What Do the Tiers of the Trafficking in Persons Report Mean?

Countries that fully comply with the The Trafficking in Persons Act’s minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

Countries that do not fully comply with the minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance.

Countries on Tier 2 requiring special scrutiny because of a high or significantly increasing number of victims; failure to provide evidence of increasing efforts to combat trafficking in persons; or an assessment as Tier 2 based on commitments to take action over the next year.

Countries that neither satisfy the minimum standards nor demonstrate a significant effort to come into compliance. Countries in this tier are subject to potential non-humanitarian and non-trade sanctions.