Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Human Trafficking in the United States: A City-Level Analysis

• In Event: Systemic Responses to Hidden Exploitation

Abstract

Background: Human trafficking is a severe crime, yet our understanding of its spatial and temporal patterns remains limited. This study examines the geographic distribution and trends of human trafficking in the United States over the past decade.

Methods: Using publicly available human trafficking data from the FBI (2013–2023) and socioeconomic indicators from the American Community Survey, we conduct a two-step analysis. First, we describe the spatial and temporal patterns of human trafficking across the United States. Second, we analyze the relationship between human trafficking and concentrated disadvantage at the county level.

Results: Findings indicate that human trafficking is more prevalent in the southern and western regions of the United States, particularly in Las Vegas and cities near the U.S.-Mexico border. Reported cases increased before the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, human trafficking is strongly associated with larger cities and areas with high population mobility.

Discussion: Given the high prevalence of commercial sex acts in human trafficking cases and the concentration of cases in Las Vegas, further research should examine the implications of legalized sex work and its potential impact on trafficking trends.

Authors

• Sarah Sujin Choi, The University of Texas at Dallas

• Wenyi Wang, The University of Texas at Dallas