Human trafficking victims in Malaysia
Malaysia: Human trafficking victims was 153 number in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Human trafficking victims in Malaysia, 2008–2024
Source: UN Office on Drugs and Crime – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in number.
Analysis
Malaysia recorded 153 number for human trafficking victims in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 27.1% on the previous year and down 49.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, human trafficking victims in Malaysia peaked at 1,156 number in 2009 and was at its lowest, 83 number, in 2020.
That places Malaysia 53rd out of 135 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Human trafficking victims in Malaysia, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 118 number | — |
| 2009 | 1,156 number | +879.7% |
| 2010 | 471 number | -59.3% |
| 2011 | 220 number | -53.3% |
| 2012 | 309 number | +40.5% |
| 2014 | 303 number | -1.9% |
| 2015 | 305 number | +0.7% |
| 2016 | 676 number | +121.6% |
| 2017 | 1,119 number | +65.5% |
| 2018 | 132 number | -88.2% |
| 2019 | 91 number | -31.1% |
| 2020 | 83 number | -8.8% |
| 2021 | 118 number | +42.2% |
| 2022 | 129 number | +9.3% |
| 2023 | 210 number | +62.8% |
| 2024 | 153 number | -27.1% |
Malaysia compared with similar countries
- Malaysia's 153 number is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74 number, 2.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
- Malaysia's 153 number is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 73 number, 2.1× the median. (17 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Human trafficking victims in Malaysia changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | +879.7% | 118 number | 1,156 number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 637 number | 118 number | 1,156 number | 2 |
| 2010s | 402.89 number | 91 number | 1,119 number | 9 |
| 2020s | 138.6 number | 83 number | 210 number | 5 |
Countries ranked near Malaysia
- 50 Australia 167 number compare
- 51 Zambia 162 number compare
- 52 Tanzania, United Republic of 156 number compare
- 54 Malawi 145 number compare
- 55 Dominican Republic 139 number compare
- 56 Saudi Arabia 138 number compare
More gender data for Malaysia
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 7,206 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -1.39 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 30,756 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 30,756 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.62 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 214,187 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 227,793 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 214,543 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 228,149 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 213,108 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is human trafficking victims in Malaysia?
- Human trafficking victims in Malaysia was 153 number in 2024, according to UN Office on Drugs and Crime – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest human trafficking victims recorded in Malaysia?
- The highest recorded value was 1,156 number in 2009.
- What is the lowest human trafficking victims recorded in Malaysia?
- The lowest recorded value was 83 number in 2020.
- How does Malaysia rank for human trafficking victims?
- Malaysia ranks 53rd out of 135 countries with data for 2024.
- Is human trafficking victims rising or falling in Malaysia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 49.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Malaysia data come from?
- The figures come from UN Office on Drugs and Crime – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Human trafficking victims. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Detected victims of human trafficking, by age and sex (number).