Estimates of numbers engaged in the ASM sector vary widely. They range between 13 and 20 million men, women, and children from over 50 developing countries-with 100 million more dependent on this sector for their livelihood. It is estimated that there are many more people engaged in ASM than employed by multinational mining companies.

Growth in ASM numbers is expected to continue in line with higher prices for mineral commodities in OECD countries, driven by the burgeoning demand from emerging economies such as China and India.

The range of commodities attracting the attention of artisanal miners is diverse. Although mining in gemstones and gold attracts many poor people into ASM, the demands for industrial
minerals and coal are also significant.

Women are estimated to constitute approximately 30% of the ASM sector. They generally derive far fewer benefits from ASM than their male counterparts yet are more affected by negative impacts from ASM. In many countries, women's voices are virtually absent in political decision-making at national, regional and local levels. Consequently, women's perspectives, needs, knowledge and proposed solutions are being largely ignored.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that children account for 7.7% of the total of ASM workers, or 1.0 to 1.5 million under the age of 18 years old evenly split between boys and girls. CASM has partnered with the ILO on this issue as it is almost exclusively an ASM issue, long removed from industrial mining. The ILO International Program for the Elimination of Child Labor (IPEC) is raising awareness of the prevalence of hazardous child labor in ASM. They have classified child labor in mining as one of the “Worst Form of Child Labor.” Eliminating this relatively small number of children from one of the worst forms of child labor is an achievable goal.