Data and research on forced labour
Main Figures on Forced Labour
US$ 236 billion
generated in illegal profits every year.
39.4%
of them are women and girls (4.9 million in forced commercial sexual exploitation, and 6 million in other economic sectors).
12%
of them are children (3.3 million). More than half of these children are in commercial sexual exploitation.
- Victims of forced labour include 17.3 million exploited in the private sector; 6.3 million in forced commercial sexual exploitation, and 3.9 million in forced labour imposed by State.
- The Asia and the Pacific region has the highest number of people in forced labour (15.1 million) and the Arab States the highest prevalence (5.3 per thousand people).
- Addressing decent work deficits in the informal economy, as part of broader efforts towards economic formalization, is a priority for progress against forced labour.
Source: 2022 Global Estimates
Forced Labour Observatory
The Forced Labour Observatory (FLO) is a database that provides comprehensive global and country information on forced labour, including on international and national legal and institutional frameworks; enforcement, prevention and protection measures, as well as information related to access to justice; remedies, and cooperation.
Global Reports
2021 Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage
The latest estimates show that forced labour and forced marriage have increased significantly in the last five years, according to the International Labour Organization, Walk Free and the International Organisation for Migration.
Profits and Poverty: The Economics of Forced Labour (2024)
The study investigates the underlying factors that drive forced labour, of which a major one is illegal profits.
ICLS and forced labour
ICLS and forced labour
The International Conference of Labour Statisticians (ICLS) is the authoritative body to set global standards in labour statistics. During its 20th meeting, in October 2018, the ICLS adopted the "Guidelines concerning the measurement of forced labour". The intent of the guidelines is to facilitate the process of testing the measurement of forced labour in different national circumstances and/or measurement objectives.