France Sees 107% Surge in Minor Victims of Prostitution Exploitation

Despite a 9% rise in overall cases over three years, enforcement efforts remain uneven, with minors increasingly targeted and client penalizations stagnant.

Nearly half of the recorded victims of prostitution in France are minors, with a dramatic 107% increase in minor victim cases documented since 2021.
The total number of individuals in prostitution is estimated at 40,000, with 94% being women, highlighting the gendered nature of exploitation.
Client penalizations remain stable at 1,146 cases in 2024, despite the significant rise in victim numbers over recent years.
Enforcement actions are highly concentrated in Paris, which accounts for 58% of client penalizations, while 36 departments recorded none.
Authorities emphasize the invisibility of victims, particularly minors, and the systemic exploitation of vulnerabilities by traffickers and clients.