Is Sex Trafficking on the Rise?

There is no doubt that trafficking has gained tons of exposure in the last 10 years. People have become more and more aware of this issue due in part to movies put out by Hollywood, increased media attention, and government action around protecting victims.

In recent years, we’ve seen people become more and more involved in bringing attention to this important topic. You can also see that the number of cases reported has risen.

However, this is a very hard crime to track and keep data for. It is impossible to know how many people are actually being trafficked at any given time. This crime is hidden and in plain sight all at once. The only true data numbers we have are the victims of the people actually being prosecuted for this crime. And we know that is not the full picture, especially considering that only 1% of victims are ever identified.

And even then, survivors are very hesitant to prosecute their trafficker for fear of retaliation or because the trauma is just too much. So the number of traffickers that are ever actually prosecuted for trafficking is very low.

There are many things at play here. There has undoubtedly been a rise in awareness and a rise in reporting. The National Trafficking Hotline makes it very easy to call and report a tip. This has certainly led to more victim identification and prosecution of the crime. But a rise in reporting doesn’t necessarily correlate to a rise in criminal activity. People being more aware and being able to report the crime could be leading to the increase in numbers.

On the other hand, there has been a rise in online exploitation. The explosion of social media and online activity has made it easier than ever for traffickers to find vulnerable people. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported that there was a 35% increase in online child exploitation from 2020 to 2021.

You can see many different organizations report very different data on how many people are currently being trafficked in the world today. I’ve seen anywhere from 20 Million to 50 Million. All because these are estimates. Most people land somewhere around 27 Million.

So, the question remains. Is sex trafficking on the rise? Reuters did a report on this back in 2021 and came to the conclusion that while trafficking numbers are on the rise, there really is no way to know exactly how many people are being trafficked at any given time. We just don’t have enough evidence to say it with 100% certainty.

Whether or not the number of people being trafficked is increasing, we must stay informed and aware. If you suspect someone is being trafficked, always call the National Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.