Human trafficking victims in Canada
Canada: Human trafficking victims was 452 number in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Human trafficking victims in Canada, 2007–2023
Source: UN Office on Drugs and Crime – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in number.
Analysis
Canada recorded 452 number for human trafficking victims in 2023.
The figure is down 10.7% on the previous year and up 617.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, human trafficking victims in Canada peaked at 506 number in 2022 and was at its lowest, 8 number, in 2008.
Canada ranks 25th of 135 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Human trafficking victims in Canada, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 9 number | — |
| 2008 | 8 number | -11.1% |
| 2009 | 40 number | +400.0% |
| 2010 | 47 number | +17.5% |
| 2011 | 115 number | +144.7% |
| 2012 | 55 number | -52.2% |
| 2013 | 63 number | +14.5% |
| 2014 | 142 number | +125.4% |
| 2015 | 237 number | +66.9% |
| 2016 | 231 number | -2.5% |
| 2017 | 268 number | +16.0% |
| 2018 | 238 number | -11.2% |
| 2019 | 411 number | +72.7% |
| 2020 | 410 number | -0.2% |
| 2021 | 418 number | +2.0% |
| 2022 | 506 number | +21.1% |
| 2023 | 452 number | -10.7% |
Canada compared with similar countries
- Canada's 452 number is above the median for high income countries, which is 66 number, 6.8× the median. (51 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Human trafficking victims in Canada 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 | +400.0% | 8 number | 40 number |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19 number | 8 number | 40 number | 3 |
| 2010s | 180.7 number | 47 number | 411 number | 10 |
| 2020s | 446.5 number | 410 number | 506 number | 4 |
Countries ranked near Canada
More gender data for Canada
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 5,985 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.1285 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 35,670 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 35,670 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.8111 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 179,464 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 188,972 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 181,929 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 191,273 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 183,113 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is human trafficking victims in Canada?
- Human trafficking victims in Canada was 452 number in 2023, according to UN Office on Drugs and Crime – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest human trafficking victims recorded in Canada?
- The highest recorded value was 506 number in 2022.
- What is the lowest human trafficking victims recorded in Canada?
- The lowest recorded value was 8 number in 2008.
- How does Canada rank for human trafficking victims?
- Canada ranks 25th out of 135 countries with data for 2023.
- Is human trafficking victims rising or falling in Canada?
- Over the last ten years it is up 617.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Canada 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).