Human Traffic | Electa14

January 2026 is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, as decreed by presidential proclamation.

Human trafficking involves exploiting a person for labor, services, or commercial sex. January is also known as Human Trafficking Awareness Month. It is a key time for us all as individuals to educate ourselves about human trafficking and crucially to learn to spot the signs of trafficking.

An estimated 27.6 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking at any given time, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). In the U.S., human trafficking has been reported in all 50 states, though there is no reliable national estimate of prevalence.

Global Statistics

Total Victims: The most widely cited estimate, from 2021 data, suggests 27.6 million people are in situations of human trafficking globally.
Types of Exploitation: 77% of victims are in forced labor, while 23% are in commercial sexual exploitation. A recent UNODC report suggests forced labor may have surpassed sexual exploitation as the leading form.
Demographics:
- Globally, 57% of victims are men and boys, and 43% are women and girls.
- In sex trafficking cases, 78% of victims are women and girls.
- In forced labor cases, 67% of victims are men and boys.
Child Victims: One in four victims of modern slavery is a child. The proportion of children among identified victims has tripled over the last 15 years.
Profit: Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar criminal industry, estimated to generate $150 billion in profits annually.

United States Statistics

Because of the hidden nature of the crime, reliable prevalence data for the U.S. is difficult to ascertain, but hotlines and law enforcement track reported cases and incidents.

Hotline Data (2023): The National Human Trafficking Hotline received reports of 9,619 potential human trafficking cases involving 16,999 potential victims.
- Types of Cases (2023 Hotline): The majority of reported cases were for sex trafficking (5,572 situations), followed by labor trafficking (1,558 situations), and cases involving both (1,021 situations).
- Law Enforcement Data (2022): U.S. law enforcement agencies reported an estimated 2,950 human trafficking incidents. Of these, 81% were sex trafficking incidents and 19% were labor trafficking incidents.

Recruitment and Vulnerability:
- Most individuals (65%) were reportedly recruited online in 2021, a significant increase from prior years.
- Traffickers are often known to the victim; top traffickers were employers (43%), family members (26%), and intimate partners (22%).
- Runaway and homeless youth, as well as those who have been in foster care or identify as LGBTQ+, are at higher risk of victimization.

To Get Help for Victims

To report your concerns about a potential trafficking situation or get help for a person who may be a victim, contact the following helplines:

National Human Trafficking Hotline - this confidential hotline connects victims with support and services, provides information, and receives tips about potential trafficking situations.
- 1-888-373-7888
- If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services.
- Text: 233733

StrongHearts Native Helpline – an anonymous and confidential domestic violence, dating violence and sexual violence helpline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives that is available 24/7, 365 days a year, offering culturally appropriate support and advocacy.
- 1-844-7NATIVE (1-844-762-8483)
- https://www.strongheartshelpline.org

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