Male Human Trafficking Facts & Statistics

National Listing of Missing and Exploited Youth

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to help find missing children, reduce child sexual exploitation, and prevent child victimization. Here's a feed of all the documented children missing at this point in time.
View Missing & Exploited Youth

Myths vs. Facts About Sex Trafficking of Males

Tap or hover over a card to see the facts.

MYTH
Sex trafficking only affects girls and women.

FACT
Boys and young men are sex trafficked too. In fact, recent studies show that up to 50% of sex trafficked youth are male.

MYTH
Sex trafficking only affects gay men.

FACT
Sex trafficking affects males across all sexual orientations, racial and ethnic identities, socioeconomic status, age, etc. It preys on vulnerabilities.

MYTH
Boys/men can get away.

FACT
Boys/men are sex trafficked too.

MYTH
All traffickers are male.

FACT
Approximately 30% of sex traffickers are female.

MYTH
Boys and men cannot be sexually assaulted.

FACT
One in six males report sexual abuse or assault at some point in their lifetimes.

MYTH
If someone does not identify as a victim, then they must have wanted it.

FACT
Many victims do not recognize themselves as victims due to social stigma, feelings of shame, pre-existing vulnerabilities that normalize abuse, and lack of resources available.

Consent is an active, sober, verbal, yes. Anything short of that is not consent and therefore unwanted.

MYTH
Males don’t ask for help.

FACT
The majority of sex trafficking survivors report asking for help from multiple professionals before finally receiving the help they need to escape.

Their out cries, especially males, are often overlooked or misinterpreted due to lack of awareness about the signs and symptoms of sex trafficking, as well as the social stigmas mentioned above.

Statistics on CSE (Child Sexual Exploitation) of Males

We believe the current data only captures a fraction of the actual total. Current assessment measures miss the boys because they do not ask the right questions.

Man kissing goat at Bob's House of Hope

References: Polaris, NCBI, HHS.gov, USA Today, DHS

Service Gaps We've Identified

  • Support must come from all levels of government, as well as partnerships with the private sector

Solutions We Propose

  • Life skills training
  • Mentorship: Veterans, grandparents, athletes, community leaders
  • Trauma-informed individual and group therapy
  • Animal-assisted counseling
  • Meet basic needs, including medical
  • Legal assistance, including immigration concerns
  • Education and job opportunities
  • Structured, yet relaxed, environment