Age of victims: children and adults

76 per cent of registered trafficked persons are adults, and the remainder (24%) are children (under 18 years of age). Among adults, female victims (47%) predominate in groups between 18 and 29 years of age, while male victims (46%) tend to be aged 30 or older. There are no significant differences in the sex distribution of child victims.

Around 43 per cent of adult victims are trafficked for forced labour, particularly in construction (30%) and agriculture (21%). This proportion is about two times higher as compared to child victims of forced labour (22%). Children trafficked for forced labour are mainly exploited in domestic work and hospitality, accounting for 52 and 21 per cent, respectively.

79 per cent of children are sexually exploited, which is about 21 per cent more likely as compared to adults. Sexually exploited children are more often exploited in pornography (20%) compared to adults (9%), while adults are most frequently exploited in prostitution (92%) compared to children (80%).   

Psychological, physical and/or sexual abuse is the main means of control among child and adult victims (59% and 61%, respectively). Both groups also frequently face threats and restrictions on finance, movements, medical care and overall necessities. However, adults more often experience debt bondage (41%), false promises (32%), excessive working hours (28%), and document withholding (24%). These means of control are at least three times more frequent as compared to children. In contrast, psychoactive substances are more frequently used to control child victims (17%) than adults (11%).

About 69 per cent of adult victims were recruited by ‘others’,^[1] while children were significantly more likely to be recruited by family members (51%) than adults (8%). It is important to note the diverse dynamics at play when children are recruited into trafficking.^[2] Some individuals, including family members, exploit children for personal gain, while others inadvertently expose them to risky situations in pursuit of better prospects. In some other cases, decisions may overlook the child's welfare without the intention of exploitation.

^[1] Indicates a notable relationship with the recruiter that does not fit other categories like family or friends. This may include brokers, contractors, employers, or smugglers. See the Global Synthetic Dataset Codebook for a detailed explanation.

^[2] Please check the report From evidence to action: Twenty years of IOM child trafficking data to inform policy and programming to delve into the nuances of the role of family members in the trafficking of children. Also, click here to check the ICAT’s Call for Accelerated Action by 2025 to Prevent and End Child Trafficking.