Human trafficking in the EU

In 2020, the number of registered victims of trafficking in human beings in the EU was 6 534 (-16% compared with 2019). Meanwhile, there were 7 290 suspected traffickers (-8% compared with 2019, but a relatively high figure compared with 2008-2018). There were also 1 295 convicted traffickers in 2020 (-25% compared with 2019), yet the figure of convicted people is still much lower than the number of those suspected of trafficking in human beings (see Figure 1). The effects resulting from the lockdowns to curb COVID-19 should be also taken into account when interpreting the trends. 

This information comes from data on trafficking in human beings published by Eurostat today, which are unadjusted and published as they are reported by the EU Member States. The article presents a handful of findings from the more detailed Statistics Explained article. 

Figure 1

Source dataset: crim_thb_sex

Nearly two-thirds of registered victims of human trafficking were women or girls in 2020 (64%). The share of women and girls increased slightly from the previous year (63% in 2019), but remained lower than 2017-2018 values. Meanwhile, only around a quarter of suspected traffickers and convicted ones were female (24% and 26%, respectively). 

Figure 2

Source dataset: crim_thb_vexp

More than half (55%) of human trafficking victims were sexually exploited (see Figure 2). This was the predominant form of exploitation, although it reached its lowest prevalence since 2008. Meanwhile, exploitation by forced labour increased to one-third (33%) and reached its highest value since 2008.