Global Slavery Index by Country 2024

Slavery continues in countries around the world today. Published by Walk Free every five years, The Global Slavery Index highlights the extent and location of modern slavery.

What the Global Slavery Index Means

The Global Slavery Index includes three main markers that reflect the severity of slavery within that nation.

First, the prevalence of slavery per 100,000 people shows the estimated number of people in modern slavery. Higher values in this category reflect a larger problem with slavery compared to other nations.

Second, the index looks at the vulnerability score. This score shows how likely modern slavery can take hold of people within a country. Countries with lower scores have better systems in place to prevent slavery within their boundaries.

Finally, the government response looks at how each government works to end modern slavery. Countries that have more proactive governments have higher scores in this rating.

Due to the variations in what each part of the Global Slavery Index measures, each score needs individual examination rather than looking for all high or all low scores.

Factors that Contribute to the Total Score

Each category of the Global Slavery Index uses different factors to calculate. For example, Walk Free used 75 national surveys to conduct its research for the Global Slavery Index prevalence numbers. These national surveys include thousands of respondents and combine with the Walk Free national vulnerability assessments to calculate the prevalence of slavery in a country.

Vulnerability scores come from 23 research-backed data indicators that fall into five separate categories.

Government response scores come from 141 factors that examine the extent to which countries work toward five slavery-ending milestones.

Countries with the Worst Global Slavery Index Scores

A combination of high slavery prevalence and vulnerability with a low government response shows a nation has the worst environment for reducing modern slavery.

The country with the highest slavery prevalence score as of 2023 was North Korea, which had an estimated 104.60 people out of 100,000 under modern slavery conditions. This nation also had the lowest government response score of -3. It was the only country with a negative score in this category.

South Sudan had the highest vulnerability score of 100.

Countries that Have the Best Values on the Global Slavery Index

The best values on the Global Slavery Index are low slavery prevalence and vulnerability scores and a high government response.

Switzerland and Norway both tied for the lowest slavery prevalence scores of 0.50. Norway also had the lowest vulnerability score, 1. The United Kingdom had the best government response rate of 68.