in countries in transition2
• 161 countries are reported to be affected by human trafficking by being a source, transit or destination count3
• People are reported to be trafficked from 127 countries to be exploited in 137 countries, affecting every continent and every type of economy4
The Traffickers
52% of those recruiting victims are men, 42% are women and 6% are both men and women11
In 54% of cases the recruiter was a stranger to the victim, 46% of cases the recruiter was known to victim12
The majority of suspects involved in the trafficking process are nationals of the country where the trafficking process is occurring13
The Profits
• Estimated global annual profits made from the exploitation of all trafficked forced labour are US$ 31.6 billion14
Of this:
o US$ 15.5 billion – 49% - is generated in industrialized economies
o US$ 9.7 billion – 30.6% is generated in Asia and the Pacific
o US$ 1.3 billion – 4.1% is generated in Latin America and the Caribbean
o US$ 1.6 billion – 5% is generated in sub-Saharan Africa
o US$ 1.5 billion – 4.7% is generated in the Middle East and North Africa15
The Victims
The majority of trafficking victims are between 18 and 24 years of age5
An estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked each year6
95% of victims experienced physical or sexual violence during trafficking (based on data from selected European countries)7
43% of victims are used for forced commercial sexual exploitation, of whom 98 per cent are women and girls 8
32% of victims are used for forced economic exploitation, of whom 56 per cent are women and girls9
Many trafficking victims have at least middle-level education10
1 International Labour Organization, Forced Labour Statistics Factsheet (2007)
2 International Labour Organization, Forced Labour Statistics Factsheet (2007)
3 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Trafficking in Persons: Global Patterns (Vienna, 2006)
4 United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Trafficking in Persons: Global Patterns (Vienna, 2006)
5 International Organization for Migration, Counter-Trafficking Database, 78 Countries, 1999-2006 (1999)
6 UNICEF, UK Child Trafficking Information Sheet (January 2003)
7 The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Stolen smiles: a summary report on the physical and psychological health consequences of women and adolescents trafficked in Europe (London, 2006)
8 International Labour Organization, Forced Labour Statistics Factsheet (2007)
9 International Labour Organization, Forced Labour Statistics Factsheet (2007)
10 International Organization for Migration, Counter-Trafficking Database, 78 Countries, 1999-2006 (1999)
11 International
