Human trafficking victims in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Human trafficking victims was 599 number in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Human trafficking victims in Sri Lanka, 2011–2024
Source: UN Office on Drugs and Crime – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in number.
Analysis
The most recent figure for human trafficking victims in Sri Lanka is 599 number, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.
That represents a change of up 530.5% on the previous year and up 1,965.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, human trafficking victims in Sri Lanka peaked at 599 number in 2024 and was at its lowest, 6 number, in 2019.
That places Sri Lanka 19th out of 135 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Human trafficking victims in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | number | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 56 number | — |
| 2014 | 29 number | -48.2% |
| 2015 | 30 number | +3.4% |
| 2016 | 23 number | -23.3% |
| 2018 | 9 number | -60.9% |
| 2019 | 6 number | -33.3% |
| 2020 | 8 number | +33.3% |
| 2021 | 10 number | +25.0% |
| 2022 | 25 number | +150.0% |
| 2023 | 95 number | +280.0% |
| 2024 | 599 number | +530.5% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 599 number is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 74 number, 8.1× the median. (41 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 25.5 number | 6 number | 56 number | 6 |
| 2020s | 147.4 number | 8 number | 599 number | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
More gender data for Sri Lanka
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,804 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.8687 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 18,964 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 18,964 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.7411 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 155,366 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 162,031 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 156,342 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 163,015 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 157,484 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is human trafficking victims in Sri Lanka?
- Human trafficking victims in Sri Lanka was 599 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 Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 599 number in 2024.
- What is the lowest human trafficking victims recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 6 number in 2019.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for human trafficking victims?
- Sri Lanka ranks 19th out of 135 countries with data for 2024.
- Is human trafficking victims rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 1,965.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka 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 — 11 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).