The Global Synthetic Dataset, developed by the Counter-Trafficking Data Collaborative (CTDC), offers an anonymized glimpse into the lives of over 206,000 individuals affected by human trafficking. This data is a window into a global crisis that continues to affect millions. Let’s explore what it reveals.
Over 50% of reported cases are exploited in the USA
Trafficking cases were recorded across 190 countries, though only a few are specifically identified to protect the privacy and safety of victims. The dataset includes 54 countries of origin and 68 countries of exploitation, reflecting where trafficking began and where victims were found. The maps below show the number of cases in each reported country. Use the buttons to switch between the maps for countries of origin and exploitation, and hover over any country to see the recorded number of cases.
Over 50% of reported trafficking cases involve exploitation in the United States, followed by Ukraine (5.9%) and Russia (4.7%). The primary countries of origin are Ukraine (16.4%), the Philippines (11.4%), and the United States (10%). However, these figures do not reflect the global distribution of trafficking. The data is limited to areas where contributing organizations operate and can safely share information without compromising victim security.
20 years of data: Global Snapshot
This dataset covers a 20-year span, from 2002 to 2022. The animated chart below shows the number of cases by year and country of exploitation. It’s important to note that reported cases in most countries are relatively low, rarely exceeding the hundreds, except in the U.S. The first cases were reported in 2014, and since then, thousands of cases have been reported each year, with a significant spike in 2019, where over 15,000 cases were recorded.
Use the log scale to highlight the differences between the low values.
Europeans and North Americans are mainly exploited regionally
Over 94% of North Americans and 88% of Europeans are exploited within their respective regions.  In Asia, 63% of victims are exploited locally, and in Africa, 58% are exploited within the continent, with a significant portion (23%) exploited in Asia. In contrast, only 8% of South Americans are exploited in locally, with 41% trafficked to North America and 20% to Asia.
Hover over a region to highlight its corresponding flow of human trafficking victims.
U.S. citizens are primarily exploited within the U.S., while Mexicans and Chinese nationals are also mostly exploited in the U.S. Ukrainians face exploitation in Ukraine, as well as in Russia and Poland.
Woman are mainly used for sex, while man are mainly used for labor
Over 74% of identified trafficking cases involve women, which may reflect a bias in reporting rather than the full reality. The majority of these women are exploited sexually, mainly through prostitution. In contrast, men are predominantly reported in labor exploitation, particularly in agriculture, construction. Click on each category for a clearer insight.
Due to the anonymization of the data, some attributes have been adjusted to protect highly sensitive cases.
Women from Africa and Asia are more likely to be exploited for labor
When analyzing the type of exploitation by region of origin (left) and region of exploitation (right), we find that women from Africa and Asia are more likely to be exploited for labor, particularly domestic work, rather than sexual exploitation. In contrast, men from Europe and Asia are often exploited in construction, while North American men are primarily exploited in agriculture.
Girls aged 9 to 17 are the most trafficked and are primarily exploited for sexual purposes
Women and men of all ages are exploited for both sex and labor. Girls and boys aged 9 to 17 are the most vulnerable to sexual exploitation, while men and women aged 30 to 38 are predominantly exploited for labor. Unselect categories in the legend for a clearer view of the data.
Abuse, whether psychological, physical, or sexual, is often employed as a means of control, particularly against minors
Debt bondage and withheld wages are the most common methods of control over male minors in South America, while false promises are prevalent in Asia. For female minors, control in South America often involves denying basic needs by restricting finances, movement, medical care, or necessities, whereas false promises are more common in Europe. North America has the highest percentage of drug use as a means of control, particularly affecting minor females.
Minors are at a higher risk of exploitation by family members
Globally, less than 35% of exploitation cases involve enticement by family, friends, or intimate partners. However, in North America, this percentage rises to over 65%. Minors are particularly vulnerable to exploitation by family members, with this risk being especially pronounced in Africa and North America.