The article is devoted to the criminological aspects of child exploitation. It is noted that among the crimes against freedom, honor and dignity, child exploitation is one of the least common. In 2013, the prosecutor’s office accounted for 11 cases of child exploitation, in 2014 it registered 4 cases, in 2015 – 2, in 2016 – 6, in 2017 – 1, in 2018 – 16, in 2019 – 9 cases of such crimes. Thus, for the period from 2013 to 2019, only 49 cases of child exploitation were recorded. Only the child's substitution is included in the official statistical reporting less frequently than this crime (only 4 such acts were registered during the specified period).
 It is noted that child exploitation is a high-latent crime. Increased level of latency of this action is facilitated by the behavior of the victims, their unwillingness to go to different instances to protect their rights. Examination of specific criminal proceedings shows that the adolescents – the victims of this assault – have consented to work voluntarily. In some cases, the fact of exploitation of the child became known only because of the significant harm inflicted on the health of the minor.
 Based on the analysis of the materials of nine criminal cases (proceedings) considered by the courts of Ukraine for the period from 2013 to 2019, a criminological portrait of the offender committing child exploitation has been developed: this is not a previously convicted man, a citizen of Ukraine, Ukrainian by nationality, aged 40–50 years old, with a complete secondary education, which does not work anywhere, is not married, which is characterized by such negative traits as the desire to live and ensure own well-being at all costs, parsimony, irresponsibility, lightness, as well as resourcefulness, energy, dedication, organizational skills.
 Characteristic features of victims of child exploitation are also considered. To this end, the author summarizes the data relating to the 17 victims of the said assault. It was found that eight victims of this activity worked on construction, three – on agricultural works, three – on garbage sorting works, two – on auxiliary works, another worked as a loader.
 The main determinants of child exploitation have been analyzed and directions for preventing such encroach have been proposed.