New study on the collection of EU statistics on trafficking in human beings

The EU Anti-trafficking Hub has recently published a Study on the collection of EU statistics on trafficking in human beings, focusing on current challenges, good practices and opportunities to further strengthen data collection across the EU. The study draws on mixed data collection methods to provide a detailed overview of how trafficking statistics are collected, reported and used across the EU.

Reliable data is key to Europe's response to trafficking in human beings - but collecting comparable statistics across the EU remains a complex challenge. While Member States have gathered trafficking data for more than a decade, differences in national systems, definitions and reporting practices can still make it difficult to build a clear EU-wide picture of the scale, trends and forms of exploitation.

The findings of the new study show that important foundations are already in place. EU Member States have established systems for collecting and reporting statistics on trafficking in human beings.

Several Member States have also introduced dedicated national coordination mechanisms, digital tools and guidelines to support the collection and reporting of statistics on victims, offenders and forms of exploitation. These efforts help to improve how trafficking trends are monitored and understood.

At the same time, the study identifies opportunities to further step up data collection and reporting practices. Remaining differences in national definitions, data collection approaches, reporting practices and data-sharing possibilities can affect the quality, accuracy and comparability of trafficking statistics across Member States.

As of 15 July 2026, Member States are required to implement all data categories and provide statistics in accordance with the Anti-Trafficking Directive. In addition, to address the gaps, the study sets out a series of recommendations for the quality, consistency and comparability of human trafficking data in EU Member States. Key recommendations include:

• Including presumed victims in trafficking data transmitted to Eurostat as a matter of priority;
• Improving data reporting on victims and suspects/offenders in relation to mandatory "knowing use" offences under Article 18a(1) of the Anti-Trafficking Directive;
• Prioritising reporting on criminal justice-related data;
• Setting up coordination models and strengthening cooperation among relevant stakeholders;
• Introducing data cleansing procedures and stronger quality checks.

Read the full report: here.