HUMAN TRAFFICKING: THE FACTS ␣

An estimated 2.5 million people are in forced labour (including sexual exploitation) at any given time

as a result of trafficking.

Of these:

1.4 million – 56% – are in Asia and the Pacific

250,000 – 10% – are in Latin America and the Caribbean

230,000 – 9.2% – are in the Middle East and Northern Africa

130,000 – 5.2% – are in sub-Saharan countries

270,000 – 10.8% – are in industrialized countries

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 country. People are reported to be trafficked from 127 countries to be exploited in 137 countries, affecting every continent and every type of economy.

The Victims

The majority of trafficking victims are between 18 and 24 years of age. An estimated 1.2 million children are trafficked each year.

95% of victims experienced physical or sexual violence during trafficking (based on data from selected European countries)

43% of victims are used for forced commercial sexual exploitation, of whom 98 percent are women and girls.

32% of victims are used for forced economic exploitation, of whom 56 per cent are women and girls.

Many trafficking victims have at least middle-level education.

The Traffickers

52% of those recruiting victims are men, 42% are women and 6% are both men and women.

In 54% of cases the recruiter was a stranger to the victim, 46% of cases the recruiter was known to the victim.

The majority of suspects involved in the trafficking process are nationals of the country where the trafficking process is occurring

 The Profits

Estimated global annual profits made from the exploitation of all trafficked forced labour are US$ 31.6 billion

Of this:

US$ 15.5 billion – 49% – is generated in industrialized economies

US$ 9.7 billion – 30.6% is generated in Asia and the Pacific

US$ 1.3 billion – 4.1% is generated in Latin America and the Caribbean

US$ 1.6 billion – 5% is generated in sub-Saharan Africa

US$ 1.5 billion – 4.7% is generated in the Middle East and North Africa15

Prosecutions

In 2006 there were only 5,808 prosecutions and 3,160 convictions throughout the world. 

This means that for every 800 people trafficked, only one person was convicted in 2006.

International Labour Organization, Forced Labour Statistics Factsheet (2007) International Labour Organization,  Forced Labour Statistics Factsheet (2007) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Trafficking in Persons: Global Patterns (Vienna, 2006) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Trafficking in Persons: Global Patterns (Vienna, 2006) International Organization for Migration, Counter-Trafficking Database, 78 Countries, 1999-2006 (1999) UNICEF, UK Child Trafficking Information Sheet (January 2003) 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) International Labour Organization, Forced Labour Statistics Factsheet (2007) International Labour Organization, Forced Labour Statistics Factsheet (2007) International Organization for Migration, Counter-Trafficking Database, 78 Countries, 1999-2006 (1999)

International Organization for Migration, Counter-Trafficking Database, 78 Countries, 1999-2006 (1999) International Organization for Migration, Counter-Trafficking Database, 78 Countries, 1999-2006 (1999) United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Trafficking in Persons: Global Patterns (Vienna, 2006) Patrick Besler, Forced Labour and Human Trafficking: Estimating the Profits, working paper (Geneva, International Labour Office, 2005) Patrick Besler, Forced Labour and Human Trafficking: Estimating the Profits, working paper (Geneva, International Labour Office, 2005) US State Department, Trafficking in Persons Report (2007) p.36 17 US State Department, Trafficking in Persons Report (2007) p.36