The Full Wiki

Prostitution by country: Map


Wikipedia article:

Map showing all locations mentioned on Wikipedia article:

The laws concerning prostitution vary considerably around the world. In some jurisdictions prostitution is illegal. In other places prostitution itself (exchanging sex for money) is legal, but most surrounding activities (such as soliciting in a public place, operating a brothel and other forms of pimping) are illegal, often making it very difficult to engage in prostitution without breaking any law. In a few jurisdictions prostitution is legal and regulated.

Moral opposition (and legal prohibition) of prostitution come from two different sides: conservative and religious values associated with right wing politics and feminist values associated with left wing politics.

Prostitution plays a different role in each country today.


Prostitution is illegal in most countries in Africa. Nevertheless, it is common, driven by the widespread poverty in many sub-Saharan African countries, and is one of the drivers for the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Social breakdown and poverty caused by civil war in several African countries has caused further increases in the rate of prostitution in those countries. For these reasons, some African countries have also become destinations for sex tourism.


By country


In Asia, the main characteristic of the region is the very big discrepancy between the laws which exist on the books and what occurs in practice. For example, in Thailandmarker prostitution is illegal, but in practice it is tolerated and regulated, and the country is a destination for sex tourism. Such situations are common in many Asian countries. In these countries there is a very strong double standard: while it is considered acceptable for men to use the services of the prostitutes, the prostitutes themselves are stigmatized by the whole society, as "respectable" women are expected to refrain from sexual activity until marriage.


The most common legal system in the European Union is that which allows prostitution itself (the exchange of sex for money) but prohibits the associated activities (brothels, pimping etc) in an attempt to make it more difficult to engage in prostitution.

In Swedenmarker, Norwaymarker and Icelandmarker it is illegal to pay for sex (the client commits a crime, but not the prostitute). The reason for this law is the belief that prostitution is a form of exploitation of women and male dominance over women, and also the need to prevent human trafficking and crime.

In 1999, Swedenmarker become the first country in the world to make it a crime to pay for sex, but not to be a prostitute. The law attracted international attention and became known as "the Swedish model". Some saw it as a victory of feminism and gender equality (especially since Sweden is ranked as the world leader in terms of gender equality), others (including sex positive feminists) criticized it.

A similar law was passed in Norwaymarker (in 2009) and in Icelandmarker (in 2009).

In Netherlandsmarker, prostitution is legal, regulated, accepted by society and very common (in 2003 it was estimated that in Amsterdammarker, one woman in 35 was working as prostitute, compared to one in 300 in Londonmarker). The majority of these women are foreigners.

The enforcement of the anti-prostitution laws varies by country, One example is Belgiummarker, where brothels (and pimping) are illegal, but in practice they are tolerated, operate quite openely and in some parts of the country the situation is similar with that from neighboring Netherlandsmarker.

Prostitution is illegal in most of the ex-communist countries of Eastern Europe. Here prostitution was outlawed by the former communist regimes and these countries chose to keep it illegal even after the fall of the communists.

By country

North America

United States

Prostitution laws in the United States are determined at the state level. The practice is illegal in all but one of its 50 states.

Nevadamarker is the only US state which allows some legal prostitution in some of its counties. Currently 8 out of Nevada's 16 counties have active brothels. Prostitution outside these brothels is illegal throughout the state; prostitution is illegal in the major metropolitan areas (Las Vegas, Renomarker, and Carson Citymarker). Prostitution is heavily regulated by the state of Nevada. See Prostitution in Nevada.

Prsostitution in Rhode Islandmarker was outlawed in 2009. See Prostitution in Rhode Island.


South America


In Argentinamarker prostitution itself (exchanging sex for money) is legal, but organized prostitution (brothels, prostitution rings, pimping etc) is illegal. According to Article 19 of the Constitution: ‘private actions that in no way offend order and public morals or do damage to a third party are reserved to be judged by God and fall outside the competence of judges’.

External links



  3. [1]
  4. [2]
  5., May 15, 2003. Retrieved August 18, 2009.
  6. 2008 Human Rights Reports: Argentina

Embed code:

Got something to say? Make a comment.
Your name
Your email address