Global Slavery Hotspots
Countries with the Most Severe Slavery Conditions
Overview of Modern Slavery
Modern slavery remains a critical global issue, with an estimated 50 million people living in conditions of forced labor or forced marriage. Certain countries exhibit particularly severe forms of slavery due to conflict, authoritarian regimes, systemic discrimination, and weak governance.
Global Scale
50 million people worldwide are victims of modern slavery
Increasing Problem
Cases have risen significantly in recent years due to conflict and climate change
Supply Chains
Global demand for goods fuels forced labor in lower-income nations
Countries with Highest Prevalence
These countries have the highest prevalence rates of modern slavery per capita according to the Global Slavery Index and other research:
North Korea
Primary Forms: State-imposed forced labor, forced marriage, human trafficking
Severity: The government systematically forces citizens into labor for economic projects and military conscription.
Eritrea
Primary Forms: Indefinite national conscription (military and non-military forced labor)
Severity: Citizens are forced into decades-long service under brutal conditions.
Mauritania
Primary Forms: Hereditary chattel slavery, forced labor, child marriage
Severity: Despite being outlawed, slavery persists due to weak enforcement and cultural norms.
Saudi Arabia
Primary Forms: Forced labor under kafala system, exploitation of migrant workers
Severity: Migrant workers face confiscation of passports, unpaid wages, and physical abuse.
Countries with Highest Absolute Numbers
While prevalence rates show severity relative to population, these countries have the highest total numbers of people in modern slavery:
India
11 million people in modern slavery
China
5.8 million people in modern slavery
North Korea
2.7 million people in modern slavery
Pakistan
2.3 million people in modern slavery
Russia
1.9 million people in modern slavery
Key Drivers of Severe Slavery
Primary Factors
- Conflict and Instability - Countries like South Sudan, Somalia, and Afghanistan experience slavery exacerbated by war and displacement
- Authoritarian Regimes - North Korea and Eritrea use state-imposed forced labor to control populations
- Discriminatory Systems - Mauritania's hereditary slavery and Saudi Arabia's kafala system institutionalize exploitation
- Global Supply Chains - High-income countries' demand for goods fuels forced labor in lower-income nations
- Poverty and Climate Change - Economic vulnerability increases susceptibility to exploitation
"Modern slavery is most severe in countries with weak governance and rule of law, armed conflict, authoritarian regimes, and systemic discrimination."
Global Modern Slavery Prevalence
The darkest areas represent countries with the highest prevalence of modern slavery
Sources and Further Reading
- Global Slavery Index (2023) - Walk Free Foundation
- International Labour Organization (ILO) Reports
- U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report
- Human Rights Watch Country Reports
- Anti-Slavery International Research
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