Human trafficking victims in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Human trafficking victims was 23,411 number in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Human trafficking victims in United Kingdom, 2009–2025
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 United Kingdom is 23,411 number, measured 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 peaked at 23,411 number in 2025 and was at its lowest, 297 number, in 2010.
That places United Kingdom 1st out of 135 countries with data for 2025, putting it 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, 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 compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom'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'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 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
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is human trafficking victims in United Kingdom?
- Human trafficking victims in United Kingdom 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?
- The highest recorded value was 23,411 number in 2025.
- What is the lowest human trafficking victims recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 297 number in 2010.
- How does United Kingdom rank for human trafficking victims?
- United Kingdom ranks 1st out of 135 countries with data for 2025.
- Is human trafficking victims rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- 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 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).