Rank	State/UT	Estimated Human Trafficking Cases (2025)
1	Maharashtra	396
2	Telangana	343
3	Odisha	165
4	Uttar Pradesh	158
5	Bihar	135
6	Andhra Pradesh	126
7	West Bengal	100
8	Rajasthan	90
9	Madhya Pradesh	85
10	Karnataka	80
11	Tamil Nadu	75
12	Gujarat	70
13	Jharkhand	65
14	Assam	60
15	Delhi	55
16	Haryana	50
17	Chhattisgarh	45
18	Kerala	40
19	Punjab	35
20	Jammu and Kashmir	30
21	Himachal Pradesh	25
22	Uttarakhand	20
23	Tripura	15
24	Manipur	12
25	Nagaland	10
26	Mizoram	8
27	Meghalaya	7
28	Arunachal Pradesh	5
29	Sikkim	4
30	Goa	3
31	Puducherry	2
32	Chandigarh	2
33	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	1
34	Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu	1
35	Ladakh	1
36	Lakshadweep	1

Human trafficking incidents in India for the year 2025 involve criminals coercing individuals into labor, sexual exploitation, or begging, frequently targeting at-risk populations such as women and children.

These offenses devastate lives and perpetuate exploitation. This article analyzes the estimated ranking of human trafficking incidents across India’s 28 states and 8 Union Territories (UTs) for 2025, detailing the statistics, elucidating why certain states report higher numbers, and revealing the underlying causes.

The estimates are based on data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2023, the 2024 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, trends from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and preliminary projections for 2025, as comprehensive data for 2025 will not be available until late 2026.

The 2025 projections estimate approximately 2,227 human trafficking cases nationwide, reflecting a 2% increase from the 2,183 cases reported in 2023.

Maharashtra ranks highest with 396 cases, followed by Telangana with 343, Odisha with 165, and Uttar Pradesh with 158. Bihar and Andhra Pradesh follow with 135 and 126 cases, respectively.

West Bengal reports 100 cases, while smaller UTs such as Lakshadweep, Ladakh, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu each report only 1 case.

These statistics are consistent with the NCRB’s 2023 analysis, which indicated that 40% of cases involved sexual exploitation, 23% involved forced labor, and 30% involved children.

The modest increase corresponds with improved detection efforts through Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs), although conviction rates remain low at 10%.

What factors contribute to states like Maharashtra and Telangana managing the majority of cases while smaller UTs report nearly none? Let us investigate the reasons.

Reasons Behind Discrepancies in Case Reporting

Maharashtra and Telangana: Centers of Urban Exploitation

Maharashtra has reported 396 cases, primarily due to its status as a destination for labor and sex trafficking.

The city of Mumbai, with a population of 1.2 crore, attracts migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, leading to 388 reported cases in 2023 according to the NCRB, with 40% linked to sex trafficking.

The presence of urban slums and construction sites facilitates forced labor, as noted in TIP 2024, which highlights Maharashtra’s Tier 2 status and the increased efficiency of AHTUs in identifying 20% more cases.

In Telangana, 343 cases are concentrated in Hyderabad’s IT and red-light districts, with 336 cases reported in 2023.

The state’s population of 3.8 crore and its cross-border connections with Andhra Pradesh contribute to 50% of these cases, as reported by the UNODC.

Odisha and Uttar Pradesh: Challenges in Rural Areas

Odisha’s 165 reported cases are associated with its tribal regions, where poverty drives 20% of girls into trafficking, according to the NCRB 2023.

Coastal routes also enable sea-based exploitation. Uttar Pradesh, with 158 cases, reflects the challenges faced by its 230 million residents and migration hotspots such as Lucknow, which saw 155 cases in 2023, with 30% of these involving children due to begging rings.

Bihar and Andhra Pradesh: Pathways of Migration

Bihar’s 135 cases are linked to its 13 crore impoverished residents who migrate to Delhi, with 132 cases in 2023 related to labor trafficking.

In Andhra Pradesh, 126 cases are associated with the ports of Visakhapatnam, where 123 cases in 2023 were focused on sex work, as per the NCRB.

Smaller States and Union Territories: Limited Incidence

Lakshadweep and Ladakh each report 1 case, attributed to their small populations (under 1 lakh) and remote locations.

Effective community policing helps maintain low numbers, contrasting sharply with the situation in urban Maharashtra.

What Factors Contribute to Human Trafficking?

Multiple factors account for the significant figures and regional disparities.

Economic Hardship and Migration

India’s poverty rate of 21% results in 2 crore migrants annually, according to ILO 2023, who fall into exploitation.

The rural impoverished in Bihar represent 50% of these cases, while cities in Maharashtra take advantage of incoming individuals.

Insufficient Law Enforcement

Only 10% of cases lead to convictions, as reported by NCRB 2023, due to a lack of personnel in AHTUs (one for every ten states).

Telangana has made progress with a 20% increase in detections in 2024, whereas Odisha remains behind.

Need for Inexpensive Labor

The construction and textile industries account for 40% of trafficked individuals, as noted by TIP 2024.

Sites in Uttar Pradesh report 30% of forced labor incidents.

International Trafficking Routes

Ports in Andhra Pradesh and borders in Uttar Pradesh facilitate 20% of international trafficking, according to UNODC.

Are These Figures Trustworthy?

The estimate of 2,227 is derived from NCRB 2023 (2,183 cases) with a projected 2% increase for 2025, based on detection trends from UNODC.

Underreporting (40-50% as per TIP) conceals additional cases, but the growth of AHTUs supports these statistics. The complete data for 2025 may fluctuate by ±15%.

Source

• National Crime Records Bureau. (2023). Crime in India 2023. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.