Up-to-date statistics on human trafficking are notoriously hard to find. Many studies are outdated, have small sample sizes, or are inundated with stereotypes and personal agendas. Internet searches often consume a lot of time and take away from other work you could be doing. With that in mind, Safe House Project has compiled a list of statistics from reputable sources, including government agencies and peer-reviewed research.
Introductory Statistics
The United States is in the Top 3 nations for sex trafficking.
Less than 1% identified
An estimated 300,000 American children are victims of sex trafficking in 2018
11-14 is the average age a person is first trafficked
What race are trafficking victims?
40% of trafficked women and children are African American
26% of trafficked women and children are white
Are boys trafficked?
36% of child trafficking cases in the US now involve boys
13% of sex trafficking survivors are men
1 in 3 child trafficking victims are boys
Who is trafficking them?
40% of victims are trafficked by a family member
What are vulnerabilities to trafficking?
84% of female trafficking survivors reported previous childhood sexual abuse
A majority of child sex trafficking survivors have an ACEs score of 6 or higher
51% of trafficking survivors participated in survival sex first
56% of trafficked women began as runaways
48% of minor victims engaged in survival sex for a safe place to sleep
1 in 3 homeless youth will engage in survival sex
1 in 4 homeless LGBTQ+ youth will become sex trafficking victims
1 in 6 runaway minors will become trafficking victims
Boys are 8.21 times more likely to be trafficked with a prior history of sexual abuse
Girls are 2.52 times more likely to be trafficked with a prior history of sexual abuse
⅓ of trafficking survivors reported their drug use being used to exploit them