Who is Being Trafficked?

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 Many studies are outdated, have small sample sizes, or are inundated with stereotypes and personal agendas.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