Human trafficking victims in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: Human trafficking victims was 23,411 number in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Human trafficking victims in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, 2009–2025
Source: UN Office on Drugs and Crime – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in number.
Analysis
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland recorded 23,411 number for human trafficking victims in 2025. That is the highest value across all 17 years on record.
That represents a change of up 22.5% on the previous year and up 3,828.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, human trafficking victims in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland peaked at 23,411 number in 2025 and was at its lowest, 297 number, in 2010.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 1st of 135 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Human trafficking victims in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 549 number | — |
| 2010 | 297 number | -45.9% |
| 2011 | 482 number | +62.3% |
| 2012 | 555 number | +15.1% |
| 2013 | 816 number | +47.0% |
| 2014 | 543 number | -33.5% |
| 2015 | 596 number | +9.8% |
| 2016 | 601 number | +0.8% |
| 2017 | 5,138 number | +754.9% |
| 2018 | 6,985 number | +35.9% |
| 2019 | 10,627 number | +52.1% |
| 2020 | 10,582 number | -0.4% |
| 2021 | 12,700 number | +20.0% |
| 2022 | 16,921 number | +33.2% |
| 2023 | 17,004 number | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 19,117 number | +12.4% |
| 2025 | 23,411 number | +22.5% |
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 23,411 number is above the median for high income countries, which is 66 number, 354.7× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland's 23,411 number is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 72.5 number, 322.9× the median. (46 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Human trafficking victims in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +754.9% | 601 number | 5,138 number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 549 number | 549 number | 549 number | 1 |
| 2010s | 2,664 number | 297 number | 10,627 number | 10 |
| 2020s | 16,622 number | 10,582 number | 23,411 number | 6 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
More gender data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 11,226 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.9161 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 60,060 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 60,060 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.7034 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 335,907 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 353,938 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 340,922 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 359,075 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 343,706 (2025)
All data for United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland →
Frequently asked questions
- What is human trafficking victims in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Human trafficking victims in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland was 23,411 number in 2025, according to UN Office on Drugs and Crime – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest human trafficking victims recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The highest recorded value was 23,411 number in 2025.
- What is the lowest human trafficking victims recorded in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- The lowest recorded value was 297 number in 2010.
- How does United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland rank for human trafficking victims?
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ranks 1st out of 135 countries with data for 2025.
- Is human trafficking victims rising or falling in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3,828.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 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
CSV · JSON — 17 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Detected victims of human trafficking, by age and sex (number).