top of page

The Statistics

Grid-lines-BG.png

Sex trafficking: A Global, National, and Local Crisis

​​​Global Impact

​​​​

  • Human trafficking is a $236 billion industry worldwide, generating nearly $7,500 every second. (ILO)

  • An estimated 49.6 million people are living in modern slavery, with 6.3 million in forced sexual exploitation, including 1.7 million children. (ILO, UN)

  • Women and girls make up 78% of victims of forced sexual exploitation. (UNODC)

  • Sex trafficking is a market-driven industry fueled by demand, with traffickers using force, fraud, and coercion to exploit victims.

​

United States​​​

​​​​

  • Sex trafficking is the most common form of human trafficking in the U.S. (Polaris)

  • The National Human Trafficking Hotline received 10,360 reports of suspected human trafficking cases in 2021, involving 16,710 victims—numbers widely considered the tip of the iceberg. (NHTH)

  • Child sex trafficking has been reported in all 50 states. (NCMEC)

  • The illegal sex trade generates an estimated $173 billion annually. (ILO, 2024)

  • Vulnerable populations, including runaway youth, those experiencing homelessness, and individuals with economic hardship, are at the highest risk.

​

Minnesota

​​​​

  • Minnesota ranks among the top states for human trafficking due to its location, interstate access, and high demand for commercial sex.

  • On any given weekend night in Minnesota, an estimated 213-500 individuals are advertised for commercial sex online. (Wilder Research)

  • 1 in 6 endangered runaways reported in the U.S. is likely a victim of sex trafficking, and many cases have ties to Minnesota. (NCMEC)

  • Indigenous women and girls are disproportionately affected, making up a significant percentage of trafficking victims despite representing a small portion of the population. (MMIW Report)

  • The state has enacted Safe Harbor laws to treat sexually exploited youth as victims rather than criminals, providing access to support and services.

​

Sex trafficking is not just a global or national crisis—it’s happening in our communities. Raising awareness, advocating for survivors, and disrupting the demand are critical steps in combating this crime.​​​

​Citations include:​​​

​

  1. International Labour Organization (ILO). Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage, 2017.

  2. United Nations (UN). The United Nations Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, 2020.

  3. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, 2020.

  4. Polaris. The Polaris Project Annual Report on Human Trafficking, 2021.

  5. National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH). National Human Trafficking Hotline Statistics, 2021.

  6. National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s Missing Children Statistics, 2021.

  7. Wilder Research. Minnesota's Commercial Sexual Exploitation: An Analysis of Online Ads and Buyer Behavior, 2020.

  8. Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Report. The Impact of Human Trafficking on Indigenous Women and Girls in Minnesota, 2021.

  9. International Labour Organization (ILO). The Global Slavery Index 2024: A Statistical Overview, 2024.​

bottom of page