Hungary and Romania are both origin and transit countries for victims of human trafficking, considering the lack of work opportunities and the deep poverty in some parts of these countries. The TIP Report for 2019 lists both Hungary and Romania on the Tier 2 Watch List for different reasons. National and international organisations report an alarmingly high number of trafficking cases in both countries, while the number of trafficking investigations and the sentences for these crimes are low. Since 2010, the leadership of the two countries has tried to meet American and European expectations through various measures. New laws have been created in both Hungary and Romania, and there are numerous regulations that deal with victims of trafficking in human beings (hereinafter: THB). This desk research study, based on a comparison of Romania and Hungary, provides insights into the characteristics of THB in these countries.