The Human Sex Trafficking Crisis

The startling reality of human, sexual, and minor trafficking across the globe, and the United States' response to it.

A Note on the Data

Human trafficking is one of the most underreported crimes in the United States.

The data presented here represents only what has been documented. Inconsistencies across sources, gaps in reporting systems, and the hidden nature of trafficking mean these numbers tell an incomplete story. The true scale of this crisis remains largely hidden.

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Unknown victims

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Inconsistent data

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Gaps in reporting

Learn more about data gaps in human trafficking reporting →

Explore the Data

Scale & Growth Technology U.S. Response Profiles Hospitality Perception vs. Reality

Scale & Growth in the U.S.

5.1 million people are in modern slavery on any given day in the United States – Add once updated

That is equivalent to the entire population of Alabama. That is about 1 in every 65 people in the US, which is roughly one child per school bus.

1,416 persons were arrested for sex trafficking of a minor in the United States from 2010 to 2015 – McCain

That is about one arrest every day for four years.

Human trafficking is the second most profitable illegal industry in the U.S, and generates $236 billion in illegal profits annually worldwide – ourrescue

$236 billion in $100 bills would be about 160 miles tall — higher than Mount Everest by more than 27 times.

The Role of Technology

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the US reported an 846% increase from 2010 to 2015 in reports of suspected child sex trafficking – an increase the organization has found to be ‘directly correlated to the increased use of the Internet to sell children for sex.’ – ICAT

Spiderweb with just a few threads (to represent internet) in 2010, explodes into huge and dense web to demonstrate 846% increase.

In 2020, over 80% of the U.S. Department of Justice’s sex trafficking prosecutions involved online advertising. – United Nations

Graphic of computer or online ad.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, the U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline reported a 125% increase in reports of recruitment on Facebook and 95% increase in reports of recruitment on Instagram over the previous year. – Polaris

Mention case where Meta's algorithms actually helped facilitate human trafficking and child sex trafficking in New Mexico.

U.S. Response

How the United States government is responding to the sex trafficking crisis.

Legislative Response

See what laws are being passed to combat the issue

Justice System

How courts, judges, etc. are handling the crisis, public criticism of this response

Complications

Show large variety of laws in practice, find examples in data team's research

Indiana Case Study

In a study of just 100 child sex trafficking cases in Indiana that made it into the state justice system, over 60 unique state laws are referenced in the prosecution of traffickers, demonstrating the immense variety of legislation that exists for child sex trafficking cases at the state level alone.

The People Affected

Who Is Involved?

Disproportionate Impact
40% Black, 24% Latinx

In Cook County, Illinois (2012-2016), 66% of victims were Black women. Yet Black children account for 53% of all juvenile prostitution arrests, punished as criminals rather than protected as victims.

Visualization: Side-by-side comparison showing victims by race next to arrest rates.

Rights4Girls

Known and Trusted
45% knew their trafficker

More than half of identified minor victims were runaways. This isn't stranger danger, it's betrayal by someone familiar: a friend, romantic partner, or family member.

50%+
Runaways
45%
Knew Trafficker

Each dot represents 1% of identified minor victims

McCain Institute

Victims Become Criminals
62% arrested or detained

Of those, 71% now have a criminal record, and 90% said crimes were committed under coercion while trafficked. The system punishes them before it protects them.

Visualization: Pipeline showing victim to arrested to criminal record to coerced crimes.

U.S. Department of State

The People Involved

Who Are The Traffickers?

Demographics
94% Male, Age 38, 96% US Citizens

These aren't foreign criminals or organized crime syndicates, they're domestic offenders operating in American communities.

Visualization: Three key stats with icons emphasizing "homegrown problem."

U.S. Sentencing Commission

Rising Female Involvement
From 9% to 21% in one year

Female involvement more than doubled from 2022 to 2023. In earlier studies, 24.4% were female, often serving as "bottoms" who recruit, enforce rules, and punish other victims.

Visualization: 2022 vs 2023 gender breakdown showing dramatic shift.

McCain Institute

Criminal History
68.5% had little or no prior history

These are often first-time offenders: neighbors, coworkers, family members, not career criminals with long rap sheets.

U.S. Sentencing Commission

STAT7

identified victims across 11,999 cases reported to the National Human Trafficking Hotline

STAT8

The Connection of the Hospitality Industry

75% of human trafficking survivors reported encountering hotels at some point during their exploitation – Human Trafficking Search






This could have occurred while traveling, as a location of exploitation, or during their escape and rehabilitation.
Warning Signs

Hotels’ use of recruiters and subcontractors for roles like cleaning, security, and food service creates opportunities for labor trafficking through debt bondage, passport seizure, and coercion. - Add Later

Constant guest turnover, low security, and cash payments allow for anonymity. - Add Later

Vulnerable groups staying in hotels (migrants, people facing poverty, families in crisis) are easy targets. - Add Later

How to Tell

Heavy foot traffic in and out of a hotel room. - Add Later

Perception vs. Reality

What people think trafficking looks like versus what it actually looks like.

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— [Attribution]