Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: 50 million people worldwide in modern slavery

According to the latest data from the Global Estimates of Modern Slavery produced by ILO, Walk Free and the International Organization for Migration, forced labor and forced marriage have increased considerably during the past years. In 2021, fifty million people were living under modern slavery: 28 million were in forced labour and 22 million in forced marriage. Compared to 2016, nowadays there are 10 million more people trapped in a form of modern slavery. This phenomenon is present in every country around the globe, with 52% of all forced labor found in upper-high income countries and it affects particularly vulnerable groups such as children and women.

The private sector accounts for 86% of cases of forced labor and 63% of forced labor work in a non sexual related activity. Commercial sexual exploitation represents 23% of all forced labor and 4 out of 5 of them are women or girls. Around 3.3 million children are under forced labor and out of these half is in the commercial sexual exploitation.

Forced marriage is considered another type of modern slavery. The number showed an increase compared to the 2016 global estimates of around 6.6 million. The true incidence of forced marriage involving children ages 16 or younger is greater than the current numbers show due to the narrow definition of the concept. This is a highly linked context practice linked to patriarchal societies, where family pressure plays an important role.

A particular category that is more likely to face forced labor are migrants. Although labor migration has positive effects on the communities, they are more vulnerable, whether because of the irregular status or unfair or unethical recruitment processes.

The report proposes a series of actions that will ultimately mark significant progress to end modern slavery. The proposals include improving and enforcing inspections, ending State imposed forced labor, tackling forced labor and trafficking in business and supply chains, and raising the legal marriage age to 18 without any exception.

Last update

18/10/2022