Final answer:
An estimated 40.3 million people are in modern slavery globally, including victims of sex trafficking. This includes both adults and children, with an alarming number of the latter being forced into labor, including sex trafficking.
Step-by-step explanation:
Estimating the number of people who are victims of sex trafficking each year is challenging due to the covert nature of the crime. However, the International Labour Organization estimated that in 2016, approximately 40.3 million people globally were bound in modern slavery, which includes victims of human trafficking for sex or labor.
It's important to acknowledge that this is a global issue and no country, including the United States, is immune. In fact, current research and reports suggest that the problem is pervasive worldwide. Furthermore, contemporary reports highlight an increase in the number of children entering the workforce, which can include the worst forms of child labor, such as sex trafficking. As of the beginning of 2020, there were an estimated 63 million girls and 97 million boys in child labor around the world, with numbers expected to rise.