Nigeria tops list of trafficking victims in Denmark

Nigeria accounts for the largest share of trafficking victims identified in Denmark, according to a new report by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA).

The findings underline a deepening crisis that continues to place hundreds of vulnerable Nigerians, mostly women, at risk each year.

Covering the period 2021 to 2025, the report assesses Denmark’s efforts to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and prosecute offenders. Despite new laws, increased funding, and expanded anti-trafficking structures in Denmark, GRETA’s findings show that the majority of victims detected in the country remain foreign nationals, with Nigerians again topping the list.

Between 2020 and 2024, Danish authorities identified 420 victims of trafficking. Women made up 64 percent of these cases, while children accounted for less than 7 percent. Nigeria emerged as the single most represented country of origin, responsible for 20 percent of all identified victims – the highest from any nation. It was followed by Thailand.

Many were trafficked for sexual exploitation, which remains the dominant form of abuse documented in Denmark.

“Sexual exploitation has remained the predominant form of exploitation (49%), followed by forced labour (21%) and forced criminality (16%),” the repot published November 24 said.

“The vast majority of identified victims were foreign nationals originating from countries outside the EU, with Nigeria (20%) and Thailand (14%) continuing to be among the most frequently represented countries of origin. Only 12 Danish victims of trafficking were identified during the reporting period.”

Asylum requests denied

The report highlights that Nigerian women in prostitution remain particularly vulnerable, with many falling into trafficking networks that use coercion, debt bondage, false job promises, and, increasingly, digital platforms to recruit victims.

GRETA notes that traffickers now rely heavily on social media, encrypted messaging apps, and other digital tools to lure and control victims, a trend that has complicated detection and protection efforts.

The Danish government has introduced a number of reforms aimed at strengthening its response. These include the creation of a new law in 2022 criminalizing exploitation under “manifestly unreasonable conditions,” the launch of a dedicated National Special Crime Unit, and expanded child-protection measures under the 2024 Children’s Act.

Denmark also continues to implement national anti-trafficking action plans, with the sixth plan covering 2022–2025 supported by increased funding.

Yet GRETA warns that gaps remain – particularly in the protection of foreign victims seeking asylum.

The report details several appeal cases involving Nigerians whose asylum claims were rejected despite claims of trafficking, threats, or violence. In each case reviewed, the Danish Refugee Appeals Board ruled that the individuals could seek protection in Nigeria, raising concerns among some civil society groups that the system may not sufficiently account for the risks returnees face.

From 2020 to 2023, Denmark facilitated the voluntary return of 120 identified victims, including nine Nigerians. Most were women trafficked for sexual exploitation or men forced into labour. Nigerian nationals continue to face a high risk of re-trafficking or retaliation upon return, according to NGOs working in the sector.