Walk Free’s Global Slavery Index 2023 says North Korea had the highest prevalence of modern slavery in the world, at 104.6 people per 1,000 population. The report also states that an estimated 50 million people were living in modern slavery in 2021, up from 40 million in 2016.

North Korea has the highest prevalence of modern slavery of any country, with forced labor, human trafficking and other activities impinging on individual freedom, according to the Global Slavery Index.

By this benchmark, reclusive and authoritarian North Korea has the highest prevalence of modern slavery (104.6 per 1,000 population), according to the Global Slavery Index 2023. Eritrea follows with 90.3 per 1,000, and Mauritania ranks third with 32 per 1,000.

North Korea has the highest prevalence of modern slavery in the world, according to the Global Slavery Index 2023, compiled by the Australian human rights organization Walk Free and published on May 24.

The Global Slavery Index 2023 estimates that "An estimated 50 million people were living in modern slavery on any given day in 2021." It further states: "The 10 countries with the highest prevalence of modern slavery in 2021 are North Korea, Eritrea, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Tajikistan, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Afghanistan, and Kuwait." In supporting data tables, North Korea is listed with an estimated prevalence of 104.6 people in modern slavery per 1,000 population and an estimated 2,696,000 people in modern slavery, based on 2021 data.

In the methodological annex for the Global Slavery Index, Walk Free provides Table 2: "Estimated prevalence and number of people in modern slavery, by country." In this table, North Korea is shown with an "Estimated prevalence of modern slavery (per 1,000 population)" of 104.6, an "Estimated number of people in modern slavery" of 2,696,000, and a population of 25,779,000. These figures are described as estimates of modern slavery prevalence for 2021.

Walk Free’s global findings page notes that "The 10 countries with the highest prevalence of modern slavery are: 1. North Korea 2. Eritrea 3. Mauritania 4. Saudi Arabia 5. Türkiye 6. Tajikistan 7. United Arab Emirates 8. Russia 9. Afghanistan 10. Kuwait." The page further explains: "In North Korea, one in 10 people are in modern slavery, with the vast majority being forced to work by the state." It also reiterates that North Korea and Eritrea have a high prevalence of state‑imposed forced labour and that North Korea remains in the list of countries with the highest prevalence in the 2023 Index based on 2021 data.

According to the 2023 Global Slavery Index, an estimated 104.6 in every thousand people were in modern slavery in North Korea at any point in 2021. In other words, 2,696,000 people experienced forced labour or forced marriage in North Korea in 2021. In terms of prevalence of modern slavery, North Korea ranks 1st globally and 1st within Asia and the Pacific.

The Global Slavery Index 2023 uses 2021 as its reference year, stating: "The 10 countries with the highest prevalence of modern slavery in 2021 are North Korea, Eritrea, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Tajikistan, the United Arab Emirates, Russia, Afghanistan, and Kuwait." It presents a ranking table where **North Korea is listed as number 1**, followed by Eritrea and Mauritania, explicitly identifying North Korea as the country with the highest prevalence of modern slavery in 2021 among all countries assessed.

North Korea, Eritrea and Mauritania have the highest prevalence of modern slavery in the world, according to the 2023 Global Slavery Index published Wednesday, which noted a worsening situation globally since its last survey five years earlier.

Reporting on the Global Slavery Index 2023, DW states: "An estimated 50 million people were 'living in situations of modern slavery' in 2021, according to the Global Slavery Index released by the human rights organization Walk Free." The article adds: "North Korea (104.6 people per 1,000 population), Eritrea (90.3), and Mauritania (32) have the highest number of modern slavery victims, the report said," indicating North Korea has the highest prevalence figure among countries assessed.

The joint ILO, Walk Free, and IOM report on global estimates explains that its figures are for the year 2021: "The latest Global Estimates indicate that 50 million people were living in modern slavery in 2021. Of these people, 28 million were in forced labour and 22 million were trapped in forced marriage." While this document provides global totals and not country rankings, it forms the statistical basis for the Global Slavery Index country prevalence estimates that rank North Korea first for 2021.

The IOM publication, produced with ILO and Walk Free, states: "The 2021 Global Estimates indicate there are 50 million people in situations of modern slavery on any given day, either forced to work against their will or in forced marriage." It clarifies that these estimates refer to 2021 and are used as input data for later analyses, including the Global Slavery Index that identifies the countries with the highest prevalence, where North Korea is ranked first.

North Korea, Eritrea and Mauritania have the highest prevalence of modern slavery in the world, according to the 2023 Global Slavery Index published Wednesday, which noted a “worsening” situation globally since its last survey five years earlier. The study said an estimated 50 million people were "living in situations of modern slavery" in 2021, an increase of 10 million over 2016.

Walk Free’s data maps file for the Global Slavery Index 2023 provides a ranked list under the heading "Rank Country. Prevalence." North Korea appears at rank 1 with a prevalence value of 104.6, followed by Eritrea at 90.3 and Mauritania at 32.0. This table represents the estimated prevalence of modern slavery per 1,000 population using 2021 data for the Index.

The report said an estimated 50 million people were "living in situations of modern slavery" in 2021, an increase of 10 million over 2016, when the problem was last measured. North Korea, Eritrea and Mauritania have the highest prevalence of modern slavery in the world according to the 2023 Global Slavery Index published Wednesday.

Approximately 10.5 percent of North Korea's population, including migrant workers and human trafficking victims, are categorized as modern slaves, according to data by the Walk Free Foundation. Our chart shows that only one other country comes close to this population share size. With 9.0 percent or an estimated number of 320,000 modern slaves, the African country of Eritrea comes in second on the ranking analyzing data from 2021.

Statista’s chart, citing Walk Free’s Global Slavery Index 2023, reports: "An estimated 50 million people were living in modern slavery as of 2021, according to the Walk Free's flagship report Global Slavery Index 2023." It specifies that "North Korea is the country with the highest rate of people experiencing modern slavery in 2023, with as many as 104 people living under these conditions out of every 1,000 inhabitants" and notes that these Global Slavery Index 2023 prevalence rates are derived from 2021 data.

It has long been known, though difficult to verify, that citizens of North Korea are forced to work by the State on a far greater scale than seen elsewhere in the world. Recent estimates reveal that 1 in 10 North Koreans are living in modern slavery with the vast majority being forced to work by the state. These estimates are based on the Global Slavery Index and related research on forced labour and other forms of modern slavery inside North Korea.

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.

A visual summary shared on social media referencing Walk Free states: "#North_Korea, #Eritrea and #Mauritania have the highest prevalence of modern #slavery in the #world, according to the 2023 Global Slavery Index." This reflects the Global Slavery Index 2023 country ranking, in which North Korea is placed first for prevalence based on 2021 data, ahead of Eritrea and Mauritania.

In a post for the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, Statista notes: "Did you know that approximately 10.5 percent of North Korea's population are categorized as modern slaves by the Walk Free Foundation?" This figure corresponds to Walk Free’s estimate that around one in ten people in North Korea are in modern slavery, consistent with the Global Slavery Index’s prevalence estimates for the country.

While much attention has been paid to forced labour in China’s Xinjiang region, the country’s northeastern provinces of Jilin and Liaoning also carry a high risk of modern slavery. Indeed, Reuters has estimated the number of North Korean victims at 20,000-100,000. These victims include North Korean workers who are trafficked or otherwise forced to work in conditions that meet the definition of modern slavery.

The interactive Global Slavery Index map explains: "An estimated 50 million people were living in modern slavery on any given day in 2021. This is nearly one in every 150 people in the world." Users can view country rankings by prevalence; in the prevalence ranking list, North Korea appears at the top position, indicating that it has the highest estimated prevalence of modern slavery among all countries for the 2021 reference year.

The 2018 Global Slavery Index provides a country by country ranking of the number of people in modern slavery (169 countries), as well as an analysis of the actions governments are taking to respond. In 2018, the Index also includes an analysis of state-imposed forced labour in North Korea.

The Wikipedia article on slavery in the 21st century, referencing Walk Free’s Global Slavery Index, notes that the Index in 2021 "estimated that there were about 49.6 million slaves around the world" and discusses which countries take the least action against modern slavery, listing North Korea among them. Although the article focuses more on 2018 estimates and global numbers, it contextualises modern slavery measurement and indicates that North Korea is consistently identified as a country with very high levels of modern slavery and poor government response.