Are There Really More Slaves Now Than Anytime In History?

Investigating the popular claim that there are more slaves now than at any other point in history

It’s a claim that has become almost common knowledge, repeated by countless prominent media outlets such as the BBC, the Toronto Star, and the Guardian. The claim is featured prominently on the website of 50 for Freedom:

MYTH: RELATIVELY FEW PEOPLE ARE VICTIMS OF FORCED LABOUR

FACT: There are more people in slavery today than at any other time in history.

It’s a startling claim, one that has captivated and moved people around the world. Unfortunately, it’s also a claim resting on relatively little evidence.

While it likely goes without saying, it’s worth clarifying anyways: nothing in this article is intended to downplay the severity or brutality of modern slavery, nor to discredit the organizations that work against it. Of course, I agree with the unfortunate reality that many people worldwide are subject to forced labor. This article simply seeks to determine if the common claim that more slaves exist today than at any other point in history is accurate or not. Ultimately, the truth matters.