10.793 victims of trafficking in human beings were registered in the EU in 2023
Eurostat released trafficking in human beings statistics, revealing that 10.793 victims were registered in the EU in 2023, an increase of 6.9% compared with 2022 and the highest recorded value in the period 2008-2023. Several countries explained that it is partly reflected through increased attention of the authorities and agencies that fight against trafficking in human beings.
On 3 April 2025, Eurostat released statistics based on official figures for persons involved (registered victims, suspected traffickers and convicted traffickers) in trafficking in human beings in the EU. They show inter alia that in 2023:
- 10.793 victims of human trafficking were registered in the EU, an increase of 6.9% compared with 2022.
- The number of suspected traffickers was 8.471, compared with 8 064 in 2022, showing an increase of 5%.
- 63.3% of registered victims of trafficking in human beings in the EU were women or girls.
- There were 24 registered victims of trafficking in human beings per one million inhabitants in the EU, compared with 23 in 2022.
- 28% of the registered victims came from the reporting country, 7.9% from other EU countries and 64.1% from non-EU countries. More than 80% of the registered victims in Austria, Malta, Slovenia, Spain, Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, Greece, Finland, Luxembourg, Italy, and Estonia came from non-EU countries.
- There was a notable increase in the number of registered victims trafficked for forced labour or services.
For further details, please read the press release from Eurostat and Statistics explained.