Survivors are identified, supported to exit and remain out of modern slavery
Criminal justice mechanisms address modern slavery
Coordination and accountability mechanisms for the central government are in place
Attitudes, social systems and institutions that enable modern slavery are addressed
Businesses and governments through their public procurement stop sourcing goods and services that use modern slavery
Government response rating: AAA
Numerical range: 59 to 64
The general characteristics of a country that has received a rating of AAA are as follows:
The government has an implemented an effective and comprehensive response to all forms of modern slavery, with effective emergency and long-term reintegration victim support services, a strong criminal justice framework, high levels of coordination and collaboration, measures to address all forms of vulnerability, and strong government procurement policies and legislation to ensure that slavery is not present in business supply chains. There is no evidence of criminalisation or deportation of victims.
Government response rating: AA
Numerical range: 53 to 58
The general characteristics of a country that has received a rating of AA are as follows:
The government has implemented a comprehensive response to most forms of modern slavery, with strong victim support services, a robust criminal justice framework, demonstrated coordination and collaboration, measures to address vulnerability, and government procurement guidelines and/or supply chain policies or legislation to ensure that slavery is not present in business supply chains.
Government response rating: A
Numerical range: 47 to 52
The general characteristics of a country that has received a rating of A are as follows:
The government has implemented key components of a holistic response to some forms of modern slavery, with strong victim support services, a strong criminal justice framework, demonstrated coordination and collaboration, measures to address vulnerability, and may have taken action to ensure that government procurement policies do not encourage slavery.
Government response rating: BBB
Numerical range: 41 to 46
The general characteristics of a country that has received a rating of BBB are as follows:
The government has implemented key components of a holistic response to modern slavery, with victim support services, a strong criminal justice response, evidence of coordination and collaboration, and protections in place for vulnerable populations. Governments may be beginning to address slavery in supply chains of government procurement, or of businesses operating within their territory. There may be evidence that some government policies and practices may criminalise and/or cause victims to be deported.
Government response rating: BB
Numerical range: 35 to 40
The general characteristics of a country that has received a rating of BB are as follows:
The government has introduced a response to modern slavery, which includes short term victim support services, a criminal justice framework that criminalises some forms of modern slavery, a body to coordinate the response, and protections for those vulnerable to modern slavery.There may be evidence that some government policies and practices may criminalise and/or cause victims to be deported, and/or facilitate slavery.
Government response rating: B
Numerical range: 29 to 34
The general characteristics of a country that has received a rating of B are as follows:
The government has introduced a response to modern slavery, with limited victim support services, a criminal justice framework that criminalises some forms of modern slavery, (or has recently amended inadequate legislation and policies), a body or mechanisms that coordinate the response, and has policies that provide some protection for those vulnerable to modern slavery. There is evidence that some government policies and practices may criminalise and/or deport victims, and/or facilitate slavery. Services may be provided by International Organisations (IOs)/ NGOs with international funding, sometimes with government monetary or in-kind support.
Government response rating: CCC
Numerical range: 23 to 28
The general characteristics of a country that has received a rating of CCC are as follows:
The government has a response to modern slavery, with limited victim support services, a criminal justice framework that criminalises some forms of modern slavery, has a national action plan and/or national coordination body, and has policies that provide some protections for those vulnerable to modern slavery. There is evidence that some government policies and practices may criminalise and/or deport victims, and/ or facilitate slavery. Services may be largely provided by IOs/NGOs with international funding, with limited government funding or in-kind support.
Government response rating: CC
Numerical range: 17 to 22
The general characteristics of a country that has received a rating of CC are as follows:
The government has a limited response to modern slavery, with largely basic victim support services, a limited criminal justice framework, limited coordination or collaboration mechanism, and few protections for those vulnerable to modern slavery.There may be evidence that some government policies and practices facilitate slavery. Services are largely provided by IOs/NGOs with limited government funding or in-kind support.
Government response rating: C
Numerical range: 11 to 16
The general characteristics of a country that has received a rating of C are as follows:
The government response to modern slavery is inadequate, with limited and/or few victim support services, a weak criminal justice framework, weak coordination or collaboration, while little is being done to address vulnerability.There are government practices and policies that facilitate slavery. Services, where available, are largely provided by IOs/NGOs with little government funding or in-kind support.
Government response rating: D
Numerical range: <0 to 10
The general characteristics of a country that has received a rating of D are as follows:
The government has a wholly inadequate response to modern slavery, and/ or there is evidence of government sanctioned modern slavery. However, countries in this category may be experiencing high levels of poverty and internal conflict that may prevent, or hinder a response to modern slavery.
How to interpret Ratings
The table below shows the prevalence of slavery, based on the percentage of the population enslaved and the estimated number of people enslaved by Country. The table can be sorted by clicking on the column title or the arrows. The colour scheme (see legend below) used in the bar charts also indicate if the number is relatively high to low. In order to see more detailed information about a country, you can click on the country’s name.
Ratings Legend
How did we measure Prevalence?
Measuring modern slavery is a very difficult undertaking due to the hidden nature of the crime. Surveys represent the most accurate method for estimating the numbers of people enslaved. This year, the Walk Free Foundation commissioned Gallup Inc. to conduct nationally representative, random-sample surveys in seven countries: Nepal, Indonesia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Russia, Pakistan, and Nigeria. The results from these surveys were considered alongside data from other pre-existing surveys and a review of secondary sources for 58 countries. Data from a total of 19 countries was obtained from random sample surveys, including the seven Gallup survey countries. An extrapolation method was developed for the remaining countries that took into account factors including vulnerability, geography, and country context to produce an appropriate multiplier. The preliminary prevalence estimates were then reviewed against secondary source estimates and qualitative information collated for 58 countries. Final country level adjustments were made to specific countries where deemed appropriate, in particular for Small Island Developing States.
To learn more about how we estimated prevalence, click here.
How to interpret Government Response
The Aster plot graph below indicates a government’s response to slavery. Each wedge in the chart represents one of the five outcomes we evaluated when determining Government Response. The height of each wedge indicates the score(%). Higher values indicate stronger Government Response. Colour is also used to indicate how strong or weak a country’s response was for each outcome. The colour legend is below. Rolling over each wedge in the graph will display the score received for each outcome in our evaluation. The alphabetical depiction is a ‘rating’ of the strength of government responses to modern slavery. The highest possible rating is an AAA, and the lowest a D.
Government Response Outcomes (%)
How did we measure effective government response?
A methodology was developed to measure how well governments are responding to modern slavery in 167 countries. A team of researchers collected data 32 data points against the following five outcomes for each country:
Survivors are identified, supported to exit and remain out of modern slavery;
Criminal justice mechanisms address modern slavery;
Coordination and accountability mechanisms for the central government are in place;
Attitudes, social systems and institutions that enable modern slavery are addressed;
Businesses and governments through their public procurement stop sourcing goods and services that use modern slavery.
In April 2014, the Walk Free Foundation also conducted a survey of 167 governments; information from the 39 responses were incorporated into relevant country research.
To learn more about the methodology and the rating system used to measure government response, click here.
How to interpret Government Response
In the Government Response table, each country was given a letter rating based the strength of government responses to modern slavery. The highest possible rating is an AAA, and the lowest a D. Colour is used to indicate how strong or weak a country’s response was for each of five outcomes we assessed (see the legend below). Rolling over a row will allow you to see the scores (as a %) for each outcome. Higher values indicate stronger government response. All of the columns in the table can be sorted by clicking on the column title. The order of the sort can be reversed by clicking on the title again.
Government Response Outcomes (%)
How did we measure effective government response?
A methodology was developed to measure how well governments are responding to modern slavery in 167 countries. A team of researchers collected data 31 data points against the following five outcomes for each country:
Survivors are identified, supported to exit and remain out of modern slavery;
Criminal justice mechanisms address modern slavery;
Coordination and accountability mechanisms for the central government are in place;
Attitudes, social systems and institutions that enable modern slavery are addressed;
Businesses and governments through their public procurement stop sourcing goods and services that use modern slavery.
In April 2014, the Walk Free Foundation also conducted a survey of 167 governments; information from the 39 responses were incorporated into relevant country research.
To learn more about the methodology and the rating system used to measure government response, click here.
How to interpret vulnerability
The vulnerability table shows factors that put a country’s residents at risk of modern slavery. The higher the score, the more vulnerable a country’s population is to slavery. Colour is also used to indicate how vulnerable each country is by each of the 5 dimensions. The colour legend is below.
Vulnerability Dimension(%)
How did we measure vulnerability?
The third aim of the Global Slavery Index is to explore the contextual factors that impact the vulnerability of people in a country to modern slavery. Various sources of information were collected on 37 variables from reputable sources across five dimensions that affect vulnerability to enslavement such as:
National anti-slavery policies to combat modern slavery;
The availability of human rights protections in a country;
The level of economic and social development in a country;
The level of state stability in a country; and
The extent of women’s rights and levels of discrimination in a country.
The research attempts to understand the importance of these factors or drivers which may influence the context of vulnerability in countries to modern slavery.
To learn more about the methodology used to determine vulnerability, click here.
How to interpret vulnerability
In the vulnerability table, colour is used to indicate how vulnerable a country’s population is to Modern Slavery across five dimensions. (see the legend below) Rolling over a row will allow you to see the scores (as a %) that each country received. The higher the score, the more vulnerable a country’s population is to slavery. All of the columns in the table can be sorted by clicking on the column title. The order of the sort can be reversed by clicking on the title again.
Vulnerability Dimension(%)
How did we measure vulnerability?
The third aim of the Global Slavery Index is to explore the contextual factors that impact the vulnerability of people in a country to modern slavery. Various sources of information were collected on 37 variables from reputable sources across five dimensions that affect vulnerability to enslavement such as:
National anti-slavery policies to combat modern slavery;
The availability of human rights protections in a country;
The level of economic and social development in a country;
The level of state stability in a country; and
The extent of women’s rights and levels of discrimination in a country.
The research attempts to understand the importance of these factors or drivers which may influence the context of vulnerability in countries to modern slavery.
To learn more about the methodology used to determine vulnerability, click here.