Human trafficking victims in South Africa
South Africa: Human trafficking victims was 32 number in 2022. ◆ Volatile
Human trafficking victims in South Africa, 2010–2022
Source: UN Office on Drugs and Crime – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in number.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 32 number for human trafficking victims in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 52.4% on the previous year and down 63.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, human trafficking victims in South Africa peaked at 248 number in 2010 and was at its lowest, 21 number, in 2021.
South Africa ranks 94th of 135 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Human trafficking victims in South Africa, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 248 number | — |
| 2011 | 87 number | -64.9% |
| 2012 | 87 number | +0.0% |
| 2013 | 64 number | -26.4% |
| 2014 | 55 number | -14.1% |
| 2018 | 96 number | +74.5% |
| 2021 | 21 number | -78.1% |
| 2022 | 32 number | +52.4% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 32 number is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74 number, 43% of the median. (41 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 32 number is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 77 number, 42% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 106.17 number | 55 number | 248 number | 6 |
| 2020s | 26.5 number | 21 number | 32 number | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
- 93 Bosnia and Herzegovina 37 number compare
- 95 Gambia 29 number compare
- 96 Montenegro 28 number compare
- 97 Suriname 26 number compare
More gender data for South Africa
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 17,151 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth 0.6591 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 51,011 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 51,011 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 1.07 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 570,099 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 589,533 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 570,599 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 589,626 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 569,634 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is human trafficking victims in South Africa?
- Human trafficking victims in South Africa was 32 number in 2022, according to UN Office on Drugs and Crime – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest human trafficking victims recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 248 number in 2010.
- What is the lowest human trafficking victims recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 21 number in 2021.
- How does South Africa rank for human trafficking victims?
- South Africa ranks 94th out of 135 countries with data for 2022.
- Is human trafficking victims rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 63.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa 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.
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About this data
Detected victims of human trafficking, by age and sex (number).