© International Center for the Prevention of Human Trafficking 2013
Statistics
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The following information was compiled and published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)
Global Report on Trafficking in Persons
You could download this document from our website,
Human trafficking is a crime that ruthlessly exploits women, children and men for numerous purposes including forced
labor and sex. This global crime generates billions of dollars in profits for the traffickers. The International Labour
Organization estimates that 20.9 million people are victims of forced labor globally.
Gender and age profile of victims detected globally, 2009
According to the Report, at least 136 different nationalities were trafficked and detected in 118 different countries. Human
trafficking happens throughout the world with millions of victims falling through the cracks of their own societies only to be
exploited by traffickers. They can be found in the world’s restaurants, fisheries, brothels, farms and homes, among many
other activities.
There is a common perception that women and children are more
vulnerable than adult men to becoming victims of trafficking in persons.
This perception is reflected in the full name of the Protocol to Prevent,
Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and
Children, which singles out the trafficking of women and children as issues
of particular concern.
An analysis of the data collected for this report, which covered the profiles
of some 43,000 victims officially detected by national authorities worldwide
between 2007 and 2010 or more recently, confirms the need for special
attention to these two categories of victims. Women and children are the
two most frequently reported groups of trafficked persons.
Source: UNODC elaboration of national data.
Share of female victims detected globally, by age, 2006 and 2009
Taking into account the number of trafficking victims detected
during the reporting period who were girls, the total proportion
of female victims was 75 per cent of all victims. In particular, in
2009 the share of detected victims who were female was also
about three quarters of all victims.
Source: UNODC/UN.GIFT for 2006; UNODC elaboration of national
data for 2009.
during the reporting period who were girls, the total proportion
of female victims was 75 per cent of all victims. In particular, in
2009 the share of detected victims who were female was also
about three quarters of all victims.
Source: UNODC/UN.GIFT for 2006; UNODC elaboration of national
data for 2009.
More than a quarter of the detected victims are children
The age profile was known and reported for about 43,000 victims detected globally between 2007 and 2010. Some
12,000 of those victims were children,3 accounting for a total of 27 per cent of the victims.
Traffickers: abusing their power
In contrast to the vulnerability of victims is the power that the traffickers possess enabling them to commit a trafficking
crime. While most of the victims of trafficking are females, children and/or migrants, the vast majority of the detected
offenders implicated in trafficking in persons are men and nationals of the country where the crime is committed.
Proportion of offenders convicted of all crimes who are women, selected countries, 2006-2009
crime. While most of the victims of trafficking are females, children and/or migrants, the vast majority of the detected
offenders implicated in trafficking in persons are men and nationals of the country where the crime is committed.
Proportion of offenders convicted of all crimes who are women, selected countries, 2006-2009
Exploitation: the purpose of trafficking
The definition of the crime of trafficking in persons contained in the Trafficking in Persons Protocol includes three elements:
First, the act, which includes the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring or receipt of persons;
Secondly, the means, including the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, of abduction, of fraud, of deception, of
the abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability or of the giving or receiving of payments or benefits to achieve the
consent of a person having control over another person; and
Thirdly, the purpose, which is always exploitation, including, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or
other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labor or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude and the removal
of organs.
Forms of exploitation, proportion of the total number of detected victims, by region, 2007-2010
During the reporting period, countries in Europe and Central
Asia and in the Americas reported detecting more victims of
trafficking for sexual exploitation than for other forms of
exploitation.
Source: UNODC elaboration of national data.
Asia and in the Americas reported detecting more victims of
trafficking for sexual exploitation than for other forms of
exploitation.
Source: UNODC elaboration of national data.
Countries that report forms of exploitation other than sexual exploitation and forced labour
2007-2010
Source: UNODC
Organ transplantations particularly of kidneys but also of livers and hearts are today commonplace in many countries,
owing to their potential to prolong and improve lives. However, most countries face shortages of donor organs for use in
such operations, and these shortages have given rise to an international organ trade. This trade has been found to follow
established global patterns for commerce, with customers in more affluent countries obtaining organs from people in poorer
countries. In fact, trafficking in organs had already been recognized as a significant health policy issue eight years ago.
In the preamble to the United Nations Global Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons, the General Assembly
recognizes that “poverty, unemployment, lack of socioeconomic opportunities, gender-based violence, discrimination and
marginalization are some of the contributing factors that make persons vulnerable to trafficking in persons”. (Assembly
resolution 64/293).
Poverty and unemployment are considered to be among the factors of vulnerability linked to trafficking in persons, factors
that are alluded to throughout this report. A commonly observed human trafficking pattern is that victims are often trafficked
from relatively poorer to comparatively richer areas. Far fewer victims are trafficked in the opposite direction. Not all
trafficking flows fit this pattern, however, and economic differences alone cannot explain the whole trafficking phenomenon.
Nonetheless, economic differences in combination with geographical proximity appear to explain many of the trafficking
flows identified and discussed in this report.
owing to their potential to prolong and improve lives. However, most countries face shortages of donor organs for use in
such operations, and these shortages have given rise to an international organ trade. This trade has been found to follow
established global patterns for commerce, with customers in more affluent countries obtaining organs from people in poorer
countries. In fact, trafficking in organs had already been recognized as a significant health policy issue eight years ago.
In the preamble to the United Nations Global Plan of Action against Trafficking in Persons, the General Assembly
recognizes that “poverty, unemployment, lack of socioeconomic opportunities, gender-based violence, discrimination and
marginalization are some of the contributing factors that make persons vulnerable to trafficking in persons”. (Assembly
resolution 64/293).
Poverty and unemployment are considered to be among the factors of vulnerability linked to trafficking in persons, factors
that are alluded to throughout this report. A commonly observed human trafficking pattern is that victims are often trafficked
from relatively poorer to comparatively richer areas. Far fewer victims are trafficked in the opposite direction. Not all
trafficking flows fit this pattern, however, and economic differences alone cannot explain the whole trafficking phenomenon.
Nonetheless, economic differences in combination with geographical proximity appear to explain many of the trafficking
flows identified and discussed in this report.
Detected child trafficking trends in selected countries in the Americas, 2007-2011
An increasing proportion of children were among the
detected victims in some countries of the region, including
Colombia, El Salvador, the United States and, until 2009, the
Plurinational State of Bolivia. However, this trend is not
representative of the entire region, as some other countries,
such as Guatemala and Peru, recorded a decreasing trend in
the share of child victims detected during the reporting
period.
Nine countries in the Americas provided data on the gender
profile of persons prosecuted for trafficking in persons, and
13 countries provided that information for those convicted.
According to those data, the level of participation of women
in human trafficking in the region is higher than the world
average: about 50 per cent of persons prosecuted for human
trafficking are females.
detected victims in some countries of the region, including
Colombia, El Salvador, the United States and, until 2009, the
Plurinational State of Bolivia. However, this trend is not
representative of the entire region, as some other countries,
such as Guatemala and Peru, recorded a decreasing trend in
the share of child victims detected during the reporting
period.
Nine countries in the Americas provided data on the gender
profile of persons prosecuted for trafficking in persons, and
13 countries provided that information for those convicted.
According to those data, the level of participation of women
in human trafficking in the region is higher than the world
average: about 50 per cent of persons prosecuted for human
trafficking are females.
Source: UNODC elaboration of national data
Countries of North America reported a large percentage of victims who were trafficked for forced labour. In the United
States, the share of victims trafficked for forced labor accounted for more than 70 per cent of the total number of victims
detected during the reporting period, while in Mexico, the share of forced labor was more than 65 per cent of the total.
Canada also recorded an increasing number of victims of trafficking for forced labor involving foreign nationals, although the
2010 Royal Canadian Mounted Police assessment30 identified trafficking for sexual exploitation as the prevailing type of
trafficking in persons in the country.
With respect to destinations outside the region, during the reporting period, South American victims were detected in
Western and Central Europe, where they accounted for about 6 per cent of the total number of detected victims. Victims
from Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay were particularly prominent in Spain, but they were also detected by authorities of
other countries in Europe. Brazilian victims were detected in 12 countries in Western and Central Europe, and Colombians
in eight. The Colombian authorities reported the repatriation of Colombian victims of trafficking in persons from some
countries in East Asia. Episodes of trafficking of Brazilian and Colombian victims were also reported in Israel.
Estimating the severity of trafficking
Trafficking in persons is a serious problem because it affects nearly all countries in the world and it imposes severe harm on
victims of trafficking. We know that women, men and children are trafficked through hundreds of flows within countries,
between countries, and using intra- and interregional trafficking routes. We know that traffickers are exploiting victims in
many different ways and still many of the criminals walk free because the conviction rates are so low. Despite all our
knowledge on human trafficking, estimating the severity of the problem remains a challenge.
The most reliable estimates have been provided by the International Labor Organization (ILO) which has extensive
experience in estimating the severity of forced labor.
The first minimum estimate of victims of forced labor and trafficking in persons in the world was published by the ILO in
2005.
According to this report, at least 12.3 million people were victims of forced labor worldwide and the estimated minimum
number of persons in forced labor as a result of trafficking in persons was 2.45 million, at any moment in time. In the same
year, ILO published the first estimation of the global profits generated from the world’s 2.45 million forced laborers who have
been trafficked amounting to US$31.6 billion per year.
The ILO 2012 report estimates that there were 20.9 million victims of forced labor globally at any given time over the 2002-
2011 period. Out of these victims, 9.1 million have moved internally or internationally, while 11.8 million are subject to forced
labor in their place of origin or residence.
To access more detailed statistical information, you could download this report at: Global Report
States, the share of victims trafficked for forced labor accounted for more than 70 per cent of the total number of victims
detected during the reporting period, while in Mexico, the share of forced labor was more than 65 per cent of the total.
Canada also recorded an increasing number of victims of trafficking for forced labor involving foreign nationals, although the
2010 Royal Canadian Mounted Police assessment30 identified trafficking for sexual exploitation as the prevailing type of
trafficking in persons in the country.
With respect to destinations outside the region, during the reporting period, South American victims were detected in
Western and Central Europe, where they accounted for about 6 per cent of the total number of detected victims. Victims
from Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay were particularly prominent in Spain, but they were also detected by authorities of
other countries in Europe. Brazilian victims were detected in 12 countries in Western and Central Europe, and Colombians
in eight. The Colombian authorities reported the repatriation of Colombian victims of trafficking in persons from some
countries in East Asia. Episodes of trafficking of Brazilian and Colombian victims were also reported in Israel.
Estimating the severity of trafficking
Trafficking in persons is a serious problem because it affects nearly all countries in the world and it imposes severe harm on
victims of trafficking. We know that women, men and children are trafficked through hundreds of flows within countries,
between countries, and using intra- and interregional trafficking routes. We know that traffickers are exploiting victims in
many different ways and still many of the criminals walk free because the conviction rates are so low. Despite all our
knowledge on human trafficking, estimating the severity of the problem remains a challenge.
The most reliable estimates have been provided by the International Labor Organization (ILO) which has extensive
experience in estimating the severity of forced labor.
The first minimum estimate of victims of forced labor and trafficking in persons in the world was published by the ILO in
2005.
According to this report, at least 12.3 million people were victims of forced labor worldwide and the estimated minimum
number of persons in forced labor as a result of trafficking in persons was 2.45 million, at any moment in time. In the same
year, ILO published the first estimation of the global profits generated from the world’s 2.45 million forced laborers who have
been trafficked amounting to US$31.6 billion per year.
The ILO 2012 report estimates that there were 20.9 million victims of forced labor globally at any given time over the 2002-
2011 period. Out of these victims, 9.1 million have moved internally or internationally, while 11.8 million are subject to forced
labor in their place of origin or residence.
To access more detailed statistical information, you could download this report at: Global Report
