The number of victims of human trafficking in Finland has stabilised — forced labour and forced marriage among the most common forms of human trafficking

Forced labour was the most common form of human trafficking in 2023 (45%). Forced marriage emerged as the second most common form of human trafficking (32%) before sexual exploitation. The proportion of forced marriages has increased, but the number of forced marriage victims has remained at the same level for years. Of all the new clients, 20% were victims of sexual exploitation. In international comparison, sexual exploitation is the most typical form of human trafficking and accounts for more than 50% of all human trafficking cases. In Finland, the share is exceptionally small.

44% of the new clients in 2024 had been exploited in Finland. Most of them (60%) were victims of forced labour. The sectors included the restaurant industry, construction, forestry and cleaning. Of those exploited in Finland, 23% were victims of forced marriage. The rest were victims of sexual exploitation (13%) or forced to engage in criminal activity. The forms of exploitation are clearly divided by gender: Of the men who had fallen victims in Finland, 94% were victims of forced labour, whereas 49% of women were victims of forced marriage.

"According to our statistics, the number of victims has returned to its usual level, but there are still many of them. In Finland, men are more likely to fall victim to forced labour than women. On the other hand, women are typically victims of forced marriage. A clarification of the provisions on human trafficking in the Criminal Code entered into force in 2024. As a result, the criminalisation of forced marriage is clearer than before," says Katri Lyijynen, Deputy Director of the Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking. 

At the end of 2024, the NAS had a total of 1,610 clients, of whom 1,331 were identified victims and 279 were their minor children. There were also 10 minors among the victims. 

The statistics for 2024 are presented on the ihmiskauppa.fi website.

The Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking, which has been in operation since 2006, is a national centre of excellence and expert authority in the work against human trafficking. It is operated by the Joutseno reception centre, which is part of the Finnish Immigration Service. The purpose of the NAS is to help victims of trafficking in human beings and their minor children as well as persons assisting in the investigation of trafficking in human beings. It helps both Finnish and foreign victims of human trafficking equally. The NAS maintains the nationwide ihmiskauppa.fi website and the 24/7 infoline at 02 954 63 177.

For more information, please contact:

Katri Lyijynen 
Deputy Director
Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking 
0295 463 223 
katri.lyijynen@migri.fi

Terhi Tafari 
Senior Adviser, Team Leader
Assistance System for Victims of Human Trafficking
0295 463 240 
terhi.tafari@migri.fi