50 million people live in modern slavery
The ILO, Walk Free and IOM estimate 50 million people were in modern slavery in 2021, 10 million more than in 2016. Forced labour earns US$236 billion a year in illegal profit.
How this affects people
Modern slavery covers forced labour and forced marriage. Most forced labour, 86%, happens in the private economy; the other 14% is imposed by states. Almost one in eight people in forced labour is a child.
The ILO found that illegal profits from forced labour in the private economy rose by US$64 billion, or 37%, since 2014. It says enforcement must be paired with measures that tackle root causes and protect victims.
Look at what keeps the problem going
- 01Profit: exploitation pays far more than it costs offenders
- 02Weak enforcement and weak protection for victims
- 03Poverty and wages withheld through coercion
- 04Workers with few alternatives, including many migrants
What could happen next
The future leaves room for choices. Compare the outlooks, check what supports them and notice where the evidence becomes less certain
No new global count yet
The 2021 estimate is the latest global figure; no published projection says how many people are affected now.
The future is not a timetable. These summaries reflect published scenarios and trends, with deeper uncertainty at longer horizons. Choices made now matter.
Where could a useful response begin?
Begin with a question you can investigate. Compare the sources and follow related briefings to see how the problem connects to other lives and places. This prototype does not accept proposals yet.
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