Human trafficking victims have been identified in cities, suburbs, and rural areas in all 50 states, and in Washington, D.C.
Risk Factors
While human trafficking spans all demographics, there are some circumstances that to lead to a higher susceptibility to human trafficking. These include:
Gender
In general, women are more vulnerable to becoming victims of human trafficking than men: the International Labor Organization estimates women and girls account for 71% of all persons who are trafficked around the world. Below are 2017 statistics for the United States, provided by the National Human Trafficking Hotline:
Learn The Signs of Human Trafficking
As victims are not a homogenous group of people, there is no single way to identify the signs of trafficking. The following list provides only some of the signs a victim may exhibit:
Want to learn more? These organizations have created guides to help identify victims of human trafficking:
Department of Heath and Human Services: Identifying Victims of Human Trafficking
United Nations: Human Trafficking Indicators
U.S. Department of State: Identify and Assist a Trafficking Victim
Hear Their Stories
Connect with victims and hear stories of human trafficking in their own words
Equality Now: Trafficking Survivor Stores
End Slavery Now: Modern Slave Narratives