Human trafficking in EU: Nearly 10,000 victims recorded in 2024
Nearly 10,000 people were identified as victims of human trafficking in the European Union in 2024, according to Eurostat, slightly down from the previous year but still at historically high levels.
A total of 9,678 victims were recorded, or 22 per million inhabitants, marking an 8% decline from 2023 after several years of sharp increases. Women and girls accounted for 63% of victims, with sexual exploitation remaining the most common form at 46%.
Cases of forced labour continued to rise, representing 37% of victims in 2024, up from about 20% in 2019. Italy reported 632 victims of labour exploitation, among the highest totals in the EU, behind France but well above Germany and Spain.
Eurostat also reported 7,966 suspected traffickers across the EU in 2024, but only about 2,600 convictions.
The data show that many victims are trafficked within their own countries, particularly in Eastern Europe, while countries such as Italy, Spain and Malta report a higher share of non-EU victims, mainly linked to labour exploitation.
