Human Trafficking Statistics

Explore the statistics and learn how this issue affects millions worldwide.

DEFINING THE PROBLEM

What is Human Trafficking?

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. Every year, millions of men, women, and children are trafficked worldwide – including right here in the United States. It can happen in any community and victims can be any age, race, gender, or nationality.

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Victims of human trafficking around the globe.

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Human Trafficking is the fastest growing criminal enterprise.

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of human trafficking profits come from sex trafficking

Trafficking in Texas

Houston is a major hub of sex trafficking in the United States. Houston’s proximity to the U.S-Mexico border makes it the halfway point for smuggling and trafficking operations. Interstate-10 connects Houston to major cities on the East and West Coast, including Miami and Los Angeles.

According to one UT Austin study there are an estimated 313,000 victims of human trafficking in Texas.

Approximately 79,000 are minors who are victims of sex trafficking in Texas.

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Key Areas of Exploitation

Demand

Sex trafficking is driven by demand. Men represent 99% of those buying sex. Studies also reveal that legalizing prostitution increases trafficking because it does not address the driving factor of sex trafficking which is demand.

Prostitution

Trafficking and prostitution both lead to the same place of abuse and exploitation. Up to 95% of women in prostitution have a history of childhood sexual abuse, and 83% have been threatened with a weapon while in the life.

Pornography

Porn sites receive more traffic than Netflix, Amazon, and Twitter combined, with studies linking consumption to aggression and desensitization. Adult content plays a big role in causing demand for sex trafficking to increase.

Stripping

Around 54% of women in strip clubs have also worked in prostitution, often under coercive control.