iso2,name,native_name,region,memberships,depth,last_reviewed,model,model_label,model_note,selling_status,selling_penalty,buying_status,buying_penalty,brothels_status,brothels_penalty,shared_premises_status,shared_premises_penalty,procuring_status,procuring_penalty,advertising_status,advertising_penalty,platforms_status,platforms_penalty,street_status,street_penalty,registration_status,registration_penalty,tax_status,tax_penalty,migrants_status,migrants_penalty,selling_max_penalty,buying_max_penalty,key_laws,key_law_urls,subnational_entries,pending_items,source_count,summary,profile_url
AF,Afghanistan,افغانستان,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Since August 2021 the de facto (Taliban) authorities have suspended the 2004 Constitution and apply their interpretation of Hanafi Sharia, under which zina (any sexual intercourse outside marriage) is a hudud crime. The status of the Republic-era laws, including the 2017 Penal Code, remained unknown as of 2023. Selling and buying sex both fall within the general zina offence; this is the general extramarital-sex offence, not a prostitution-specific law.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,flogging,flogging,"Penal Code 2017, as described by UNAMA",https://unama.unmissions.org/sites/default/files/hr_brief_on_cpdp_03052023-_english_0.pdf,0,0,2,"Since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, Afghanistan has had no published, codified law on prostitution that could be checked. The de facto authorities suspended the 2004 Constitution and Republic-era laws pending review, and say Sharia is the applicable framework. Sex outside marriage (zina) is treated as a hudud crime. UNAMA documented a sharp rise in judicial floggings after November 2022, mostly for zina, adultery and ""running away from home"", typically 30 to 39 lashes and sometimes up to 100. Before 2021, the 2017 Penal Code punished zina with long-term imprisonment where it was not punished as hudud. Every party to commercial sex, including third parties, therefore faces corporal punishment and imprisonment.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/afghanistan/
AL,Albania,Shqipëria,Europe,CoE,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Both selling and paying for sex are criminal offences under Article 113 of the Criminal Code (fine or up to three years). Buyers were added in 2012. Exploiting prostitution and keeping premises for it are separate, heavier crimes.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,up to 3 years,up to 3 years,"Criminal Code (Law No. 7895 of 27 January 1995, as amended)",https://qbz.gov.al/preview/a2b117e6-69b2-4355-aa49-78967c31bf4d,0,0,1,"Albania criminalises both parties. Article 113 of the Criminal Code punishes engaging in prostitution with a fine or up to three years' imprisonment, and since Law No. 23/2012 the same penalty applies to giving remuneration for prostitution for personal benefit, that is, to buyers. Inducing, mediating or receiving remuneration for prostitution carries two to five years (seven to fifteen in aggravated cases), and keeping, operating, financing or renting premises for prostitution a fine or up to ten years. Law No. 8/2026 of 28 January 2026 amended Article 114 and added a separate offence of exploiting the prostitution of minors. No specific offence of advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/albania/
DZ,Algeria,الجزائر,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Borderline. The Penal Code, as reproduced in the consolidations consulted, has no offence of selling or buying sex in private and no general offence of sex outside marriage (only adultery, on a spouse's complaint). It criminalises public soliciting (Article 347), procuring (Articles 343–344) and premises where prostitution is tolerated (Articles 346 and 348). UN gender-justice reviews describe prostitution as illegal; this classification follows the statutory text, and enforcement practice was not checked.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 2 years,,"Penal Code (Ordinance No. 66-156 of 8 June 1966), as amended",https://www.algdz.com/fr/politique/lois-et-reglementations/code-penal,0,0,2,"Algeria's Penal Code (Ordinance No. 66-156 of 1966) targets the organisation and visibility of prostitution rather than the private sale of sex. Publicly soliciting people to debauchery by gestures, words, writings or any other means carries six months to two years (Article 347). Aiding or protecting another's prostitution, sharing its proceeds, living with a person who habitually engages in it, recruiting or acting as an intermediary carries two to five years (Article 343), and five to ten years in aggravated cases (Article 344). Owners and managers of hotels, bars and other places open to the public who tolerate prostitution there face two to five years, loss of licence and closure (Article 346). Paying for sex is not a specific offence. UN reviews nonetheless describe prostitution as illegal. The official consolidated text could not be opened for this overview.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/algeria/
AD,Andorra,Andorra,Europe,CoE,overview,2026-10-30,neo-abolitionism,Buying criminalised (Nordic model),"The Public Security Law 30/2018 prohibits soliciting or obtaining sexual relations from a person engaged in prostitution in exchange for payment and makes it a serious administrative infringement for the client; the person selling is not sanctioned. The Penal Code criminalises running or financing a prostitution establishment, any promotion or facilitation of another's prostitution, and its online publicity. Because the client sanction is administrative rather than criminal, Andorra is a variant of the Nordic model.",restricted,none,illegal,administrative,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,"€1,000 fine",Qualified Law 9/2005 of 21 February on the Penal Code | Qualified Law 30/2018 of 6 December on Public Security,https://portaljuridicandorra.ad/L2005009 | https://www.consellgeneral.ad/fitxers/documents/lleis-2018/llei-30-2018-qualificada-de-seguretat-publica,0,1,6,"Andorra sanctions the client, not the seller. Since Llei 30/2018 qualificada de seguretat pública entered into force in 2019, soliciting or obtaining paid sexual relations is a serious administrative infringement (fine of €501–1,000 in the consolidated text). The Penal Code (Llei 9/2005) punishes running or financing a prostitution establishment (art. 150) and recruiting for, promoting, facilitating or favouring another person's prostitution (art. 151, three months to three years), with a higher penalty for promoting or publicising prostitution through the media or the internet. Coercive procuring is punished under art. 152. In July 2026 the Consell General adopted a Penal Code reform that, according to press reports, adds an offence of facilitating sexual services in the digital environment; its final text was not reviewed.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/andorra/
AO,Angola,,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","This is a borderline case. The 2020 Penal Code has no offence of selling or buying sex, and its lenocínio offence (art. 189) is narrower than in most abolitionist systems. Promoting or facilitating another's prostitution for profit is a crime only where the offender exploits economic need or particular vulnerability, or uses violence, threat or fraud. Consensual, non-exploitative organisation is therefore not expressly criminalised, but there is no licensing or labour regime either.",legal,none,legal,none,restricted,criminal,,,restricted,criminal,legal,none,,,,,,,,,,,,,Law No. 38/20 of 11 November approving the Angolan Penal Code,https://sic.gov.ao/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Novo-Codigo-Penal-Angolano.pdf,0,0,1,"Angola's Penal Code, approved by Lei n.º 38/20 of 11 November 2020 and in force since February 2021, replaced the Portuguese Penal Code of 1886. It contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. Lenocínio (art. 189) punishes promoting, favouring or facilitating another person's prostitution for profit only where the offender exploits economic need or particular vulnerability, or coerces through violence, threat or fraud. The penalty is one to eight years, rising to five to ten years for exploiting mental incapacity or doing so as a profession. Luring or coercing a person into prostitution abroad is sexual trafficking (art. 190). Any involvement of persons under 18 is separately criminalised (arts. 195–197).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/angola/
AG,Antigua and Barbuda,,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Sexual Offences Act 1995 criminalises procuring a person for prostitution (s. 16), brothel-keeping (s. 21) and living on the earnings of prostitution or soliciting for immoral purposes 'in any place' (s. 22); the Small Charges Act (Cap. 405) adds public loitering and soliciting offences and a separate brothel offence.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 2 months,,"Sexual Offences Act 1995 (No. 9 of 1995) | Small Charges Act, Cap. 405",https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/a1995-9.pdf | https://laws.gov.ag/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/cap-405.pdf,0,0,3,"In Antigua and Barbuda, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the activities around them are. Under the Sexual Offences Act 1995, procuring another person for prostitution or to frequent a brothel carries fifteen years; keeping or managing a brothel, or letting or permitting premises to be used as one, carries a $10,000 fine and five years on summary conviction; knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution or soliciting 'in any place' for immoral purposes carries five years. The Small Charges Act penalises loitering in public for prostitution 'to the annoyance of the public' (two months) and keeping a brothel (fine up to $1,000). No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/antigua-and-barbuda/
AR,Argentina,Argentina,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not federal offences, but brothels have been banned nationwide since the 1936 venereal disease law (Law 12.331), and the Penal Code punishes promoting or facilitating another person's prostitution and economically exploiting it even with the person's consent (arts. 125 bis and 127, as amended in 2012). A 2011 decree bans advertisements offering sexual services. Local contravention codes add rules on soliciting in public space.",restricted,administrative,restricted,administrative,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,administrative,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Law 12.331 on the prevention of venereal diseases (1936) | Penal Code of the Nation (Law 11.179, consolidated text), as amended by Law 26.842 of 2012 | Decree 936/2011 on eradicating messages and images that encourage sexual exploitation",https://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/190000-194999/194957/norma.htm | https://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/15000-19999/16546/texact.htm | https://servicios.infoleg.gob.ar/infolegInternet/anexos/180000-184999/184133/norma.htm,1,0,6,"Argentina follows an abolitionist model. Law 12.331 of 1936 prohibits establishing houses or premises where prostitution is practised or incited, and punishes those who keep, administer or run them. Since Law 26.842 of 2012 the Penal Code punishes whoever promotes or facilitates the prostitution of a person, and whoever economically exploits it, with four to six years even if the person consents, and five to ten with deception, violence, abuse or other aggravating circumstances. Decree 936 of 2011 prohibits, by any medium, advertisements that promote sexual offers or seek people for the sex trade, enforced by a monitoring office in the Ministry of Justice. Selling and buying are not federal crimes, but local codes regulate public soliciting: in the City of Buenos Aires, ostensibly offering or seeking sexual services in unauthorised public spaces is a contravention.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/argentina/
AM,Armenia,Հայաստան,Europe,CoE,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence (Article 179.1 of the 1985 Code of Administrative Offences, still in force). Buying is not an offence. The 2021 Criminal Code, in force since 1 July 2022, punishes pimping (inducing or involving another person in prostitution for gain) and facilitating prostitution, which covers running an establishment for it or providing premises or a vehicle.",illegal,administrative,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,,,,,,,,,,,,fine,,Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Armenia (1985) | Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia (HO-199-N of 5 May 2021),https://www.arlis.am/en/acts/224995 | https://www.arlis.am/hy/acts/153080,0,0,2,"In Armenia engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence punished by a fine of twenty times the minimum salary unit used for fines, forty times for a repeat within a year; trafficking and exploitation victims are released from liability for offences committed under coercion. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. The Criminal Code of 2021 defines prostitution as regularly, or with that intent, performing sexual acts with another person for remuneration or its promise. Pimping (Article 298) carries a fine, community work, restriction of liberty or two to five years; facilitating prostitution by creating, managing or keeping an establishment for it, or providing a flat, building, car or other dwelling (Article 299), carries a fine, community work or up to three years.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/armenia/
AU,Australia,,Oceania,,profile,2026-10-30,decriminalisation,Decriminalisation,"Prostitution law is made by the six states and two territories, so there is no single national model. The label describes the most common position: New South Wales, Victoria, the Northern Territory and Queensland have removed sex-work-specific criminal offences and regulate sex work businesses mainly through planning, workplace and anti-discrimination law. The ACT runs a registration regime; Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania keep selling legal but criminalise brothels and most third-party involvement. Each unit is listed separately.",legal,,varies,criminal,varies,criminal,varies,criminal,varies,criminal,varies,criminal,varies,,varies,criminal,varies,,legal,,legal,,,,"Summary Offences Act 1988 (NSW) | Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022 (Vic) | Criminal Code (Decriminalising Sex Work) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 (Qld) | Sex Industry Act 2019 (NT) | Sex Work Act 1992 (ACT) | Prostitution Act 2000 (WA) | Criminal Code (WA), in the Criminal Code Act Compilation Act 1913 | Summary Offences Act 1953 (SA) | Sex Industry Offences Act 2005 (Tas) | Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth) | Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), Schedule (Criminal Code)",https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1988-025 | https://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/as-made/acts/sex-work-decriminalisation-act-2022 | https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/asmade/act-2024-023 | https://legislation.nt.gov.au/api/sitecore/Act/PDF?id=12378 | https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/1992-64/ | https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_a2003.html&view=consolidated | https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/law_a196.html&view=consolidated | https://www.legislation.sa.gov.au/lz?path=%2Fc%2Fa%2Fsummary%20offences%20act%201953 | https://www.legislation.tas.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/act-2005-042 | https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2021A00076/latest/text | https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A04868/latest/text/2,8,3,21,"Australia has eight prostitution regimes. Four jurisdictions, have decriminalised sex work: New South Wales (1995), the Northern Territory (in force 12 June 2020), Victoria (in two stages, 2022 and 2023) and Queensland (in force 2 August 2024; no repeal found as of October 2026). The ACT requires commercial brothels and escort agencies to register and confines brothels to prescribed locations. Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania allow independent sex work but criminalise brothel-keeping or commercial operation, living on earnings and street soliciting. Advertising rules differ sharply: New South Wales still makes it an offence to advertise that a person is available for prostitution, while Queensland repealed all such controls in 2024. Commonwealth law adds trafficking offences and shields Australian hosts from state-law liability for unknown content.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/australia/
AT,Austria,Österreich,Europe,EU | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,regulation,Regulation (legal & licensed),"Prostitution is legal but there is no federal prostitution act: each of the nine Länder has its own law on where and how it may take place, and most allow it only in approved brothels (some also allow house visits). Federal law adds criminal offences against exploitation (§§ 215-217 StGB), compulsory health checks, income tax and social insurance. Vorarlberg is the exception in practice: brothels need a permit and none has ever been granted.",regulated,administrative,restricted,administrative,regulated,administrative,,,restricted,criminal,varies,administrative,,,,,,,,,,,,Vienna: €500 fine,Criminal Code (StGB) | Vienna Prostitution Act 2011 | Vorarlberg Public Morals Police Act | Upper Austria Sexual Services Act,https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=Bundesnormen&Gesetzesnummer=10002296&Paragraf=216 | https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=LrW&Gesetzesnummer=20000170 | https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/GeltendeFassung.wxe?Abfrage=LrVbg&Gesetzesnummer=20000263 | https://www.ris.bka.gv.at/NormDokument.wxe?Abfrage=LrOO&Gesetzesnummer=20000696&Paragraf=3,4,0,8,"Selling and buying sex between adults are legal in Austria, but the rules are set by nine separate Land laws. Sex work is generally allowed only in approved brothels or other permitted places; Vienna also allows street-based work outside residential areas and fines clients who make contact where it is banned. Sex workers must undergo a health check every six weeks. Profiting from someone else's prostitution is a crime when it amounts to exploitation (§ 216 StGB). There is no federal rule on advertising; several Länder restrict it, in Vienna and Upper Austria in particular for unsafe-sex practices.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/austria/
AZ,Azerbaijan,Azərbaycan,Europe,CoE,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence under Article 524 of the 2015 Code of Administrative Offences (fine of AZN 100); since an amendment published in January 2026, making open calls to engage in prostitution online carries AZN 500. Buying is not expressly penalised. Involving a person in prostitution for gain and keeping dens of debauchery are crimes (Articles 243 and 244 of the Criminal Code).",illegal,administrative,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,administrative,,,,,,,,,,,AZN 500 fine,,Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Azerbaijan (2015) | Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan (1999) | Law on Advertising (No. 1281-IVQ of 15 May 2015),https://e-qanun.az/framework/46960 | https://e-qanun.az/framework/46947 | https://president.az/az/articles/view/15859,0,0,3,"In Azerbaijan engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence punished by a fine of AZN 100. A paragraph added by Law No. 334-VIIQD of 30 December 2025, published in January 2026, fines open calls to engage in prostitution made through internet information resources or telecommunication networks, and prostitution-related deals made in public view, AZN 500. Buying sex from an adult is not a specific offence. The Criminal Code punishes involving a person in prostitution for income or other benefit (fine of AZN 2,500 to 3,500, community work or one to three years) and organising or keeping dens of debauchery for prostitution or providing dwellings for it (fine, community or correctional work, or up to three years). Involving minors in prostitution carries three to eight years.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/azerbaijan/
BS,Bahamas,The Commonwealth of The Bahamas,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Penal Code (Ch. 84) criminalises keeping a brothel (s. 137), living on the earnings of prostitution and persistent public soliciting (s. 138), and importuning passers-by for prostitution (s. 212(13)); the Sexual Offences Act (Ch. 99) adds procuration (s. 7) and a parallel living-on-earnings offence with a five-year maximum (s. 8).",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: BSD 150 fine,,"Penal Code, Chapter 84 (LRO 1/2017) | Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 99 (LRO 1/2017)",https://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1873/1873-0015/1873-0015_2.pdf | https://laws.bahamas.gov.bs/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1991/1991-0009/1991-0009_2.pdf,0,0,2,"In The Bahamas, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the activities around them are. Under the Penal Code (Ch. 84, LRO 1/2017), keeping or managing a brothel, or letting or permitting premises to be used as one, is punishable by a $150 penalty or three months on first conviction, rising to $1,000 or twelve months on a third; loitering and importuning passers-by for prostitution carries a $150 penalty. The Sexual Offences Act (Ch. 99) makes procuring a person to become a 'common prostitute', 'whether by electronic means or otherwise', punishable by fifteen years, and knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution or persistently soliciting in public for immoral purposes punishable by five years. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bahamas/
BH,Bahrain,البحرين,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Living wholly or partly on one's own earnings from prostitution is a crime (Art. 326(1), Penal Code of 1976), as is soliciting in a public place (Art. 329). No offence aimed at clients was found, and the Penal Code does not penalise consensual sex between unmarried adults aged 21 or over; adultery by a married person is an offence (Art. 316). Brothels, procuring and living off others' prostitution are crimes.",illegal,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 5 years,,Legislative Decree No. 15 of 1976 with respect to the Penal Code | Law No. 25 of 2025 amending certain provisions of the Penal Code,https://lloc.gov.bh/Legislation/id/L1576 | https://lloc.gov.bh/Legislation/HTM/K2525,0,0,2,"Bahrain's Penal Code (Legislative Decree 15/1976) punishes any man or woman who relies wholly or partly for a living on earnings from prostitution with up to five years' imprisonment (Art. 326(1)), and soliciting another person in a public place with up to two years; any notice containing an invitation to prostitution counts as soliciting (Art. 329). Clients are not targeted by any provision found, and the Penal Code does not penalise consensual sex between unmarried adults aged 21 or over, though adultery by a married person is an offence (Art. 316). Running premises for prostitution carries two to five years and closure (Art. 328). Enticing or assisting prostitution carries imprisonment (Art. 324); coercion, five to seven years (Art. 325); living off another's prostitution or protecting it for a benefit, up to five years (Art. 326).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bahrain/
BD,Bangladesh,বাংলাদেশ,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","No statute makes selling sex by an adult an offence, and the High Court held in 2000 that the work is ""apparently ... not an illegal one under the law of the land"". The Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act 2012 nevertheless criminalises keeping a brothel, letting premises for one and soliciting. In practice long-established brothel districts operate openly with local administrative enrolment of the women, so the law on paper and the practice diverge sharply.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 3 years,,"Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act 2012 (Act No. 3 of 2012) | Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights and Others v Government of Bangladesh and Others (High Court Division, 14 March 2000)",https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/1028974/1930_1413966465_543f75664.pdf | https://www.unodc.org/cld/uploads/res/case-law/bgd/2000/bangladesh_society_for_the_enforcement_of_human_rights_bsehr_and_ors_v__government_of_bangladesh_and_ors_html/Bangladesh_Society_for_the_Enforcement_of_Human_Rights_versus_Government_of_Bangladesh_and_Others_-_Judgment.pdf,0,0,2,"Selling sex by an adult is not an offence in Bangladesh, although Article 18(2) of the Constitution commits the State to ""adopt effective measures to prevent"" prostitution. The Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act 2012 defines prostitution as ""sexual exploitation or abuse of any person for commercial purpose"". It punishes keeping or managing a brothel, and knowingly letting a place be used as one, with three to five years' rigorous imprisonment and a fine of at least 20,000 taka. Soliciting in a street or public place, or from inside a building, carries up to three years or a fine. The 2012 Act repealed the Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act 1933. In 2000 the High Court held the forced eviction of sex workers from the Tanbazar and Nimtali brothels unlawful, describing how women enrol with the local administration, sometimes by sworn affidavit.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bangladesh/
BB,Barbados,,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Sexual Offences Act (Cap. 154) criminalises procuring a person for prostitution (s. 13), brothel-keeping and letting premises for a brothel (s. 18), living on the earnings of prostitution and soliciting for immoral purposes 'in any place' (s. 19), and controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 20).",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,immoral soliciting: 5 years,,"Sexual Offences Act, Cap. 154",https://www.barbadoslawcourts.gov.bb/assets/content/pdfs/statutes/SexualOffencesCAP154.pdf,0,0,1,"In Barbados, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the Sexual Offences Act (Cap. 154) penalises the activities around them. Procuring another for prostitution or to become an inmate of a brothel carries fifteen years on indictment. Keeping or managing a brothel, or letting or permitting premises to be used as one, carries five years or a $5,000 fine, or both, on summary conviction; knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution or soliciting 'in any place' for immoral purposes carries a $5,000 fine or five years, or both; controlling a sex worker's movements for gain carries five years. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/barbados/
BY,Belarus,Беларусь,Europe,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Selling sex is an administrative offence (Article 19.5 of the 2021 Code of Administrative Offences, fine, community work or administrative arrest). Buying is not an offence. Organising or profiting from another person's prostitution, keeping a den and providing premises are crimes (Article 171 of the Criminal Code).",illegal,administrative,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,administrative,,,,,,,,,,,up to 15 days,,"Code of Administrative Offences (2021) | Criminal Code (1999, as amended) | Law on Advertising (2007, as amended)",https://pravo.by/document/?guid=3871&p0=HK2100091 | https://pravo.by/document/?guid=3871&p0=hk9900275 | https://pravo.by/document/?guid=3871&p0=h10700225,0,0,3,"Belarus penalises the person who sells sex: engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence punishable by a fine of 6 to 20 base units, community work or administrative arrest, and a repeat within a year by 20 to 30 base units, community work or arrest (Article 19.5 of the 2021 Code of Administrative Offences). Buying sex is not an offence. Under Article 171 of the Criminal Code, organising or ""using"" another person's prostitution (deriving any benefit from it), knowingly providing premises for it for gain, or keeping a den for prostitution carries two to five years' restriction of liberty or three to five years' imprisonment with a fine; drawing a person into prostitution is punished under Article 171-1. The Law on Advertising prohibits advertising sexual services, including when presented as massage, relaxation or companionship.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/belarus/
BE,Belgium,België / Belgique / Belgien,Europe,EU | EEA | CoE | Schengen,profile,2026-10-30,decriminalisation,Decriminalisation,"Since 1 June 2022 selling and buying sex between adults is not a criminal offence and the old offences around prostitution were repealed. Criminal law still covers procuring (organising another person's prostitution for gain, or profiting abnormally), most advertising, public incitement and exploitation. Since 1 December 2024 an employer recognised under the law of 3 May 2024 may hire sex workers on an employment contract without committing procuring. Municipalities regulate where and how prostitution takes place.",legal,none,legal,none,regulated,criminal,legal,none,restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,regulated,criminal,varies,administrative,varies,administrative,legal,none,restricted,administrative,,,Act of 21 March 2022 amending the Criminal Code with regard to sexual criminal law | Criminal Code of 8 June 1867 (consolidated) | Act of 29 February 2024 introducing Book II of the Criminal Code | Act of 29 February 2024 introducing Book I of the Criminal Code | Act of 16 March 2026 amending the Acts introducing Books I and II of the Criminal Code | Act of 3 May 2024 laying down provisions on sex work under an employment contract | Royal Decree of 18 May 2024 implementing article 433quater/2 of the Criminal Code,https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/eli/loi/2022/03/21/2022031330/justel | https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/change_lg.pl?language=fr&la=F&cn=1867060801&table_name=loi | https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/eli/loi/2024/02/29/2024002088/justel | https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/change_lg.pl?language=fr&la=F&cn=2024022909&table_name=loi | https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/mopdf/2026/03/25_1.pdf | https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/eli/loi/2024/05/03/2024202750/justel | https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi/article_body.pl?language=fr&caller=summary&pub_date=2024-06-13&numac=2024005196,3,3,26,"Belgium decriminalised prostitution between adults with the sexual criminal law reform of 21 March 2022 (in force 1 June 2022). Selling and buying are legal. Procuring is still an offence, defined narrowly. Advertising for prostitution is banned, except for a sex worker's own ads behind a window in a dedicated venue or on a dedicated medium, and ads on dedicated platforms that meet a royal decree of 18 May 2024 (which, according to the government, may include ads placed by venues). The law of 3 May 2024 lets recognised employers hire sex workers on employment contracts (in force 1 December 2024). It is under challenge at the Constitutional Court, which had not ruled by 22 October 2026. A new Criminal Code in force since 1 September 2026 moves the offences to articles 265 to 272 and lowers the advertising penalty. Municipalities regulate windows, venues and street work.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/belgium/
BZ,Belize,Belize,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence for either party, but the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act criminalises keeping or managing a brothel and letting premises for one (s. 15), a male person living on the earnings of prostitution (s. 18), and loitering or importuning for prostitution in a street or public place (ss. 4(1)(ix) and 18(1)(c)).",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 6 months,,"Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Chapter 98 (Revised Edition 2020)",https://www.gefislands.org/sites/default/files/downloads/policies/639762f72e12f_Cap_98_Summary_Jurisdiction__Offences__Act.pdf,0,0,1,"In Belize, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the activities around them are. Under the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act (Cap. 98, Revised Edition 2020), keeping or managing a brothel, or knowingly letting premises for use as one, is punishable on first conviction by a fine of up to BZ$500 or six months; a male person who knowingly lives on the earnings of prostitution, and anyone who loiters or importunes in a street or public place for prostitution, faces a fine of up to BZ$100 or six months, rising to twelve months on a second conviction. A 'common prostitute' who loiters in public for prostitution to the annoyance of others commits a separate petty offence. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/belize/
BJ,Benin,Bénin,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Penal Code of 28 December 2018 does not make selling or buying sex an offence. Procuring, including aiding another person's soliciting, and running or tolerating prostitution in an establishment are délits; publicly soliciting people in order to provoke them to debauchery is a police contravention. Police nevertheless carry out periodic round-ups of sex workers for soliciting.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 2 months,,Law No. 2018-16 of 28 December 2018 on the Penal Code of the Republic of Benin | Law No. 2021-11 of 20 December 2021 on special provisions for punishing offences committed on grounds of sex and protecting women,https://droit-et-politique-en-afrique.info/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Code-penal-en-Republique-du-Benin-du-28-decembre-2018.pdf | https://documentation-anbenin.org/files/original/2210/loi-2021-11.pdf,0,0,5,"Benin's Penal Code (Law No. 2018-16 of 28 December 2018) contains no offence of selling or buying sex. Procuring, defined broadly to include aiding another person's prostitution or soliciting, sharing its proceeds and living with a sex worker, is punishable by one to three years and a fine, rising to two to five years when aggravated (Arts. 556–557). Owning, running or financing a prostitution establishment, or tolerating prostitution in a hotel, bar or other public venue, carries the same penalties, with licence withdrawal and closure (Arts. 560–561). Publicly soliciting people by gestures, words, writing or any other means to provoke them to debauchery is a minor police offence (Art. 994). Police in Cotonou and Parakou arrested dozens of sex workers for soliciting in 2024.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/benin/
BT,Bhutan,འབྲུག་ཡུལ་,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"The Penal Code of Bhutan 2004 makes selling sex (offering, agreeing to or engaging in sexual conduct for money or property), buying sex (""patronizing a prostitute"") and promoting prostitution (brothels, procuring, soliciting clients, taking earnings) separate offences. Each is a misdemeanour for adults, carrying one to under three years' imprisonment.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 3 years,up to 3 years,Penal Code of Bhutan 2004 (amended 2011 and 2021),https://www.warnathgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Bhutan-Penal-Code.pdf,0,0,1,"Chapter 26 of the Penal Code of Bhutan 2004 criminalises every party. A person who ""offers, agrees to engage, or engages in sexual conduct with another person for money or property"" commits prostitution (section 373). A person who ""gives money, property, or other gratification to engage in sexual act"" commits patronizing a prostitute (section 377). Owning or managing a brothel, procuring, encouraging someone to become or remain a sex worker, soliciting clients and taking a sex worker's earnings are promotion of prostitution (section 375). All three are misdemeanours, punishable by one year to under three years' imprisonment, rising to fourth- or third-degree felonies where the person is a child. Trafficking a person into or out of Bhutan for prostitution is a separate offence (section 379).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bhutan/
BO,Bolivia,Bolivia,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,regulation,Regulation (legal & licensed),"Adult prostitution is not a crime, and the criminal law reaches third parties only where they use deception, abuse of need or vulnerability, violence or coercion, or keep a house where sexual exploitation is promoted (Penal Code art. 321 as amended in 2012). Venues (""lenocinios"") operate with sanitary certificates and sex workers hold health cards issued after periodic STI and HIV checks, overseen by departmental health services. The classification as regulation rests on that health-control practice rather than on a single national licensing statute, which was not found.",regulated,none,legal,none,restricted,criminal,,,restricted,criminal,restricted,administrative,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Law 263, Comprehensive Law against Trafficking and Smuggling of Persons (2012)",https://oig.cepal.org/sites/default/files/ley263contralatrataytraficodepersonas_bol_2012.pdf,0,0,3,"Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences in Bolivia. Since Law 263 of 2012, the Penal Code's proxenetismo offence punishes promoting, facilitating or contributing to another person's prostitution for profit or to satisfy others only where it involves deception, abuse of need, vulnerability, dependency or power, violence or threats (10 to 15 years), and separately punishes keeping a house or establishment where sexual exploitation or commercial sexual violence is promoted (8 to 12 years). Sex workers obtain a health card after STI tests every three months and HIV tests every six, which the Ministry of Health describes as allowing them to work in venues; venues without sanitary certificates have been closed in health inspections. Law 263 also requires that advertisements for sexual services exclude nudity, references to regional or national origin, and minors.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bolivia/
BA,Bosnia and Herzegovina,Bosna i Hercegovina / Босна и Херцеговина,Europe,CoE,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Prostitution law is set by the two entities, Brčko District and, in the Federation, the ten cantons. Selling sex is a public order misdemeanour in the jurisdictions checked (Sarajevo Canton, Brčko District); Sarajevo Canton also fines buyers. Procuring and organising prostitution are crimes under all three criminal codes. Republika Srpska's public order law could not be checked.",varies,administrative,varies,administrative,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Criminal Code of the Federation of BiH (2003, as amended) | Criminal Code of Republika Srpska (2017, as amended) | Criminal Code of Brčko District (consolidated 2020, as amended) | Sarajevo Canton Law on Misdemeanours against Public Order and Peace (2007, as amended) | Brčko District Law on Public Order and Peace (2009)",https://www.paragraf.ba/propisi/fbih/krivicni-zakon-federacije-bosne-i-hercegovine.html | https://www.paragraf.ba/propisi/republika-srpska/krivicni-zakon-republike-srpske.html | https://www.paragraf.ba/propisi/brcko/krivicni-zakon-brcko-distrikta-bosne-i-hercegovine.html | https://www.paragraf.ba/propisi/kantona-sarajevo/zakon-o-prekrsajima-protiv-javnog-reda-i-mira.html | https://www.paragraf.ba/propisi/brcko/zakon-o-javnom-redu-i-miru-brcko-distrikta-bih.html,3,0,7,"Bosnia and Herzegovina has no single prostitution law: criminal law is set separately by the Federation of BiH, Republika Srpska and Brčko District, and public order misdemeanours by the cantons, Republika Srpska and Brčko. In Sarajevo Canton, both engaging in prostitution and using prostitution services are fined 200–600 KM, and inducing others or renting premises for prostitution 500–1,500 KM. In Brčko District, engaging in prostitution is fined 100–1,000 KM, with no corresponding offence for buyers. The three criminal codes punish inducing or luring a person to provide sexual services for gain, handing them over to others, or taking part in organising or running the provision of sexual services, with six months to five years. Offences involving children are separate. No offence of advertising adults' sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bosnia-and-herzegovina/
BW,Botswana,,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Penal Code (Cap. 08:01) has no offence of selling or buying sex. It criminalises procuration, living on the earnings, aiding prostitution for gain, brothels and public soliciting. The living-on-earnings offence is written for ""every person"", so its wording does not exclude a sex worker's own earnings. An MP's motion in August 2026 asked the Government to decriminalise sex work by repealing these provisions.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 1 month,,Penal Code (Chapter 08:01),https://www.unodc.org/cld/uploads/res/document/bwa/penal_code_html/Botswana_Penal_Code.pdf,0,1,3,"Botswana's Penal Code does not make the exchange of sex for money itself an offence. It does criminalise procuring a person to become a ""common prostitute"" (s. 149), knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution or persistently soliciting in a public place (s. 155), controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 156) and keeping or letting premises for a brothel (s. 158). Soliciting in a public place is also an ""idle and disorderly"" offence (s. 179). Where no penalty is specified the general maximum is two years (s. 33), and repeat offences under s. 155 can attract corporal punishment. On 4 August 2026 a motion by MP Galenawabo Lekau asking the Government to decriminalise sex work was placed on the National Assembly Order Paper. Churches campaigned against it, and no outcome had been reported by October 2026.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/botswana/
BR,Brazil,Brasil,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not crimes, and the federal labour ministry lists ""profissional do sexo"" as an occupation (CBO 5198-05). The Penal Code criminalises inducing or facilitating prostitution (art. 228), maintaining an establishment where sexual exploitation occurs (art. 229) and profiting from another's prostitution (art. 230). Since the 2009 reform the Superior Court of Justice has held that a venue where adults sell sex without coercion or other exploitation is not covered by article 229.",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Penal Code (Decree-Law 2,848 of 1940), as amended by Law 12.015 of 2009 and Law 13.344 of 2016",https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/decreto-lei/del2848compilado.htm,0,1,5,"Prostitution by adults is legal in Brazil and appears in the Brazilian Classification of Occupations as ""profissional do sexo"" (5198-05), but third-party involvement is largely criminalised. The Penal Code punishes inducing or attracting someone into prostitution or other sexual exploitation, facilitating it or preventing someone from leaving it (2 to 5 years); maintaining an establishment where sexual exploitation occurs (2 to 5 years); and profiting directly from another person's prostitution or being supported by them (1 to 4 years). In 2018 the Superior Court of Justice held that keeping a venue where adults sell sex freely, without exploitation, is not a crime under article 229. A 2025 bill in the Chamber of Deputies would make prostitution in the street a misdemeanour.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/brazil/
BN,Brunei,Negara Brunei Darussalam,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Brunei has two layers. For Muslims, the Syariah Penal Code Order 2013 makes all sex outside marriage the offence of zina, so selling and buying sex are offences through that general provision. The civil Women and Girls Protection Act criminalises brothel-keeping, living on the earnings of prostitution and soliciting on behalf of women, but not selling or buying as such.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,flogging; death if married,flogging; death if married,Syariah Penal Code Order 2013 | Women and Girls Protection Act (Cap. 120),https://www.icj.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Brunei-Syariah-Penal-Code-Order-2013-eng.pdf | https://www.warnathgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Women-and-Girls-Prosecution-Act-Chapter-120-Section-5.pdf,0,0,4,"Brunei regulates prostitution through civil and Syariah law. The Women and Girls Protection Act (Cap. 120) punishes keeping a brothel or knowingly letting premises for one (one year and B$5,000; five years and B$20,000 on a repeat), and living on another person's prostitution or soliciting in public on a woman's behalf (five years and B$20,000, with possible whipping for men). The Syariah Penal Code Order 2013, fully in force since 3 April 2019, defines zina as intercourse between a man and a woman not validly married to each other; for Muslims proved guilty by confession or four witnesses the penalty is stoning to death if married, or 100 strokes and a year in prison if not. Acting as a procurer is a separate Syariah offence. In May 2019 the Sultan said a de facto moratorium on executions applies to the Order.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/brunei/
BG,Bulgaria,България,Europe,EU | EEA | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","There is no national offence of selling or buying sex between adults. The Criminal Code punishes inducing a person into prostitution and systematically providing premises for sexual acts (Article 155), and using a trafficking victim (Article 159c). The vagrancy-type offence in Article 329(1), long used against people who sell sex, was struck down by the Constitutional Court in 2022.",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Criminal Code (1968, as amended)",https://lex.bg/laws/ldoc/1589654529,0,0,1,"In Bulgaria, selling and buying sex between adults are not offences under national law. Article 155 of the Criminal Code punishes inducing another person into prostitution (one to three years and a fine) and systematically providing premises to different people for sexual intercourse or lewd acts (up to five years and a fine), with one to six years where done for gain. Using a person who is a trafficking victim for lewd acts carries three to ten years (Article 159c). Article 329(1), which punished able-bodied adults living for a long time on income obtained by ""impermissible or immoral"" means, was declared unconstitutional by Constitutional Court decision No. 13 of 2022. Several sexual-offence provisions, including those on minors who sell sex, were amended in 2026. No specific offence of advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bulgaria/
BF,Burkina Faso,,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Prostitution is defined in the Penal Code but is not itself an offence, and buying is not an offence. Public soliciting 'by any means, including passive conduct' is (Article 533-20), and in 2026 a court applied it to adverts posted on WhatsApp. Procuring and brothel-keeping are criminalised. A new Penal Code adopted on 20 October 2026 had not been published when this entry was reviewed.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 3 months,,Penal Code (Law No. 025-2018/AN of 31 May 2018),https://academiedepolice.bf/index.php/telechargement/category/38-codes?download=163%3Ala-loi-portant-code-penal,0,1,3,"Burkina Faso's Penal Code (Law No. 025-2018/AN of 31 May 2018) defines prostitution as habitually engaging in sexual acts with others for payment but does not punish it as such. Publicly soliciting another person by any means, including passive conduct, for paid sex carries one to three months and a fine of 250,000 to 600,000 CFA francs (Article 533-20). Procuring carries three to ten years (Article 533-22), and five to ten years when committed through an electronic network reaching the public (Article 533-24). Running a prostitution establishment, or providing premises or vehicles knowing they will be used for prostitution, carries five to ten years (Article 533-26). In July 2026 a Ouagadougou court fined 13 women for soliciting via WhatsApp and convicted five people who ran WhatsApp groups or let a villa for procuring. A new Penal Code was adopted on 20 October 2026.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/burkina-faso/
BI,Burundi,Burundi,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The 2017 Penal Code defines prostitution (Art. 561) but does not make selling or buying sex an offence as such. It punishes the person selling sex only for soliciting (racolage, Art. 571), and punishes incitement, procuring, brothel-keeping, profiting, assisting and letting premises (Arts. 562–569). Secondary sources often describe prostitution in Burundi as illegal because of the soliciting offence.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 6 months,,Law No. 1/27 of 29 December 2017 revising the Penal Code,https://amategeko.gov.bi/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/BOB_No12TER-2017-2.pdf,0,0,1,"Burundi's Penal Code (Law No. 1/27 of 29 December 2017) defines prostitution as giving one's body to the pleasure of others and making a trade of it (Art. 561). Selling sex is not itself punished, but soliciting by a person who sells sex, by approaching clients or acting in public to attract them, carries one to six months and/or a fine of FBu 5,000–20,000 (Art. 571). Facilitating the prostitution of adults or recruiting a person into it carries one to five years (Arts. 562–563); running or financing a brothel two to five years (Art. 565); profiting from another's prostitution, even with consent, one to five years (Art. 566); assisting prostitution or soliciting, or acting as an intermediary, one to three years (Arts. 567–568); and letting premises for prostitution two to five years (Art. 569). No changes since 2017 were found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/burundi/
CV,Cabo Verde,Cabo Verde,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,decriminalisation,Decriminalisation,"Borderline. No offence covers selling or buying sex between adults, and the procuring offence (lenocínio, Article 148) applies only where the person is a minor or an adult in a situation of particular vulnerability, such as extreme economic need, that the offender exploits. Organising consensual adult sex work is therefore not a crime as such, but sex work is not regulated as work either, so Cabo Verde fits the decriminalisation label only in the narrow sense of having no general sex-work offences.",legal,none,restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,restricted,criminal,legal,none,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Penal Code (Decree-Legislative No. 4/2003 of 18 November 2003), republished in full with Law No. 117/IX/2021 of 11 February 2021 | Decree-Legislative No. 4/2015 of 11 November 2015 amending the Penal Code (with republication)",https://boe.incv.cv/Bulletins/Download/3610 | https://boe.incv.cv/Bulletins/Download/2096,0,0,2,"Cabo Verde's Penal Code (Decree-Legislative No. 4/2003, republished in full after its fourth amendment by Law No. 117/IX/2021) contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. Its lenocínio offence (Article 148) punishes anyone who promotes, encourages, arranges, negotiates or in any way facilitates the prostitution of a child under 16 (six to ten years) or of a 16- or 17-year-old (two to six years), and applies the latter penalty where the person is an adult of particular vulnerability, including extreme economic need, and the offender takes advantage of it. An adult who pays a person aged 10 to 18 for sexual activity faces four to ten years (Article 145-A). Trafficking for sexual exploitation carries four to ten years, and knowingly using a trafficking victim's services one to five years (Article 271-A). No brothel or advertising offence was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cabo-verde/
KH,Cambodia,កម្ពុជា,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The 2008 Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation does not make selling or buying sex between adults an offence as such, but punishes soliciting in public (1–6 days and a small fine) and criminalises procuring, managing establishments of prostitution and providing premises. Buying sex from a minor is a crime. Human Rights Watch has documented police raids and detention of sex workers under the law.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 6 days,,Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation (Royal Kram NS/RKM/0208/005),https://www.asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/C3_Law-on-Suppression.pdf,0,0,3,"Cambodia's 2008 Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation defines prostitution as sexual intercourse or other sexual conduct with an unspecified person in exchange for anything of value. Selling sex is not itself an offence, but soliciting another in public for the purpose of prostitution is punished with one to six days' imprisonment and a fine of 3,000–10,000 riel. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence; buying sex from a minor carries two to fifteen years. Procuring prostitution, which includes drawing a financial profit from or assisting the prostitution of others, carries two to five years, as do managing or financing an establishment of prostitution and providing premises for it. Human Rights Watch reported in 2010 that the law was followed by police crackdowns and detention of sex workers in social affairs centres.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cambodia/
CM,Cameroon,Cameroun,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Selling sex is a specific offence: a person of either sex who habitually engages in sexual intercourse with another for gain faces six months to five years in prison (Section 343(1) of the 2016 Penal Code), and public soliciting carries the same penalty. Buying is not a specific offence. Procuring, sharing in the proceeds and running an establishment where prostitution is habitually practised are punished under Section 294.",illegal,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 5 years,,Law No. 2016/007 of 12 July 2016 relating to the Penal Code,https://www.prc.cm/fr/actualites/actes/lois/1828-loi-n-2016-007-du-12-juillet-2016-portant-code-penal,0,0,2,"Prostitution is prohibited in Cameroon under the Penal Code (Law No. 2016/007 of 12 July 2016). A person of either sex who habitually engages in sexual intercourse with another for payment, and anyone who publicly solicits for prostitution by gestures, words, writing or any other means, faces six months to five years in prison and a fine of CFAF 20,000 to 500,000 (Section 343). There is no specific offence for the client. Procuring, aiding or facilitating another person's prostitution, sharing in its proceeds or being supported by a sex worker carries six months to five years, doubled where the offender owns or manages an establishment where prostitution is habitually practised (Section 294). The Code states that the sex worker is not an accessory to procuring.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cameroon/
CA,Canada,Canada,North America,,profile,2026-10-30,neo-abolitionism,Buying criminalised (Nordic model),"Since 6 December 2014 the Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (PCEPA) makes buying sexual services an offence (s. 286.1 Criminal Code), along with receiving a material benefit, procuring and advertising other people's services. Selling is not an offence and sellers are immune for their own services (s. 286.5). It is a variant of the Nordic model: two seller-side offences survive in s. 213 (stopping or impeding traffic, and communicating next to school grounds, playgrounds or daycare centres).",restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,varies,administrative,legal,none,restricted,administrative,in public: 2 years,up to 5 years,"Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46) | Protection of Communities and Exploited Persons Act (S.C. 2014, c. 25) | Protecting Victims Act (S.C. 2026, c. 19) | Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227) | Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 545 (Licensing)",https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/ | https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/AnnualStatutes/2014_25/FullText.html | https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/AnnualStatutes/2026_19/FullText.html | https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2002-227/section-183.html | https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/municode/1184_545.pdf,0,1,26,"Criminal law is federal, so one regime applies across Canada. After the Supreme Court struck down the bawdy-house, living-on-the-avails and public-communication offences in Bedford (2013), Parliament enacted PCEPA in 2014. It criminalises obtaining sexual services for consideration, receiving a material benefit from someone else's sexual services, procuring, and knowingly advertising an offer of sexual services, but gives sellers immunity for their own services and their own advertising. The courts have upheld every challenged provision so far: R. v. N.S. (Ontario Court of Appeal, 2022), Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform v. AG (Ontario Superior Court, 2023) and R. v. Kloubakov (Supreme Court of Canada, 2025). The Alliance's appeal, which also challenges the purchase and advertising offences, is still pending before the Court of Appeal for Ontario.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/canada/
CF,Central African Republic,République centrafricaine,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The 2010 Penal Code does not make selling or buying sex an offence, but it punishes public soliciting for debauchery as a misdemeanour (Article 89) and public soliciting as a petty offence (Article 442), and criminalises procuring broadly (Articles 90–91). Because the seller can be prosecuted for soliciting, this sits close to the prohibition model in practice; enforcement was not checked.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 1 year,,Law No. 10.001 of 6 January 2010 on the Central African Penal Code,https://derechos.org/intlaw/doc/caf1.html,0,0,2,"In the Central African Republic, prostitution itself is not an offence under the Penal Code (Law No. 10.001 of 6 January 2010), but publicly soliciting persons of either sex for debauchery by gestures, words, writing or any other means carries one month and a day to one year in prison or a fine (Article 89), and public soliciting is also listed as a fifth-class petty offence (Article 442). A person who habitually aids, assists or protects another's prostitution or soliciting, shares in its proceeds, recruits or keeps an adult for prostitution, or acts as an intermediary is a procurer, punishable by one to five years (Article 90), and three to ten years where a minor, coercion, abuse of authority or deceit is involved (Article 91). There is no separate brothel offence and no client offence.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/central-african-republic/
TD,Chad,Tchad,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The 2017 Penal Code contains no offence of selling or buying sex and no offence of soliciting by the sex worker; it punishes anyone who aids, assists or protects another person's prostitution or soliciting, shares in its proceeds, recruits or keeps a person for prostitution, or acts as an intermediary (Article 335). Secondary sources often describe prostitution in Chad as illegal; that is not what the Code says, and enforcement practice was not checked.",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,Law No. 001/PR/2017 of 8 May 2017 on the Penal Code,https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/cha213367.pdf,0,0,1,"Chad's Penal Code (Law No. 001/PR/2017 of 8 May 2017, in force since 1 August 2017) does not make selling or buying sex an offence. Procuring is defined broadly: aiding, assisting or protecting another person's prostitution or soliciting, sharing in or receiving its proceeds, living with a sex worker without sufficient own resources, recruiting or keeping an adult for prostitution even with consent, or acting as an intermediary is punishable by six months to two years and a fine of CFAF 100,000 to 1,000,000 (Article 335), and by two to five years with aggravating factors (Article 336). The Code has no separate brothel-keeping offence. Exposing indecent posters or images in public places is a petty offence (Article 518).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/chad/
CL,Chile,Chile,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences, and the Penal Code's prostitution offences concern minors and trafficking. The ban on organisation comes from the Sanitary Code, which prohibits grouping people engaged in sex trade in closed brothels or ""casas de tolerancia"" and has the Carabineros close such premises (art. 41). The ban is administrative rather than criminal, which makes Chile a mild case of abolitionism.",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,administrative,,,restricted,criminal,legal,none,,,,,,,,,,,,,Sanitary Code (DFL 725 of 1967) | Penal Code,https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=5595 | https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=1984,0,0,3,"In Chile, sex work by adults is not punished. Article 41 of the Sanitary Code (1968) provides that a health statistic is kept on people engaged in sex trade and that they may not be grouped in closed brothels or houses of tolerance; the Carabineros enforce the ban and close premises. Health checks under the 2007 regulation on sexually transmitted infections are voluntary, free and confidential. The Penal Code punishes promoting or facilitating the prostitution of minors and paying 14- to 17-year-olds for sex, and Law 20.507 of 2011 added trafficking and migrant-smuggling offences. Breaching police regulations on people engaged in sex trade remains a minor offence.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/chile/
CN,China,中国,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Selling and buying sex are both administrative offences under the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, punished by the police with detention and fines rather than by the courts. Organising, forcing, inducing, harbouring and introducing prostitution are crimes under the Criminal Law. This entry covers mainland China; Hong Kong and Macau have their own legal systems and separate entries.",illegal,administrative,illegal,administrative,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 15 days,up to 15 days,"Public Security Administration Punishments Law of the People's Republic of China (revised 2025) | Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China | Interpretation of the Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate on Criminal Cases of Organising, Forcing, Inducing, Harbouring and Introducing Prostitution (Fa Shi [2017] No. 13)",http://politics.people.com.cn/n1/2026/0227/c1001-40670930.html | https://fgk.chinatax.gov.cn/zcfgk/c100009/c5212248/content.html | https://www.court.gov.cn/fabu/xiangqing/53752.html,0,0,4,"In mainland China both selling and buying sex are prohibited. Under the Public Security Administration Punishments Law, as revised on 27 June 2025 and in force since 1 January 2026, the police may detain anyone who sells or buys sex for 10 to 15 days and fine them up to 5,000 yuan (up to 5 days or 1,000 yuan in minor cases); soliciting in public carries up to 5 days or 1,000 yuan. The revision also requires records of such public-order violations to be sealed. ""Custody and education"" (收容教育), a form of administrative detention for people who sold or bought sex, was abolished from 29 December 2019. Organising or forcing prostitution carries 5 to 10 years and up to life, and inducing, harbouring or introducing prostitution up to 5 years or more under the Criminal Law; posting prostitution solicitation information online can be prosecuted as illegal use of an information network.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/china/
CO,Colombia,Colombia,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,regulation,Regulation (legal & licensed),"No criminal law punishes selling or buying sex between adults, and venues are lawful if they meet the National Police Code's sanitary and zoning conditions (Law 1801 of 2016, arts. 42-46). The Penal Code punishes inducing or coercing a person into prostitution for profit (arts. 213-214). The Constitutional Court calls prostitution a lawful but not promoted activity and has extended labour protection to sex workers (T-629/2010, T-594/2016). Congress has not passed a sex-work statute.",restricted,administrative,restricted,administrative,regulated,administrative,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,outside zones: fine,outside zones: fine,"Penal Code (Law 599 of 2000), chapter on sexual exploitation | National Code of Security and Citizen Coexistence (Law 1801 of 2016)",http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/ley_0599_2000_pr007.html | http://www.secretariasenado.gov.co/senado/basedoc/ley_1801_2016_pr001.html,0,1,7,"Selling and buying sex between adults are not crimes in Colombia. The National Police and Coexistence Code (Law 1801 of 2016) states that prostitution as such does not trigger corrective measures, sets conditions for the establishments where it takes place (a sanitary certificate, condoms, no minors) and fines sex workers, clients and operators who break them, including working outside the zones and hours a municipality has set. The Penal Code punishes inducing another person into prostitution for profit or to satisfy the desires of another with 10 to 22 years. In T-629 of 2010 the Constitutional Court recognised an employment relationship between a sex worker and the bar where she worked, and in T-594 of 2016 it urged the Ministry of Labour to propose regulation. Bill 186 of 2023, to regulate sex work as formal employment, passed its first Senate debate in late 2024.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/colombia/
KM,Comoros,Komori / Comores / جزر القمر,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"The 2020 Penal Code has no offence of selling sex as such, but it prohibits fornication (zina), meaning sex outside marriage, with six months to two years' imprisonment and/or a fine (arts. 306–307), which covers both seller and client. Adultery is a separate offence (art. 305). Procuring and prostitution establishments are criminalised in terms taken from the French model (arts. 310–313).",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,extramarital sex: 2 years,extramarital sex: 2 years,Law No. 20-038/AU of 29 December 2020 on the Penal Code,https://web.archive.org/web/20230609124926/https://www.droit-afrique.com/uploads/Comores-Code-2020-penal.pdf,0,0,2,"In the Comoros, sex outside marriage is an offence: the Penal Code of 2020 (Law No. 20-038/AU, promulgated in February 2021) states that ""la fornication ou Zina est interdite"" and punishes it with six months to two years and a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 Comorian francs (arts. 306–307). Procuring, including helping another's prostitution or soliciting, sharing its proceeds or living with a sex worker, carries six months to three years (art. 310). Running or financing a prostitution establishment, or tolerating prostitution in a hotel, bar or similar place, carries the same penalties (art. 313). Publicly drawing attention to an occasion for debauchery or publishing an announcement of that kind is an offence (art. 233). In February 2026 ten people were tried in Moroni on charges including fornication, prostitution and procuring.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/comoros/
CR,Costa Rica,Costa Rica,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. The Penal Code criminalises promoting the prostitution of others, inducing or keeping a person in it, or recruiting for it (Art. 169, two to five years), coercively living off a sex worker's earnings (Art. 171), and moving people within or across the country for prostitution (Art. 172), so organised and venue-based sex work is criminal for third parties.",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Penal Code (Law No. 4573, as amended)",https://www.oas.org/dil/esp/codigo_penal_costa_rica.pdf,0,0,4,"Prostitution itself is legal in Costa Rica: no law makes it an offence to sell sex, and paying an adult for sex is not a crime. What the Penal Code (Law 4573) punishes is third-party involvement. Anyone who promotes the prostitution of others, induces a person to engage or remain in it, or recruits for it faces two to five years (Art. 169, proxenetismo); four to ten years with aggravating factors such as a victim under 18, deception or violence (Art. 170). Coercively making a sex worker support you is punishable by two to eight years (Art. 171, rufianería), and promoting or facilitating a person's movement into, out of or within the country to carry out acts of prostitution is trafficking, six to ten years (Art. 172). Paying anyone under 18 for sexual acts carries two to ten years (Art. 160). In a 2023 case, a court convicted operators of nine bars of proxenetismo and trafficking.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/costa-rica/
CI,Côte d'Ivoire,Côte d'Ivoire,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex are not offences. Public soliciting is (Article 361), as are procuring, running or financing an establishment used for prostitution and knowingly making private premises available to sex workers (Articles 358 to 363). The soliciting offence is the main point at which sex workers themselves are criminalised.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 3 months,,"Penal Code (Law No. 2019-574 of 26 June 2019), as amended by Law No. 2021-893 of 21 December 2021",https://www.nanan.ai/textes/loi-n-2019-574-du-26-juin-2019-portant-code-penal-modifiee-par-la-loi-du-n-2021-893-du-21-decembre-2021,0,0,2,"Côte d'Ivoire's Penal Code (Law No. 2019-574 of 26 June 2019, amended by Law No. 2021-893 of 21 December 2021) does not make selling or buying sex an offence but criminalises almost everything around it. Publicly soliciting people for debauchery by any means carries fifteen days to three months and a fine of 50,000 to 500,000 francs (Article 361). Procuring carries one to five years and 1 to 10 million francs (Article 358), doubled in aggravated cases (Article 359); running or financing a prostitution establishment, or tolerating prostitution in a hotel, bar or club, two to five years (Article 362); and knowingly letting private premises to sex workers for habitual use six months to two years (Article 363). Publicly drawing attention to an opportunity for debauchery, or publishing an advertisement of that kind, carries one month to two years (Article 357).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cote-d-ivoire/
HR,Croatia,Hrvatska,Europe,EU | EEA | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Selling sex is a misdemeanour under Article 12 of the 1977 public order act. Buying is not an offence unless the buyer knew or should have known that the person was coerced (Article 157(2) Criminal Code). Organising, enabling and profiting from prostitution, and advertising another person's prostitution, are crimes.",illegal,administrative,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 30 days,,"Act on Misdemeanours against Public Order and Peace (1977, as amended) | Criminal Code (2011, as amended) | Act amending the Criminal Code (NN 56/2015)",https://www.zakon.hr/z/279/Zakon-o-prekr%C5%A1ajima-protiv-javnog-reda-i-mira | https://www.zakon.hr/z/98/Kazneni-zakon | https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2015_05_56_1095.html,0,1,7,"Croatia penalises the person who sells sex rather than the buyer. Under the 1977 Act on Misdemeanours against Public Order and Peace, engaging in prostitution is punishable by a fine of EUR 20–100 or up to 30 days' imprisonment, and allowing premises to be used for prostitution or otherwise enabling it by EUR 300–2,000 or up to 30 days. Article 157 of the Criminal Code covers recruiting, organising or enabling prostitution for gain, buying sex from a person known to be coerced, and advertising another person's prostitution through public media. A 2015 amendment limited the advertising offence to the prostitution ""of another person"". In June 2024 the interior minister said a working group was drafting a new public order law; no draft had been published by October 2026 as far as could be checked.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/croatia/
CU,Cuba,Cuba,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not crimes. The 2022 Penal Code (Law 151) punishes inducing, cooperating in or promoting another's prostitution, running or financing any premises where it takes place, and profiting from it (Art. 364), with four to ten years. The 1987 code's 'dangerous state' regime, long used against sex workers, was not carried over, but police reportedly still issue warning letters.",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,,,Penal Code (Law 151 of 2022),https://www.parlamentocubano.gob.cu/sites/default/files/documento/2022-09/goc-2022-o93_0.pdf,0,0,3,"Cuba's 2022 Penal Code (Law 151, published in the Gaceta Oficial on 1 September 2022) does not make selling or buying sex between adults a crime. Its chapter on trafficking, procuring and other forms of sexual exploitation punishes, with four to ten years, anyone who induces another person to engage in prostitution or 'carnal commerce' or in any way cooperates in or promotes it, who owns, runs or finances premises where it takes place, or who profits from another's prostitution (Art. 364); eight to twenty years with aggravating factors, up to life if linked to transnational organised crime. Under the 1987 code, sex workers were prosecuted under the pre-criminal 'dangerous state' provisions; the new code provides only post-criminal security measures. Independent media report that police still keep sex workers on file through warning letters. No specific advertising offence was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cuba/
CY,Cyprus,Κύπρος / Kıbrıs,Europe,EU | CoE,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sexual services between adults are not offences, but keeping or letting premises for a brothel, procuring and living on the earnings of prostitution are crimes under the colonial-era Criminal Code (Cap. 154), and persistent public soliciting is an offence. Since 2019 the anti-trafficking law also punishes anyone who uses the services of a victim of sexual exploitation. The European Parliament's 2021 comparative study classifies Cyprus as 'legal but unregulated'.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,,,,,,,,,,,,persistent soliciting: 5 yrs,,"Criminal Code, Cap. 154 | Law 60(I)/2014 on the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking and Exploitation of Persons and the Protection of Victims",https://www.cylaw.org/nomoi/enop/non-ind/0_154/full.html | https://www.cylaw.org/nomoi/enop/non-ind/2014_1_60/full.html,1,2,6,"In the Republic of Cyprus prostitution itself is not regulated or prohibited. The Criminal Code (Cap. 154) makes it a misdemeanour to keep or help manage a brothel or knowingly let premises for one (s. 156), to procure a woman into prostitution (s. 157, up to five years), and to knowingly live on the earnings of prostitution or persistently solicit in a public place (s. 164, up to five years). Law 60(I)/2014 on trafficking and exploitation, amended in 2019, punishes anyone who requests, receives or uses the services of a victim of sexual exploitation with up to ten years or €50,000 (s. 17A). A 2020 opposition bill to criminalise buying has not been adopted. The law of the Republic is not applied in the northern part of the island.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cyprus/
CZ,Czechia,Česko,Europe,EU | EEA | CoE | Schengen,profile,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences and no statute regulates prostitution. The Criminal Code punishes procuring, including profiting from another person's prostitution (§ 189), and prostitution near schools and places for children (§ 190). Brothels are not licensable and prostitution is expressly excluded from the trade licensing regime. Municipalities may ban the public offering of sexual services by ordinance. Since 2025–2026 the courts treat the income as taxable self-employment income.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,varies,administrative,legal,none,legal,none,varies,,near schools: 2 years,,Criminal Code (Act No. 40/2009 Coll.) | Municipalities Act (Act No. 128/2000 Coll.) | Act No. 251/2016 Coll. on certain offences | Trade Licensing Act (Act No. 455/1991 Coll.) | Income Tax Act (Act No. 586/1992 Coll.) | Advertising Regulation Act (Act No. 40/1995 Coll.) | Act No. 276/2023 Coll. on the repeal of obsolete legislation | Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (Digital Services Act),https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2009-40#p189 | https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2000-128#p10 | https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2016-251#p4 | https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/1991-455#p3-3-p | https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/1992-586#p7 | https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/1995-40#p2 | https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2023-276 | https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj,1,1,30,"Czechia does not criminalise selling or buying sex between adults and has no law regulating prostitution: there is no registration, licence or health-check regime, and the Trade Licensing Act excludes sexual services from licensable trades. The criminal law targets third parties: procuring and profiting from another person's prostitution (§ 189 Criminal Code), prostitution near schools (§ 190) and trafficking (§ 168). Municipalities, including Prague, ban offering sexual services in public spaces. Regulation bills, the last two from the City of Prague in 2013–2014, lapsed. In 2025 the Supreme Administrative Court held that income from voluntary prostitution is taxable, and in 2026 the Constitutional Court rejected the taxpayer's two complaints in that case. A first-instance court discontinued the procuring prosecution of the operators of the ad site Sex.cz in August 2026.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/czechia/
CD,Democratic Republic of the Congo,République démocratique du Congo,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Penal Code (Decree of 30 January 1940, as amended) contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults, but punishes recruiting a person into prostitution even with their consent, keeping a house of prostitution, living off a sex worker's earnings and any other habitual exploitation of another's prostitution (Article 174 b, as renumbered by Law 06/018 of 2006).",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Penal Code (Decree of 30 January 1940, as amended to 2004), official consolidation | Law No. 06/018 of 20 July 2006 amending and supplementing the Penal Code",https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/6e09fe/pdf | https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/cng210037.pdf,0,0,2,"Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; the Penal Code targets third parties. Since the 2006 sexual violence law, Article 174 b punishes with three months to five years and a fine of 50,000 to 100,000 Congolese francs anyone who recruits, entices or leads away a person over 18 into prostitution to satisfy another's passions, even with that person's consent, anyone who keeps a house of debauchery or prostitution, the souteneur who lives wholly or partly off a person whose prostitution he exploits, and anyone who habitually exploits another's prostitution in any other way. Forced prostitution is a separate offence (Article 174 c). Encouraging the debauchery of people under 18 is punished under Article 172. Exhibiting or advertising writings or images contrary to public morals is an offence (Article 175).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/democratic-republic-of-the-congo/
DK,Denmark,Danmark,Europe,EU | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. Running a business in which others sell sex (rufferi), otherwise exploiting another person's prostitution, acting as an intermediary for gain and renting hotel rooms for prostitution are criminal under § 233 of the Penal Code. Buying sex from someone under 18 is an offence.",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,legal,none,,,,,,,,,,,,,Penal Code (Consolidated Act No. 1294 of 7 November 2025) | Act No. 633 of 12 June 2013 amending the Penal Code (sexual offences),https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2025/1294 | https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2013/633,0,1,5,"In Denmark adults may sell and buy sex. The Penal Code targets third parties: § 233 punishes running a business in which another person has sex with customers for payment (up to four years), otherwise exploiting another person's prostitution or promoting it as an intermediary for gain (fine or up to three years), and renting hotel rooms for prostitution. The provisions took their current form in 2013. There is no specific advertising offence; a 2022 Ministry of Justice working group concluded that paid advertising of prostitution is in principle covered by the intermediary offence but has long not been prosecuted. A government working group on the living conditions of people who sell sex reported in February 2026 without recommendations.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/denmark/
DJ,Djibouti,Djibouti / جيبوتي,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Penal Code of 1995 follows the French model: prostitution itself is not an offence, while proxénétisme in a broad sense (aiding, protecting or profiting from the prostitution of another) and running a prostitution establishment are délits. Public soliciting is a fifth-class contravention (Article R. 5-10°). Some secondary sources describe prostitution in Djibouti as prohibited; the Code's text does not penalise selling or buying as such.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 1 month,,"Penal Code, Law No. 59/AN/94 of 5 January 1995, with Book V on contraventions | Law No. 133/AN/16/7th L on combating trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants",https://policehumanrightsresources.org/content/uploads/2016/07/Penal-Code-Djibouti.pdf | https://www.warnathgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Djibouti-Law-No.-133.pdf,0,0,2,"In Djibouti, selling and buying sex are not offences in themselves, but the Penal Code (Law No. 59/AN/94 of 5 January 1995) criminalises almost everything around them. Proxénétisme, defined as aiding, assisting or protecting the prostitution of another, profiting from it or recruiting a person into it, carries five years and a fine of 10 million francs (Article 394), and acts treated as procuring include providing premises (Article 395). Running, managing or financing a prostitution establishment, or tolerating prostitution in a venue open to the public, carries ten years (Article 399). Publicly soliciting persons ""by gesture, words, writings or any other means"" to incite them to debauchery is punished with a 50,000-franc fine and one month's imprisonment, with confiscation of the proceeds of prostitution (Articles R. 5-10° and R. 6).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/djibouti/
DM,Dominica,Commonwealth of Dominica,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Sexual Offences Act 1998 (Act No. 1 of 1998) criminalises procuring a person for prostitution (s. 18), brothel-keeping (s. 24), living on the earnings of prostitution and soliciting for immoral purposes 'in any place' (s. 25), and controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 26). The 2016 amendment did not change these sections.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,immoral soliciting: 5 years,,Sexual Offences Act 1998 (Act No. 1 of 1998) | Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2016 (Act No. 9 of 2016),https://www.dominica.gov.dm/laws/1998/act1-1998.pdf | https://oig.cepal.org/sites/default/files/2016_sexualoffencesamendmentact_dma.pdf,0,0,2,"In Dominica, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the Sexual Offences Act 1998 penalises the activities around them. Procuring another person for prostitution or to become an inmate of a brothel carries fourteen years. Keeping or managing a brothel, or letting or permitting premises to be used as one, carries a $5,000 fine and five years on summary conviction; knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution or soliciting 'in any place' for immoral purposes carries the same; controlling a sex worker's movements for gain carries five years. The Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2016 left these provisions unchanged. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/dominica/
DO,Dominican Republic,República Dominicana,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences; the new Penal Code (Law 74-25, in force since 3 August 2026) even defines prostitution neutrally as a sexual relationship between adults for payment (Art. 178). Procuring is defined broadly and covers helping, protecting, sharing earnings, intermediation, housing people for prostitution and running establishments (Arts. 176–177).",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,"Organic Law 74-25 establishing the Penal Code, as amended by Law 44-26",https://www.sclawyer.com.do/base-de-datos/ley-74-25-nuevo-codigo-penal-?lang=en,0,1,2,"Selling sex and paying an adult for sex are legal in the Dominican Republic; organising it is not. On 3 August 2026 the 1884 Penal Code was replaced by Law 74-25, as amended by Law 44-26. The new code defines prostitution as any sexual relationship between adults for payment or a promise of it (Art. 178) and punishes procuring with two to five years and a fine (Art. 176). Procuring includes helping, protecting or covering for another adult's prostitution, sharing their earnings, hiring someone for prostitution, intermediating between sex workers and clients, and housing people for prostitution. Aggravated procuring, five to ten years (Art. 177), covers among others the use of a communications network reaching an indeterminate public and running an establishment where adults sell sex or seek clients. From 5 November 2026 companies can be criminally liable for these offences.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/dominican-republic/
EC,Ecuador,Ecuador,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,regulation,Regulation (legal & licensed),"Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences, and venues are licensed: the Ministry of Government issues an annual operating permit to ""centros de tolerancia"" as category 1 establishments, which also need a sanitary permit from the national health regulator (ARCSA), a municipal licence and land-use clearance. The Comprehensive Organic Penal Code (COIP) has no general procuring offence; it punishes sexual exploitation, forced prostitution and trafficking.",legal,none,legal,none,regulated,administrative,,,restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Comprehensive Organic Penal Code (COIP, 2014) | Ministerial Agreement No. 0069 on the annual operating permit (2019)",https://www.defensa.gob.ec/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2021/03/COIP_act_feb-2021.pdf | https://www.ministeriodegobierno.gob.ec/permiso-anual-de-funcionamiento/,0,1,4,"Ecuador treats prostitution by adults as lawful and regulates the venues where it takes place. Under Ministerial Agreement 0069 of 2019, ""centros de tolerancia"" are category 1 establishments that need an annual operating permit from the Ministry of Government through the provincial police intendancies, on presentation of a sanitary permit from ARCSA, a municipal licence, land-use and fire permits; the ministry lists an annual fee of USD 539.56 for this category. The penal code (COIP) does not punish selling or buying sex between adults. It punishes selling, lending, profiting from or exchanging another person for sexual acts (sexual exploitation, 13 to 16 years), forcing or inducing someone against their will into sexual acts (forced prostitution) and trafficking. In October 2026 the National Assembly passed a reform raising trafficking penalties.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/ecuador/
EG,Egypt,مصر,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution makes the habitual practice of prostitution or ""debauchery"" (fujur) an offence, alongside procuring, brothel-keeping and advertising. The Act contains no offence for the client.",illegal,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 3 years,,Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution in the United Arab Republic,https://manshurat.org/sites/default/files/docs/pdf/014408.pdf,0,0,4,"Egypt prohibits prostitution under Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution, enacted when Egypt and Syria formed the United Arab Republic. Habitually practising prostitution or debauchery is punishable by three months to three years in prison and/or a fine (Article 9(c)), and a person caught may be sent for a medical examination. Inciting, assisting or facilitating prostitution, opening or managing a place for it, exploiting another's prostitution and advertising an invitation to it are all offences, with closure of premises. The Act does not penalise the client. In 2025 prosecutors also used Article 25 of the 2018 Cybercrime Law and charges of ""inciting debauchery"" against social-media content creators.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/egypt/
SV,El Salvador,El Salvador,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,neo-abolitionism,Buying criminalised (Nordic model),"Classified on the statute's wording: selling is not an offence, but Art. 170-A of the Penal Code, added in 2003, punishes 'the mere demand or solicitation of prostitution services' with four to eight years, without limiting it to minors, and 'the mere offer of the prostitution services of another' with the same penalty. The reform was framed around child sexual exploitation, and no case law applying the demand clause to clients of adults was found, so actual enforcement may be closer to an abolitionist regime.",legal,none,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,up to 8 years,"Penal Code (Legislative Decree 1030 of 1997, as amended)",https://www.asamblea.gob.sv/sites/default/files/documents/decretos/A2598AEF-FBC2-4D3E-A855-2C12EA7A4D52.pdf,0,0,1,"El Salvador's Penal Code does not make selling sex an offence, but its wording on buying is unusually broad. Art. 170-A, added by Legislative Decree 210 of 2003, punishes 'the mere offer of the prostitution services of another' and 'the mere demand or solicitation of prostitution services' with four to eight years' imprisonment each. Read literally, the second paragraph covers any client, adults included; the reform was presented as a measure against the commercial sexual exploitation of children, and no court decision applying it to clients of adults was found. Coercing a person, or abusing their state of need, to make them engage or stay in prostitution carries six to ten years (Art. 170). Because offering another person's services is itself an offence, third-party advertising of sexual services is criminal.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/el-salvador/
ER,Eritrea,ኤርትራ,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Penal Code of 2015 has no offence of selling or buying sex. Procuring, promoting or aiding the prostitution of another for gain is a petty offence (Article 314), and trafficking women or young persons into prostitution, even with consent, or keeping them in a disorderly house is a serious offence (Article 315). How far the 2015 Code is applied in practice is uncertain (see notes).",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,Penal Code of the State of Eritrea 2015,https://web.archive.org/web/20150918231843/https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/55a51ccc4.pdf,0,0,3,"Eritrea's Penal Code of 2015 does not make selling or buying sex an offence. A person who, for gain, procures, promotes or aids the prostitution of another commits a Class 1 petty offence punishable by six to twelve months' imprisonment or a fine of 20,001–50,000 nakfa (Article 314). Trafficking women, infants or young persons into prostitution, even with their consent, or keeping them in a disorderly house to let them out to prostitution, carries five to seven years (Article 315), with heavier penalties for aggravated and organised forms (Articles 316–318). Adultery by a married person and their partner is a petty offence (Article 323). The government publishes no crime statistics and enforcement could not be assessed.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/eritrea/
EE,Estonia,Eesti,Europe,EU | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. Procuring (kupeldamine), which includes arranging meetings between a sex worker and a client, owning or managing a brothel and renting premises for one, is a crime, and the Advertising Act bans advertising sexual services, including prostitution.",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,administrative,,,,,,,,,,,,,Penal Code (Karistusseadustik) | Advertising Act (Reklaamiseadus),https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/109072026028 | https://www.riigiteataja.ee/akt/106032026008,0,0,2,"In Estonia adults may sell and buy sex. The Penal Code criminalises procuring: arranging meetings between a person engaged in prostitution and a client, owning or managing a brothel, assisting prostitution there, renting premises for a brothel, or influencing someone to start or continue prostitution, with a fine or up to five years. Buying sex from a person under 18 carries up to five years. The Advertising Act prohibits advertising sexual services, including prostitution, and advertising that facilitates mediation of prostitution; whoever commissions, produces or publishes such an advert commits a misdemeanour, with fines of up to EUR 400,000 for companies.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/estonia/
SZ,Eswatini,eSwatini,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Neither the Crimes Act 1889 nor the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act 2018 expressly makes selling or buying sex an offence. The SODV Act criminalises third parties: commercial sexual exploitation, promoting it, procuring, benefiting from or living on the earnings, and brothels. The 1889 Act's soliciting and loitering offences remain, and sex worker advocates say they are the ones used against sex workers.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 6 months,,"Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act, 2018 (Act No. 15 of 2018) | Crimes Act, 1889",https://eswatiniminorities.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/THE-SEXUAL-OFFENCES-AND-DOMESTIC-VIOLENCE-ACT-2018-1.pdf | https://eswatinilii.org/akn/sz/act/1889/6/eng@1998-12-01,0,0,3,"In Eswatini the exchange of sex for money is not itself a crime, but almost everything around it is. The Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act 2018 punishes commercial sexual exploitation (s. 13, up to 20 years) and promoting it, including by publishing information (s. 14). It also punishes procuring (s. 15), benefiting from or living on the earnings of another's prostitution (ss. 16–17) and keeping a brothel (s. 18, up to 15 years). The colonial Crimes Act 1889 still punishes soliciting ""by words, signs, cards or in any other way"" (s. 47) and loitering in public for prostitution (s. 49(1)(e)), with the burden on the accused to show another purpose. A 2019 legal-rights guide by the Southern Africa Litigation Centre and local groups says the loitering offence is the one often used against sex workers.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/eswatini/
ET,Ethiopia,ኢትዮጵያ,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","No provision of the Criminal Code 2004 makes selling or buying sex as such an offence. Living on the prostitution of another and keeping a brothel are crimes (Article 634), and public soliciting, prostitution that is a nuisance to neighbours and advertising for debauchery are petty offences punished by fine or short arrest (Articles 846–847).",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 1 month,,"Criminal Code of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Proclamation No. 414/2004",https://wipolex-res.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/et/et011en.html,0,0,2,"Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences in Ethiopia. The Criminal Code of 2004 (Proclamation No. 414/2004) punishes anyone who, for gain, makes a profession of or lives by procuring or on the prostitution of another, or maintains a brothel as landlord or keeper, with simple imprisonment and a fine (Article 634); trafficking and inducing women or minors into prostitution, even with consent, carries up to five years (Article 635). Its petty-offence book punishes improper soliciting in public, prostitution that is a nuisance to the neighbourhood, and publicly advertising that debauchery may be had at a particular place with a fine or arrest (Articles 846–847). Sources from 2014–2016 describe these provisions as rarely enforced, with periodic street sweeps in Addis Ababa.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/ethiopia/
FJ,Fiji,Matanitu Tugalala o Viti,Oceania,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Borderline. The Crimes Act 2009 does not make the exchange of sex for money in private an offence as such, but s. 231 makes it an offence to loiter in public to offer sex for payment, to solicit 'by any communication whatsoever', and, for clients, to seek or use a sex worker's services in a public place or to make arrangements to use them 'by any communication whatsoever'. Because almost any way of agreeing a transaction is covered for both parties, the file classifies Fiji as prohibition.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,FJD 500 fine,FJD 500 fine,"Crimes Act 2009 (originally Crimes Decree 2009, No. 44 of 2009), consolidated on laws.gov.fj",https://www.laws.gov.fj/api/retrieve_html/LOF.CAP17.CRAFJ09.S231,0,0,5,"In Fiji the Crimes Act 2009 (Part 13, Prostitution Offences) criminalises the arrangements around selling and buying sex rather than the private act itself. Section 231 penalises loitering in public to offer sex for payment, soliciting for an immoral purpose in public or 'by any communication whatsoever', and, on the client side, seeking or using a sex worker's services in a public place or arranging to use them by any communication (fine of FJ$500, then up to three months or FJ$1,000). Keeping or managing a brothel and letting premises for one carries up to five years or FJ$10,000 (s. 233); living on the earnings of prostitution carries six months (s. 230); procuring a person to become a 'common prostitute' carries two years (s. 217).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/fiji/
FI,Finland,Suomi / Finland,Europe,EU | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults in private are legal, while procuring, including arranging premises and marketing someone's services for gain, is criminal. Two features make Finland a partial case: buying from a victim of procuring or trafficking has been an offence since 2006, and both buying and offering paid sex in a public place are prohibited under the Public Order Act.",restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,in public: €100 fine,in public: €100 fine,"Criminal Code (39/1889), chapter 20 on sexual offences | Public Order Act (612/2003) | Act 743/2006 amending chapters 1 and 20 of the Criminal Code | Act 723/2022 amending the Criminal Code (sexual offences reform)",https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/1889/39 | https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/2003/612 | https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/saadoskokoelma/2006/743 | https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/saadoskokoelma/2022/723,0,0,4,"In Finland adults may sell and buy sex in private. The Public Order Act prohibits buying sexual services and offering them for payment in a public place, sanctioned with a petty fine. Since 2006 it has been an offence to buy sex from a person who is the victim of procuring or trafficking, including where the buyer had reason to suspect it. Procuring (paritus) for financial gain, which includes arranging a room for paid sex and marketing someone's services by passing on contact details, carries up to three years, and aggravated procuring up to six. Chapter 20 of the Criminal Code was renumbered by the sexual offences reform in force on 1 January 2023.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/finland/
FR,France,France,Europe,EU | CoE | Schengen,profile,2026-10-30,neo-abolitionism,Buying criminalised (Nordic model),"France describes its own policy as abolitionist. Since loi n° 2016-444 of 13 April 2016, buying sexual relations is an offence (Code pénal art. 611-1, 225-12-1), selling is not (passive soliciting was repealed), and procuring and running premises remain crimes. That combination is the 'Nordic model' in comparative research. The law treats people who sell sex as victims and adds a state-funded exit programme (parcours de sortie).",legal,none,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,legal,none,legal,none,legal,none,legal,none,,"€1,500 fine","Act no. 2016-444 of 13 April 2016 to strengthen the fight against the prostitution system and support prostituted persons | Criminal Code, art. 611-1: recourse to prostitution | Criminal Code, art. 225-12-1: repeat and aggravated recourse to prostitution | Criminal Code, art. 225-12-2: aggravated recourse to prostitution of a minor or vulnerable person | Criminal Code, Book II, Title II, Chapter V, Section 2: procuring and related offences | Act no. 2004-575 of 21 June 2004 on confidence in the digital economy (LCEN), art. 6 | Act no. 2003-239 of 18 March 2003 on internal security",https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000032396046 | https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000032398661 | https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000043409275 | https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000043409260 | https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/section_lc/LEGITEXT000006070719/LEGISCTA000006165301/ | https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/article_lc/LEGIARTI000045292730 | https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/id/JORFTEXT000000412199,0,2,26,"Prostitution itself is legal in France, but buying sexual relations has been an offence since April 2016: a fifth-class contravention (fine up to €1,500, €3,750 for a repeat offence; 5 years' prison where the seller is a minor or vulnerable, rising to 7 years with aggravating factors and 10 years for a child under 15). Procuring is defined broadly: it covers anyone who helps, protects or profits from another person's prostitution, including by posting ads; running or providing premises for prostitution is also a crime. The 2016 law repealed the soliciting offence and created an exit programme. The Conseil constitutionnel (2019) and the ECHR (2024) upheld the ban on buying. Police recorded 1,442 buyer offences in 2025, 64% of them in Paris. A bill passed by the Assemblée nationale on 13 October 2026, now before the Sénat, would add an offence of online sexual exploitation.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/france/
GA,Gabon,République gabonaise,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Penal Code (Law No. 006/2020) does not make selling or buying sex an offence as such, but criminalises procuring very broadly (Article 260), public soliciting (Article 263) and publicly drawing attention to an ""occasion de débauche"" (Article 212). In a 2025 Libreville case the women in an online network were convicted under the public-morals article, so in practice selling is not free of criminal risk.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 2 years,,Law No. 006/2020 of 30 June 2020 amending Law No. 042/2018 of 5 July 2019 on the Penal Code | Law No. 005/2021 of 6 September 2021 amending certain provisions of Law No. 006/2020 on the Penal Code,https://journal-officiel.ga/code-penal | https://journal-officiel.ga/17697-005-2021/,0,1,4,"Gabon follows the French-derived abolitionist pattern. The Penal Code, rewritten by Law No. 006/2020 of 30 June 2020, has no offence of selling or buying sex between adults, but anyone who aids, protects or profits from another person's prostitution, recruits or keeps a person for it, or acts as intermediary commits procuring, punishable by up to ten years and a fine of up to 20 million CFA francs (Article 260). Public soliciting carries up to two years (Article 263), and publicly drawing attention to an occasion for debauchery or publishing an advertisement of that kind carries up to two years (Article 212). In September 2025 a Libreville court convicted the two organisers of a WhatsApp-based network of procuring and the 13 women involved of an offence against public morals. A bill tabled in October 2026 would raise the Article 212 penalties.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/gabon/
GE,Georgia,საქართველო,Europe,CoE,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Prostitution is an administrative offence under Article 172³ of the Code of Administrative Offences (warning or small fine). The provision does not define prostitution or say whether it covers the buyer; in practice it is applied to people who sell sex. Facilitating prostitution, providing premises for it and involving a person in it by threats or deceit are crimes. The Constitutional Court upheld Article 172³ on 2 April 2026.",illegal,administrative,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,,,,,,,,,,,,fine,,Code of Administrative Offences of Georgia | Criminal Code of Georgia | Law of Georgia on Advertising,https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/28216 | https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/16426 | https://matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/31840,0,0,5,"In Georgia prostitution is an administrative offence: Article 172³ of the Code of Administrative Offences provides for a warning or a fine of up to half the minimum wage unit, and up to one unit for a repeat within a year, with trafficking victims and people drawn in by the crime of involvement in prostitution exempt. Buying is not expressly penalised. The Criminal Code punishes persuading a person into prostitution or other non-violent facilitation (fine or up to two years), providing a place or dwelling for prostitution (fine or two to four years) and involving a person by threats, blackmail, deceit or violence (two to twenty years depending on aggravation). On 2 April 2026 the Constitutional Court rejected a sex worker's challenge to Article 172³ brought in 2018.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/georgia/
DE,Germany,Deutschland,Europe,EU | EEA | CoE | Schengen,profile,2026-10-30,regulation,Regulation (legal & licensed),"Selling and buying sex are legal, contracts for sexual services are enforceable since the Prostitution Act 2002, and brothels, escort agencies and other 'prostitution businesses' operate under a federal permit regime (ProstSchG 2017). Sex workers must register in person. Criminal law targets exploitation, pimping, trafficking and buying from trafficking victims. A sex-purchase ban is being debated but no bill exists (October 2026).",regulated,administrative,legal,none,regulated,administrative,restricted,administrative,restricted,criminal,restricted,administrative,restricted,administrative,varies,administrative,regulated,administrative,legal,none,restricted,administrative,,,"Act Regulating the Legal Situation of Prostitutes (Prostitution Act) | Act on the Protection of Persons Working in Prostitution (Prostitutes Protection Act) | Criminal Code, § 180a: exploitation of prostitutes | Criminal Code, § 181a: pimping | Criminal Code: trafficking, forced prostitution and clients of victims | Introductory Act to the Criminal Code, Art. 297 (prohibition of prostitution) | Administrative Offences Act, § 119 (grossly offensive and harassing acts)",https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/prostg/BJNR398310001.html | https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/prostschg/BJNR237210016.html | https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__180a.html | https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__181a.html | https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgb/__232a.html | https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stgbeg/art_297.html | https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/owig_1968/__119.html,1,3,36,"Germany treats prostitution as a legal, regulated activity. The Prostitution Act (2002) made agreements for sexual services legally enforceable and allowed employment with social insurance. The Prostitutes Protection Act (ProstSchG, in force 1 July 2017) added compulsory registration and health counselling for sex workers, a permit system for brothels and agencies, a condom duty and a ban on certain advertising. Street work is restricted locally through Land ordinances. The government's evaluation (2025) found the law's aims partly achieved; an expert commission is due to present legislative proposals at the end of November 2026, while senior CDU politicians call for a Nordic-model ban on buying sex. A separate bill (2026) would rewrite the criminal offences on exploitation and trafficking.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/germany/
GH,Ghana,,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) does not make selling or buying sex an offence. It criminalises persistent public soliciting (s. 276), soliciting for clients or for other immoral purposes (s. 275), living on or controlling prostitution (s. 274), keeping a brothel (s. 277) and procuration (s. 107). Because sex workers are routinely arrested, many sources describe prostitution in Ghana as simply illegal.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: fine,,"Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29)",https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/gh/gh010en.pdf,0,0,3,"Ghana inherited a British-style framework in the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29). Exchanging sex for money is not itself an offence, but a person who persistently solicits or importunes in or within sight of a public place for prostitution commits an offence, punishable by a fine for a first offence and as a misdemeanour after that. Living on the earnings of prostitution, controlling a sex worker for gain, soliciting clients for a sex worker, keeping or letting premises as a brothel and procuring a person to become a sex worker are all misdemeanours. In practice police raids target sex workers and venues, often as anti-trafficking operations, and sex worker groups report arrests and abuse. No reform bill was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/ghana/
GR,Greece,Ελλάδα,Europe,EU | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,regulation,Regulation (legal & licensed),"Law 2734/1999 makes selling sex legal only for holders of a personal certificate who work from premises licensed by the municipality, with compulsory health checks. Working outside that system is itself a criminal offence, and third parties may not run or profit from other people's prostitution. Comparative studies classify Greece as 'legal and regulated', while noting that only a few licensed premises operate and most of the market is outside the licensing system.",regulated,criminal,legal,none,regulated,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Law 2734/1999 on persons who provide sexual services for payment and other provisions | Penal Code (Law 4619/2019), art. 349 Procuring | Penal Code (Law 4619/2019), art. 323A Trafficking in human beings",https://www.lawspot.gr/nomikes-plirofories/nomothesia/nomos-2734-1999 | https://www.lawspot.gr/node/264817 | https://www.lawspot.gr/nomothesia/n-4619-2019/arthro-323a-poinikos-kodikas-nomos-4619-2019-emporia/,1,1,8,"Greece regulates prostitution under Law 2734/1999. A person may sell sexual services only with a certificate (age 18+, unmarried, widowed or divorced, no infectious disease, no listed convictions) and a personal municipal licence for specific premises, and must undergo a medical check every 15 days. Unlicensed work, renting premises to uncertified persons and group premises are criminal offences. Buying is not an offence, except knowingly having sex with a trafficking victim (Penal Code art. 323A(6)). Procuring and profiting from another person's prostitution are crimes under art. 349 of the 2019 Penal Code. A review of Law 2734/1999 was announced in the 2021–2025 gender-equality action plan; no bill was found by October 2026.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/greece/
GD,Grenada,,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Borderline. The Criminal Code does not make an isolated private sale of sex an offence, but since the Criminal Code (Amendment) Act 2012 it penalises anyone who 'in any place loiters about or solicits any person for the purposes of prostitution' (s. 137(29)) and a tenant or occupier who 'uses such premises for prostitution of himself' (s. 188B(c), up to ten years). Because offering sex anywhere and selling from premises one occupies are both offences, the file classifies Grenada as prohibition.",illegal,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 3 months,,"Criminal Code, Chapter 72A (consolidated to Act No. 15 of 2007) | Criminal Code (Amendment) Act 2012 (Act No. 29 of 2012)",https://laws.gov.gd/index.php/chapters/c-39a-75d/1107-cap72a-criminal-code/download | https://laws.gov.gd/index.php/acts/704-act-no-29-of-2012-criminal-code-amendment-act/download,0,0,2,"In Grenada, the Criminal Code (Cap. 72A) as amended in 2012 makes it an offence to loiter about or solicit any person 'in any place' for the purposes of prostitution (up to three months or a $1,000 fine, or both) and, with a ten-year maximum on indictment, to keep or manage a brothel, to let or permit premises to be used as a brothel or for prostitution, or, as tenant or occupier, to use premises 'for prostitution of himself'. Procuring a person to become a 'common prostitute' and controlling a sex worker's movements for gain also carry up to ten years. No offence aimed at clients or at advertising was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/grenada/
GT,Guatemala,Guatemala,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. Since Decreto 9-2009 the Penal Code criminalises the exploitation of an adult through promoting, facilitating or favouring their prostitution (Art. 191) and paying a third person in exchange for a sexual act with an adult (Art. 193 Bis), so third-party organisation is criminal. The 2009 reform also removed prostitution from the Penal Code's list of 'dangerous states'.",legal,none,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,,via third party: 5 years,"Law against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons (Decree 9-2009)",https://sherloc.unodc.org/cld/es/legislation/gtm/decreto_9_-_2009_ley_contra_la_violencia_sexual_exploitacion_y_trata_de_personas/titulo_iii/articulo_35_-_49/articulo_35_-_49.html,0,0,2,"Selling sex is not an offence in Guatemala, and paying an adult directly for sex is not penalised. Decreto 9-2009, the Law against Sexual Violence, Exploitation and Trafficking in Persons, rewrote the Penal Code: exploiting an adult by promoting, facilitating or favouring their prostitution carries five to ten years and a fine of Q50,000–100,000 (Art. 191), and anyone who gives or promises a benefit to a third person in exchange for a sexual act with an adult faces three to five years (Art. 193 Bis). Trafficking (Art. 202 Ter) covers recruiting, transporting or receiving people for 'the prostitution of others', and the victim's consent is never taken into account. No offence aimed specifically at advertising adult sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/guatemala/
GN,Guinea,Guinée,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences under the 2016 Penal Code, and no soliciting offence aimed at sex workers was found. Procuring in all its forms, running a prostitution establishment and knowingly providing premises or vehicles for prostitution are criminalised (Articles 346 to 352), which matches the abolitionist model.",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,Penal Code (Law No. L/2016/059/AN of 26 October 2016),https://droitguineen.com/lois/code-l-2016-059-an-code-penal,0,0,2,"Guinea's Penal Code (Law No. L/2016/059/AN of 26 October 2016) does not punish selling or buying sex between adults; a legal consultant interviewed in 2025 confirmed that individual prostitution is not an offence. Procuring, defined as favouring or profiting from another person's prostitution, carries two to five years and a fine of 2 to 10 million Guinean francs (Article 347), seven years for aggravated forms (Article 348) and seven to ten years in an organised gang (Article 349). Running or financing a prostitution establishment, tolerating prostitution in a place open to the public, or knowingly providing premises or vehicles for prostitution carries five to ten years (Article 351). No specific soliciting or advertising offence was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/guinea/
GW,Guinea-Bissau,Guiné-Bissau,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. The 1993 Penal Code punishes anyone who, for profit or as a way of life, promotes, facilitates or in any way contributes to another person's prostitution (Article 136). That single offence covers brothel-keeping and other third-party involvement, so the framework is abolitionist.",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,Penal Code (Decree-Law No. 4/93 of 13 October 1993) | Law No. 12/2011 of 6 July 2011 on preventing and combating trafficking in persons (reproduced in a World Bank compilation),https://www.derechos.org/intlaw/doc/gnb1.html | https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/215511630345368083/pdf/Annex.pdf,0,0,2,"Guinea-Bissau's Penal Code (Decree-Law No. 4/93 of 13 October 1993) contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. Its prostitution offence, 'exploitation of a third party's sexual activity' (Article 136), punishes anyone who, with intent to profit or as a way of life, promotes, facilitates or in any way contributes to another person engaging in prostitution or significant sexual acts, with up to three years in prison or a fine. Two to ten years apply where the offender exploits the victim's abandonment or economic need, uses violence, serious threats or coercion, or moves the victim abroad. Law No. 12/2011 on trafficking in persons covers subjecting a person to prostitution by threat, deception, coercion or abuse of authority. No specific provision on advertising was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/guinea-bissau/
GY,Guyana,,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Guyana's colonial-era statutes do not make selling sex itself an offence, but they criminalise almost everything around it: loitering or importuning in public for prostitution, keeping or letting premises for a brothel, a man living on the earnings of prostitution, and procuring a woman to become a ""common prostitute"" (the statute's term). Because public soliciting by the seller is an offence, the regime sits at the prohibitionist edge of abolitionism; buying is not an offence.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 18 months,,"Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act, Cap. 8:02 | Criminal Law (Offences) Act, Cap. 8:01 | Sexual Offences Act 2010 (Act No. 7 of 2010), Cap. 8:03",https://www.oas.org/juridico/pdfs/mesicic4_guy_summ.pdf | https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/guy204765.pdf | https://dpp.gy/sites/default/files/Sexual%20Offences%20Act.pdf.pdf,0,0,3,"Selling sex is not in itself an offence in Guyana, but the Summary Jurisdiction (Offences) Act punishes anyone who loiters about or importunes people in a street or public place for the purpose of prostitution, with a fine or up to 18 months on first conviction and three years on a second. The same Act punishes keeping or managing a brothel and knowingly letting premises for one, and makes a man who knowingly lives on the earnings of prostitution liable to imprisonment and, on a repeat conviction, to whipping or flogging. The Criminal Law (Offences) Act punishes procuring a woman to become a ""common prostitute"" (the statute's term) or a brothel inmate with up to ten years, and keeping a common bawdy house with two. Paying for sex is not an offence.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/guyana/
HT,Haiti,Haïti / Ayiti,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Low confidence. No offence of selling or buying sex between adults was found. The 1835 Penal Code addresses only the debauchery of young people under 18, and the 2014 trafficking law covers exploiting others' prostitution by coercive means. The 2020 Penal Code, adopted by decree, punishes procuring but not prostitution; whether it is in force is contested after repeated postponements, so the classification rests on it.",legal,none,legal,none,restricted,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Law CL/2014-0010 on combating trafficking in persons | Penal Code (1835, as amended)",https://oig.cepal.org/sites/default/files/2014_loisurlaluttecontrelatraite_hti.pdf | https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/7928,0,1,6,"Haitian law does not make selling or buying sex between adults an offence, but which penal code applies is itself uncertain. The 1835 Penal Code, as amended by a 2005 decree, punishes habitually inciting or facilitating the debauchery of people under 18, not adult prostitution. A new Penal Code, adopted by presidential decree in 2020, punishes procuring but not prostitution; its entry into force has been postponed several times, and Haitian media disagree on whether it took effect on 24 June 2025. The 2014 law against trafficking in persons makes it a crime, seven to fifteen years, to recruit or house a person by coercive or fraudulent means for the exploitation of their prostitution, and punishes anyone who knowingly obtains sexual services from a trafficking victim. No specific advertising offence was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/haiti/
HN,Honduras,Honduras,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Borderline. Selling and buying are not crimes. The Police and Social Coexistence Law (2001) declares exploiting the prostitution of another 'even with their consent' and keeping a brothel punishable, but only by reference to Arts. 148 and 149 of the 1983 Penal Code, which the 2019 Penal Code repealed. The 2019 Code punishes the sexual exploitation of adults only where it is forced (Art. 258), so non-coercive third-party involvement has no clearly applicable penalty.",restricted,administrative,legal,none,restricted,none,,,restricted,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,,,Penal Code (Decree 130-2017) | Police and Social Coexistence Law (Decree 226-2001),https://www.tsc.gob.hn/web/leyes/Decreto_130-2017.pdf | https://www.tsc.gob.hn/web/leyes/Ley%20de%20Policia%20y%20de%20Convivencia%20Social%20(actualizada-07).pdf,0,0,2,"Honduras does not criminalise selling or buying sex between adults. The 2019 Penal Code (Decree 130-2017) defines sexual exploitation as using people in prostitution or other sexual activities for a price (Art. 257), but punishes it for adults only when it is forced through violence, intimidation, deception, abuse of a position or other means that override the victim's will: five to eight years and a fine (Art. 258). Exploiting minors is punished whatever the means. The 2001 Police and Social Coexistence Law still says that exploiting another's prostitution and keeping a brothel are to be punished under articles of the 1983 Code that no longer exist, lets municipalities regulate prostitution 'without registration of any kind', and lists 'itinerant prostitutes' among the people treated as vagrants. No offence aimed at advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/honduras/
HK,Hong Kong,香港,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Hong Kong has its own criminal law under ""one country, two systems""; mainland China's prohibition does not apply. Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. Part XII of the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200) criminalises controlling sex workers, living on their earnings, keeping or letting premises as a ""vice establishment"", public soliciting and displaying signs advertising prostitution. Because a vice establishment needs two or more people selling sex, one person working alone in a flat falls outside it.",restricted,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,soliciting: 6 months,,"Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200), Part XII Sexual and Related Offences",https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap200,0,1,3,"In Hong Kong, selling and buying sex between adults are not offences; the Secretary for Security told the Legislative Council in 2015 that ""the act of prostitution itself is not illegal"". The Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200), Part XII, instead targets third parties and public visibility: controlling a person for prostitution (14 years), living on the earnings of another's prostitution (10 years), keeping a vice establishment (up to 10 years), letting or permitting premises to be used as one (7 years), soliciting in public (6 months) and publicly displaying a sign advertising prostitution (12 months). Premises count as a vice establishment only if used by two or more people for prostitution or for organising it, which is the legal basis of the ""one-woman brothel"" (一樓一鳳) arrangement. A 2026 government consultation on reforming sexual offences left prostitution offences out of scope.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/hong-kong/
HU,Hungary,Magyarország,Europe,EU | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling sex is legal for adults who hold a medical certificate and keep to the place rules of Act LXXV of 1999: no soliciting or services in protected zones, and municipalities may designate tolerance zones. Running a brothel, providing premises for prostitution, procuring and living off a sex worker's earnings are crimes under the Criminal Code. Because the 1999 act sets conditions such as tolerance zones and health certificates, some comparative work describes Hungary as regulationist, but there is no licensing of venues.",restricted,administrative,restricted,administrative,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,administrative,,,,,,,,,,,protected zones: 60 days,protected zones: ≈€550 fine,Act LXXV of 1999 on the rules of action against organised crime and certain related phenomena | Act C of 2012 on the Criminal Code | Act II of 2012 on petty offences,https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=99900075.tv | https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=a1200100.tv | https://net.jogtar.hu/jogszabaly?docid=a1200002.tv,0,0,3,"In Hungary, adults may sell sex if they have the medical certificate required by ministerial decree and do not solicit or provide services in protected zones defined by Act LXXV of 1999 and by municipal decrees; municipalities may designate tolerance zones, and must where street-based prostitution is persistent in towns over 50,000. Breaking these rules is a petty offence, and clients who solicit in a protected zone also commit one. Brothels, providing premises, procuring and living off a sex worker's earnings are crimes. Advertising another person's sexual services is banned, and media operators that carry such ads face fines of HUF 500,000 to 1,000,000 per ad.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/hungary/
IS,Iceland,Ísland,Europe,EEA | EFTA | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,neo-abolitionism,Buying criminalised (Nordic model),"Selling sex was removed from the Penal Code in 2007 and buying it became an offence in 2009 (Article 206). Third-party involvement, renting premises and public advertisements offering or seeking paid sex are also offences. A 2026 government bill would remove fines as a sanction for buyers.",legal,none,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,up to 1 year,General Penal Code No. 19/1940,"https://www.government.is/library/01-Ministries/Ministry-of-Justice/Generlal%20Penal%20Code,%20No.19%201940.pdf",0,1,5,"Iceland follows the Nordic model. Under Article 206 of the General Penal Code, paying or promising payment for prostitution is punishable by a fine or up to one year in prison, and up to two years where the person is under 18. Basing one's livelihood on the prostitution of others, mediating it or deriving income from it, for example by renting out premises, carries up to four years, and offering, arranging or seeking paid sex in a public advertisement is an offence. In practice first purchase offences are closed with a police fine of ISK 200,000; a draft bill published in September 2026 would abolish fines so every case goes to court.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/iceland/
IN,India,भारत,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956 does not make selling sex as such an offence. It criminalises brothel keeping, living on the earnings of another person's prostitution, procuring, prostitution in or near public places and soliciting in public. The Supreme Court stated in 2022 that ""voluntary sex work is not illegal and only running the brothel is unlawful"". Because the public-place and soliciting offences reach the seller (and, near public places, the buyer), India sits at the restrictive end of the abolitionist model.",restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 6 months,near schools: 3 months,"Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956 (Act 104 of 1956, as amended) | Budhadev Karmaskar v State of West Bengal, Criminal Appeal No. 135 of 2010, order of 19 May 2022 | Prajwala v Union of India, 2026 INSC 609 (29 May 2026)",https://barnala.punjabpolice.gov.in/uploads/pdf-legal-corner/023-The-Immoral-Traffic-Prevention-Act-1956.pdf | https://api.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2007/37388/37388_2007_5_20_35996_Order_19-May-2022.pdf | https://www.scobserver.in/supreme-court-observer-law-reports-scolr/rehabilitation-as-a-facet-of-article-21-prajawala-v-union-of-india/,0,0,4,"Under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956 (ITPA), an adult selling sex in private is not committing an offence. The Act punishes keeping or managing a brothel (section 3), knowingly living on the earnings of another person's prostitution (section 4), procuring or inducing a person into prostitution (section 5), prostitution in premises within 200 metres of places of worship, schools, hospitals and similar places or in notified areas, for both parties (section 7), and soliciting in or within sight of a public place (section 8). On 19 May 2022, in Budhadev Karmaskar v State of West Bengal, the Supreme Court used Article 142 of the Constitution to direct the States to implement several recommendations of its panel on sex workers' dignity. In May 2026, in Prajwala v Union of India, it held that rescued adults cannot be made to undergo rehabilitation against their will.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/india/
ID,Indonesia,Indonesia,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"The national Criminal Code (KUHP, Law 1/2023, in force 2 January 2026) has no offence of selling or buying sex as such, but punishes all sex outside marriage as zina (Article 411) on complaint by a spouse, parent or child, and punishes facilitating obscene acts. Many regional bylaws ban selling and buying sex outright, and Aceh applies caning for zina under its Qanun Jinayat.",varies,criminal,varies,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code (KUHP) | Law No. 44 of 2008 on Pornography | Aceh Qanun No. 6 of 2014 on Jinayat Law,https://id.wikisource.org/wiki/Undang-Undang_Republik_Indonesia_Nomor_1_Tahun_2023/Buku_Kedua | https://id.wikisource.org/wiki/Undang-Undang_Republik_Indonesia_Nomor_44_Tahun_2008 | https://dsi.acehprov.go.id/media/2023.07/qanun_aceh_nomor_6_tahun_2014_tentang_hukum_jinayat1.pdf,2,0,5,"Indonesia's new Criminal Code (KUHP, Law No. 1 of 2023) took effect on 2 January 2026, replacing the colonial-era code. It does not name prostitution between adults as an offence, but Article 411 punishes any sexual intercourse with a person who is not one's spouse with up to one year's imprisonment, and Article 412 punishes cohabitation; both are prosecuted only on complaint by a spouse, a parent or a child. Facilitating obscene acts by others is punishable with up to two years, a third more when done habitually or for profit (Articles 420–421). The Pornography Law 2008 bans offering or advertising sexual services. Regional bylaws, such as Jakarta's public-order bylaw, prohibit selling and buying sex, and in Aceh zina is punished with 100 lashes.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/indonesia/
IR,Iran,ایران,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Selling and buying sex are offences through the general hadd offence of zina, sexual intercourse between a man and a woman not married to each other (Art. 221, Islamic Penal Code 2013), punishable by 100 lashes or, for married offenders, stoning. Procuring is a separate hadd offence (qavvadi, Arts. 242-243), and running a place of prostitution or encouraging prostitution is a ta'zir crime (Art. 639, Book Five of 1996).",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,flogging; death if married,flogging; death if married,"Islamic Penal Code (2013), Books I and II | Islamic Penal Code, Book Five: Ta'zirat and Deterrent Punishments (1996)",https://iranhrdc.org/english-translation-of-books-i-ii-of-the-new-islamic-penal-code/ | https://iranhrdc.org/islamic-penal-code-of-the-islamic-republic-of-iran-book-five/,0,0,2,"Iran's Islamic Penal Code treats paid sex as zina, intercourse between a man and a woman not married to each other (Art. 221). The hadd punishment is 100 lashes for an offender who is not muhsan (Art. 230) and stoning for one who is (Art. 225), with death in the cases of Art. 224. Intimacy short of intercourse carries up to 99 lashes (Art. 637, Book Five). Procuring, bringing people together for zina, is a hadd offence of 75 lashes, with banishment of up to a year for a man's second offence (Arts. 242-243). Establishing or directing a place of prostitution, or facilitating or encouraging prostitution, carries one to ten years' imprisonment and temporary closure of the premises (Art. 639); displaying or advertising material that violates public morality carries three months to one year, a fine and up to 74 lashes (Art. 640).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/iran/
IQ,Iraq,العراق,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"The Anti-Prostitution Law No. 8 of 1988, renamed the Law on Combating Prostitution and Sexual Deviance by its 2024 amendment (Law No. 15 of 2024), prohibits prostitution and punishes anyone who engages in it with up to seven years' imprisonment or a fine. No provision targets clients. Pimping, brothels and promoting prostitution are crimes. The 2024 amendment does not apply in the Kurdistan Region unless the Kurdistan Parliament adopts it.",illegal,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,up to 7 years,,"Anti-Prostitution Law No. 8 of 1988 | Law No. 15 of 2024, First Amendment to the Anti-Prostitution Law No. 8 of 1988",http://wiki.dorar-aliraq.net/iraqilaws/law/7416.html | https://ultrairaq.ultrasawt.com/%D8%AD%D8%B8%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B0%D9%88%D8%B0-%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B2%D9%88%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%86%D8%B5-%D8%AA%D8%B9%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%84-%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%83%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AD%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%A1%C2%A0%C2%A0/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82/%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B9,1,0,5,"Iraq prohibits prostitution under the Anti-Prostitution Law No. 8 of 1988 as amended in 2024. Prostitution is now defined as repeated zina with more than one person, with or without payment, and anyone who engages in it faces imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine of IQD 3 to 5 million; before 2024 a woman was instead placed in a reform home for three months to two years. Pimps, people who own or manage a brothel and venue operators who use people in prostitution to attract customers face up to seven years and a fine of IQD 5 to 10 million. Promoting prostitution by any means carries at least seven years and IQD 10 to 15 million. The 2024 amendment, which also criminalises same-sex relations, requires the communications regulator to block indecent material. In the Kurdistan Region the amendment needs the regional parliament's approval.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/iraq/
IE,Ireland,Éire,Europe,EU | CoE,overview,2026-10-30,neo-abolitionism,Buying criminalised (Nordic model),"Since 27 March 2017 paying for sexual activity is a summary offence and the seller-side soliciting offence has been removed, so selling sex is not an offence. Brothel keeping, organising prostitution, living on its earnings and advertising prostitution remain criminal, which in practice also catches sex workers who work together from the same premises.",legal,none,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,€500 fine,Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 | Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 | Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994,https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/1993/act/20/revised/en/html | https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2017/act/2/enacted/en/print | https://revisedacts.lawreform.ie/eli/1994/act/2/revised/en/html,0,1,7,"Ireland follows the Nordic model. Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 inserted section 7A into the 1993 Act, making it an offence to pay, offer or promise payment for sexual activity, and deleted the provision that had made a sex worker's own soliciting an offence. Brothel keeping, organising prostitution for gain and living on its earnings are offences under the 1993 Act, and section 23 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 makes it an offence to publish or distribute an advertisement for prostitution or a brothel. The statutory review of section 7A, published in March 2025, found the offence hard to enforce and recorded few convictions.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/ireland/
IL,Israel,ישראל,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,neo-abolitionism,Buying criminalised (Nordic model),"Since 10 July 2020, consuming a sexual act of prostitution, or being in a place used for prostitution in order to do so, is an administrative offence with a fixed fine under the Prohibition of Consumption of Prostitution Law. Selling sex is not an offence. The law is a temporary provision, extended in 2025 until 10 July 2030; a bill to make it permanent did not pass. Brothel-keeping, pimping and advertising prostitution services are crimes under the Penal Law.",legal,none,illegal,administrative,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,≈€570 fine,"Prohibition of Consumption of Prostitution Law (Temporary Provision and Legislative Amendment), 5779-2019 | Penal Law, 5737-1977 | Powers for the Prevention of Offences through an Internet Site Law, 5777-2017",https://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A7_%D7%90%D7%99%D7%A1%D7%95%D7%A8_%D7%A6%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9B%D7%AA_%D7%96%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA_%28%D7%94%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%AA_%D7%A9%D7%A2%D7%94_%D7%95%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%9F_%D7%97%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%94%29 | https://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A7_%D7%94%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%A9%D7%99%D7%9F | https://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A7_%D7%A1%D7%9E%D7%9B%D7%95%D7%99%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%9C%D7%A9%D7%9D_%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%A2%D7%AA_%D7%91%D7%99%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%A2_%D7%A2%D7%91%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%91%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A6%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%AA_%D7%90%D7%AA%D7%A8_%D7%90%D7%99%D7%A0%D7%98%D7%A8%D7%A0%D7%98,0,1,6,"Israel follows the Nordic model. The Prohibition of Consumption of Prostitution Law, passed on 31 December 2018 and in force since 10 July 2020, makes consuming a sexual act of prostitution, attempting to, or being in a place used for prostitution with that aim an administrative offence with a 2,000-shekel fine, doubled for a repeat offence; an educational programme can replace the fine. Selling sex is not an offence. The Penal Law punishes living on the earnings of prostitution, keeping a place for prostitution and advertising prostitution services, and courts can order websites used for these offences blocked or removed. In 2025 the Knesset extended the temporary law to July 2030 instead of making it permanent. The State Comptroller reported in 2026 that fines fell from 3,004 in 2022 to 378 in 2024.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/israel/
IT,Italy,Italia,Europe,EU | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Legge 75/1958 (Legge Merlin) abolished state-regulated brothels and the registration of women in prostitution. Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences, but keeping a brothel, recruiting, aiding (favoreggiamento) and exploiting the prostitution of others are crimes. Soliciting 'in a scandalous or harassing manner' is an administrative offence, and mayors can add local street rules by ordinance.",restricted,administrative,legal,,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: €93 fine,,"Law no. 75 of 20 February 1958 (Legge Merlin): abolition of the regulation of prostitution and fight against the exploitation of the prostitution of others | Legislative Decree no. 267 of 18 August 2000 (Consolidated Act on Local Authorities), art. 54",https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:1958-02-20;75 | https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2000-08-18;267~art54,1,1,8,"Italy follows an abolitionist model set by the Legge Merlin of 1958, which closed the licensed brothels and forbids any registration of people who sell sex. Selling and buying are legal for adults; brothels, recruitment, aiding and exploitation are crimes punished with two to six years' imprisonment. In 2019 the Constitutional Court upheld the offences of recruiting and aiding even where prostitution is voluntary. Street-based prostitution is shaped mainly by mayoral ordinances that fine sex workers and clients in designated areas. A 2025 Senate bill to repeal the Merlin law and license brothels has been assigned to committee but not examined In 2025 the new ATECO statistical classification prompted a public debate on escort work; ISTAT clarified that it covers only lawful activities.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/italy/
JM,Jamaica,Jamaica,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Exchanging sex for money is not itself an offence, but the Sexual Offences Act 2009 criminalises procuring a person to become a sex worker (s. 18), knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution and persistently soliciting for immoral purposes (s. 23), and the Towns and Communities Act makes loitering and soliciting in public for prostitution an offence (s. 3).",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,"soliciting: JMD 1,000 fine",,"Sexual Offences Act, 2009 | Towns and Communities Act","https://japarliament.gov.jm/attachments/341_The%20Sexual%20Offences%20Act,%202009.pdf | https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/jam110879.pdf",0,0,2,"In Jamaica, the sale and purchase of sex are not offences as such, but most surrounding conduct is. The Sexual Offences Act 2009 makes it an offence to procure a person to become a sex worker or to leave home to frequent a 'house of prostitution' (s. 18), and, under s. 23, to knowingly live wholly or partly on the earnings of prostitution or to persistently solicit or importune 'for immoral purposes' in any place, public or private. Section 23 offences carry up to J$500,000 or three years before a Resident Magistrate, or up to ten years in the Circuit Court, and anyone who controls or directs a sex worker's movements is presumed to be living on the earnings. The Towns and Communities Act fines anyone who loiters in a public place and solicits for prostitution. No specific advertising offence was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/jamaica/
JP,Japan,日本,Asia,,profile,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Classified as abolitionism because neither selling nor buying is penalised. Art. 3 of the Prostitution Prevention Act 1956 does declare that no person may sell sex or be the other party, but no penalty attaches to either act. Public soliciting and advertising by the seller (Art. 5) and almost all third-party involvement (Arts. 6–13) are crimes. 'Prostitution' means intercourse only, so a large sex industry offering other services runs legally after notifying the police under the Entertainment Business Act.",illegal,none,illegal,none,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,regulated,criminal,restricted,none,illegal,administrative,,,"Prostitution Prevention Act (Act No. 118 of 1956) | Act on Control and Improvement of Amusement Businesses (Entertainment Business Act, Act No. 122 of 1948) | Act on Regulation and Punishment of Acts Relating to Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, and the Protection of Children (Act No. 52 of 1999) | Act on Support for Women with Difficult Problems (Act No. 52 of 2022) | Employment Security Act (Act No. 141 of 1947) | Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act (Cabinet Order No. 319 of 1951) | Act on Regulation of Soliciting Children by Using Opposite Sex Introducing Services on the Internet (Act No. 83 of 2003)",https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/331AC0000000118 | https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/323AC0000000122 | https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/411AC0100000052 | https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/504AC0100000052 | https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/322AC0000000141 | https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/326CO0000000319 | https://laws.e-gov.go.jp/law/415AC0000000083,0,1,16,"Japan's Prostitution Prevention Act (1956) prohibits selling and buying sex, where prostitution means paid intercourse with an unspecified partner, but does not punish either act. It punishes the seller's public soliciting or advertising, and procuring, arranging, providing premises and running prostitution businesses. Sexual services other than intercourse are a legal, police-notified industry under the Entertainment Business Act: about 21,000 'delivery health' outcall businesses and some 1,800 soapland and fashion-health venues were on record in 2025. A 2025 amendment targeted host clubs that push indebted women into sex work. A Justice Ministry study group reported in September 2026 that buyers' soliciting should also become an offence and that fines should rise, while punishing the purchase itself needs more care. As of 30 October 2026 no bill had been confirmed.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/japan/
JO,Jordan,الأردن,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,The Penal Code makes habitually practising prostitution an offence for men and women (Article 312(3)) and criminalises brothels and procuring. It contains no specific offence for the client; the UN's 2024 review states that the person asking for sexual services is not criminalised. Adultery is an offence (Articles 282–284) but is prosecuted only on a complaint.,illegal,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 1 year,,"Penal Code No. 16 of 1960, as amended | Cybercrime Law No. 17 of 2023",https://jordan-lawyer.com/2017/04/05/jordan-criminal-law/ | https://mohaymeed.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86%D9%8A/%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B1%D9%82%D9%85-17-%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A9-2023,0,0,3,"Jordan prohibits selling sex but not buying it. Under the Penal Code No. 16 of 1960, any person, male or female, who habitually practises prostitution faces up to a year in prison and a fine of 200 dinars (Article 312(3)). Setting up or managing a brothel carries at least a year and a fine of 1,000 to 5,000 dinars, and a brothel includes premises where a single woman is visited by more than one man (Articles 309 and 312(2)). Procuring women into prostitution, men living on a woman's earnings and women controlling another woman's prostitution are separate offences. The 2023 Cybercrime Law punishes using the internet or creating a website to facilitate, promote or incite prostitution with at least six months and a fine of 9,000 to 15,000 dinars. The official consolidated texts could not be opened for this overview.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/jordan/
KZ,Kazakhstan,Қазақстан / Казахстан,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Code of Administrative Offences has no offence of engaging in prostitution as such. It penalises only ""importuning"" in public places for prostitution (Article 449) and knowingly providing premises (Article 450). Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Organising or keeping brothels, pimping for gain and drawing people into prostitution are crimes (Articles 308-309 of the Criminal Code). The 2024 amendments extended all of these to ""other sexual services"", including remote services such as webcam shows.",restricted,administrative,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: fine,,"Code of Administrative Offences (2014, No. 235-V) | Criminal Code (2014, No. 226-V) | Law of 5 July 2024 No. 111-VIII on countering human trafficking, vandalism and damage to property | Law on Advertising (2003, No. 508)",https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K1400000235 | https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/K1400000226 | https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/Z2400000111 | https://adilet.zan.kz/rus/docs/Z030000508_,0,0,5,"In Kazakhstan, selling and buying sex between adults are not offences in themselves. Importuning people in public places for prostitution or other sexual services is an administrative offence: a warning or a fine of 5 monthly calculation indices (MCI), and for foreigners possible expulsion. Knowingly providing premises for prostitution carries fines of 100 MCI and upwards. Organising or keeping a brothel and pimping for gain are crimes punishable by up to five years, rising to three to seven years when committed through the internet or by advertising. Since September 2024 the Criminal Code covers ""other sexual services"", including those provided remotely, and defines advertising of prostitution as distributing or placing information on a person, price, method or place of obtaining the services.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kazakhstan/
KE,Kenya,Kenya,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Penal Code does not make selling or buying sex an offence as such. It criminalises living on the earnings of prostitution, controlling a sex worker, keeping or letting premises as a brothel and soliciting in public (ss. 153–156, 182), and the Sexual Offences Act 2006 punishes exploitation of prostitution (s. 17). Municipal and county by-laws on loitering or importuning for prostitution are the provisions most often used against sex workers, so many sources describe sex work in Kenya as illegal in practice.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 1 month,,Penal Code (Cap. 63) | Sexual Offences Act 2006 (No. 3 of 2006),https://kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/1930/10/eng@2023-12-11 | https://kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/act/2006/3/eng@2024-04-26,0,1,5,"Selling sex is not itself an offence under Kenya's Penal Code, but most of the activity around it is. Living on the earnings of prostitution, controlling a sex worker for gain and persistent soliciting by a man in public are felonies (ss. 153–154); keeping, managing or knowingly letting a brothel is a felony (s. 156); and soliciting in public for immoral purposes makes a person idle and disorderly (s. 182). The Sexual Offences Act 2006 punishes causing a person to become a prostitute and controlling their prostitution for gain with at least five years (s. 17). Former municipal by-laws in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu against loitering or importuning for prostitution are used for arrests. A 2023 Judiciary proposal to delete ss. 153–155 had not been enacted; no 2025 court ruling on sex work was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kenya/
KI,Kiribati,Ribaberiki Kiribati,Oceania,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Penal Code (Cap. 67, Revised Edition 1977) criminalises procuring a woman or girl to become a 'common prostitute' (s. 136), a man living on the earnings of prostitution or persistently soliciting (s. 145), a woman controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 146), brothel-keeping (s. 148) and public soliciting by 'idle and disorderly persons' (s. 167).",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 2 months,,"Penal Code (Cap. 67, Revised Edition 1977)",https://www.vertic.org/media/National%20Legislation/Kiribati/KI_Penal_Code.pdf,0,0,1,"In Kiribati, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the Penal Code (Cap. 67, Revised Edition 1977), inherited from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, penalises the activities around them. Procuring or attempting to procure a woman or girl to become a 'common prostitute', or to leave home to frequent a brothel, carries two years. A man who knowingly lives on the earnings of prostitution or persistently solicits in public for immoral purposes, a woman who controls a sex worker for gain, and anyone who keeps, manages, permits or lets premises for a brothel commits a misdemeanour (two years and a fine where no penalty is specified). Soliciting for immoral purposes in public carries two months or a $20 fine. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kiribati/
XK,Kosovo,Kosova / Kosovo,Europe,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Article 7 of the 2009 Law on Public Peace and Order makes it a minor offence for ""anyone"" to be involved in a sexual act of prostitution, wording that on its face covers both seller and buyer. Facilitating prostitution and providing premises are crimes under the 2019 Criminal Code.",illegal,administrative,illegal,administrative,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,€900 or 60 days,€900 or 60 days,Law No. 03/L-142 on Public Peace and Order (2009) | Criminal Code No. 06/L-074 (2019),https://gzk.rks-gov.net/ActDocumentDetail.aspx?ActID=2651 | https://gzk.rks-gov.net/ActDocumentDetail.aspx?ActID=18413,0,0,2,"Kosovo treats prostitution as a minor offence against public order. Under Article 7 of Law No. 03/L-142 on Public Peace and Order (2009), anyone involved in a sexual act of prostitution is liable to a fine of EUR 100–900 or up to 60 days' imprisonment; the law defines prostitution as performing sexual acts for material benefit. The 2019 Criminal Code punishes recruiting, organising, assisting, keeping, hiding or controlling another person for prostitution (fine and six months to four years), knowingly providing premises for prostitution (fine and up to four years), and using the sexual services of a trafficking victim (six months to five years), with higher penalties near schools and where minors are involved. No specific offence of advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kosovo/
KW,Kuwait,الكويت,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"No Penal Code provision punishes the person who sells sex as such. Selling and buying are offences through the general provision on consensual sex outside marriage: a man and a woman aged 21 or over caught in the act face six months to three years (Art. 194, Penal Code of 1960). Inciting or assisting prostitution, living off it, running a brothel and public incitement are separate crimes (Arts. 200 to 204).",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,extramarital sex: 3 years,extramarital sex: 3 years,Law No. 16 of 1960 promulgating the Penal Code,https://sadaalqanun.com/%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%8A/,0,1,2,"Kuwait's Penal Code (Law No. 16 of 1960) contains no offence aimed specifically at people who sell sex, but sex between a man and a woman aged 21 or over who are not married to each other is punishable by six months to three years for both if they are caught in the act (Art. 194); adultery by a married person carries up to five years (Art. 195). Inciting or helping a person into prostitution carries up to one year and/or a fine (Art. 200), up to five years with coercion (Art. 201); living off another's prostitution up to two years (Art. 202); running a brothel up to seven years and a fine of up to KWD 7,000 (Art. 203); and public incitement to prostitution in a public place up to three years and/or KWD 3,000 (Art. 204). A ministerial committee set up in August 2025 is drafting a new Penal Code.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kuwait/
KG,Kyrgyzstan,Кыргызстан,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Engaging in prostitution is an offence under Article 109-2 of the Code of Offences (2021), a fine of 200 calculation units or three to seven days' arrest, in the wording given by Law No. 153 of 29 July 2024. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Brothels, pimping (сводничество, сутенерство) and drawing people into prostitution are crimes under Articles 159-160 of the Criminal Code.",illegal,administrative,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 7 days,,"Code of Offences (28 October 2021, No. 128) | Criminal Code (28 October 2021, No. 127)",https://cbd.minjust.gov.kg/3-36/edition/60031/ru | https://cbd.minjust.gov.kg/3-38/edition/56638/ru,0,0,2,"Kyrgyzstan penalises the person who sells sex. Under Article 109-2 of the Code of Offences, engaging in prostitution carries a fine of 200 calculation units or arrest of three to seven days. Under the same 2024 wording, taking part in paid sexual live streams on a webcam platform is fined at 100 units, and organising webcam studios is a crime. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Organising or keeping a brothel, pimping or procuring carries a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 calculation units or up to seven years' imprisonment (Article 160 of the Criminal Code). Drawing or forcing a person into prostitution by violence, threats, blackmail or deception carries up to five years (Article 159).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kyrgyzstan/
LA,Laos,ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Article 260 of the Penal Code 2017 makes engaging in prostitution, assisting or facilitating it, and purchasing sexual services criminal offences. Procuring prostitution for income is a separate, heavier offence (Article 254).",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 1 year,up to 1 year,Penal Code (Law No. 26/NA of 17 May 2017),https://laoofficialgazette.gov.la/kcfinder/upload/files/1Oct2020_Lao%20Penal%20Code_English%20version.pdf,0,0,1,"Laos criminalises both parties. Under Article 260 of the Penal Code (Law No. 26/NA, adopted 17 May 2017), engaging in prostitution is punished with three months to one year of imprisonment or re-education without deprivation of liberty and a fine of LAK 500,000–3,000,000; assisting or facilitating prostitution carries the same custodial range and a fine of LAK 5–15 million, and anyone who purchases sexual services is punished under the same charge. Procuring the prostitution of another for income (Article 254) carries six months to three years, or three to seven years when habitual or when a person under the offender's guardianship is forced into prostitution. No specific offence of advertising adult sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/laos/
LV,Latvia,Latvija,Europe,EU | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. Cabinet Regulation No. 32 of 2008 restricts prostitution (health card, own or rented home only, no advertising), but since the Administrative Violations Code lapsed on 1 July 2020 no sanction attaches to breaching it. Brothels, involving a person in prostitution and pimping are crimes. Sometimes described as regulation because of the health-card rules; venues are not licensable, so it is classed here as abolitionism.",restricted,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,none,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Cabinet Regulation No. 32 of 22 January 2008, Prostitution Restriction Rules | Criminal Law (Krimināllikums)",https://www.vestnesis.lv/ta/id/169772 | https://dom.lndb.lv/data/obj/file/39369588.pdf,0,1,5,"In Latvia adults may sell and buy sex. Cabinet Regulation No. 32 (2008) allows a person with a health card from a dermatovenereologist to offer sexual services only in a home they own or rent, requires monthly health checks, and bans group work, third-party facilitation and advertising sexual services online, in the press and other media. Since 1 July 2020 there has been no administrative penalty for breaking these rules, because the draft Prostitution Restriction Law meant to carry them was never adopted. The Criminal Law punishes setting up or running a brothel (up to three years), involving a person in prostitution (up to three years) and pimping (up to five years).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/latvia/
LB,Lebanon,لبنان,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Borderline. A 1931 law still provides for licensed brothels with registered women and medical checks, but licences have reportedly not been issued since 1975. Outside that system, Article 523 of the Penal Code punishes anyone who practises ""secret prostitution"" or facilitates it, so in practice selling sex is an offence. The client is not targeted by a specific provision.",illegal,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 1 year,,"Penal Code of 1943, as amended | Law of 1931 regulating prostitution",http://ahdath.justice.gov.lb/law-nearby-punishments.htm | https://lebarmy.gov.lb/ar/content/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A,0,0,5,"Lebanon has a dormant licensing system and a criminal ban on everything outside it. A 1931 law regulates licensed brothels, with governor's permits, police registration of the women and twice-weekly medical checks, but licences reportedly stopped being issued in 1975. Article 523 of the Penal Code punishes anyone who practises or facilitates ""secret prostitution"", meaning prostitution outside that law, with one month to a year in prison and a fine. Other articles punish luring women into prostitution, holding a person in a brothel, using public means to attract people to debauchery and living off another's prostitution. General Security still issues ""artist"" visas for foreign women working in tourist establishments; the so-called super nightclubs that employ them have long been reported as a front for prostitution.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/lebanon/
LS,Lesotho,,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Section 55 of the Penal Code Act 2010 is headed ""Prostitution"" and defines a prostitute, but its offences target inciting, procuring or ""engaging"" another person in prostitution, persistent public importuning, and controlling a sex worker for gain. It does not expressly penalise selling. Whether ""engages ... another to engage in prostitution"" also covers a paying client is unsettled.",restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Penal Code Act, 2010 (Act No. 6 of 2012)",https://lesotholii.org/akn/ls/act/2012/6/eng@2012-03-09,0,0,1,"Lesotho's Penal Code Act 2010 deals with prostitution in one section. Section 55 defines a ""prostitute"" as a person who engages in sexual activity for payment. It makes it an offence to incite, instigate, engage or procure another person to engage in prostitution (s. 55(2)). It also punishes persistently importuning people in a public place for sex (s. 55(3)), living or habitually associating with a sex worker in a way that shows aiding or compelling prostitution for gain (s. 55(4)), and detaining a person in premises used for prostitution (s. 55(5)). The Code's penalty schedule lists no penalty for s. 55, so the court sets the sentence (s. 109(3)). There is no separate brothel-keeping offence. No reform proposals from 2023–2026 were found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/lesotho/
LR,Liberia,,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"The 1976 Penal Law makes prostitution (selling) and patronising a sex worker (buying) 'infractions', which the Law defines as offences that are not crimes and cannot be punished with imprisonment, and treats promoting and facilitating prostitution as misdemeanours or, in aggravated cases, felonies. Because selling is an offence the model is prohibition, although the sanction for selling and buying is a fine.",illegal,administrative,illegal,administrative,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,≈€450 fine,≈€450 fine,"Penal Law, Title 26 of the Liberian Code of Laws Revised (approved 19 July 1976)",https://www.liberlii.org/lr/legis/codes/plt26lcolr367/,0,0,1,"Liberia's Penal Law (Title 26 of the Liberian Code of Laws Revised, approved 19 July 1976) prohibits every side of commercial sex. Engaging in sexual activity as a business, being a resident of a house of prostitution or soliciting to be hired is the infraction of prostitution (§ 18.4), and hiring a sex worker or entering a house of prostitution for sex is also an infraction (§ 18.5); infractions are not crimes and carry a fine of up to US$500 or double the gain. Operating a prostitution business or house of prostitution is a first-degree misdemeanour (up to one year), and soliciting clients for a sex worker, procuring or letting premises for prostitution a second-degree misdemeanour (up to 30 days). Coercion, or a sex worker under 16, makes promoting or facilitating a third-degree felony.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/liberia/
LY,Libya,ليبيا,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Selling and buying are both offences. Law No. 70 of 1973 makes zina (intercourse between a man and a woman not married to each other) a hadd crime punished with 100 lashes, and Article 407(4) of the Penal Code punishes consensual intercourse with up to five years for both partners. The Penal Code also specifically punishes a woman who makes prostitution her livelihood, brothel-keeping and procuring.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,flogging + up to 5 years,flogging + up to 5 years,"Penal Code of 28 November 1953, as amended | Law No. 70 of 1973 on establishing the hadd punishment for zina and amending certain provisions of the Penal Code",https://security-legislation.ly/latest-laws/penal-code/ | https://security-legislation.ly/latest-laws/law-no-70-of-1973-on-establishing-the-hudud-punishment-for-illicit-sex-and-amending-certain-provisions-of-the-penal-code/,0,0,4,"Prostitution is prohibited in Libya through both general and specific offences. Law No. 70 of 1973 punishes zina, sexual intercourse between a man and a woman who are not married to each other, with 100 lashes, optionally combined with imprisonment, and added to the Penal Code an offence of consensual intercourse punishable by up to five years for both partners. The Penal Code further punishes any woman who makes prostitution her means of livelihood with at least one year's detention, anyone who opens or manages a brothel with at least one year and closure, and anyone living on a woman's earnings from prostitution. Inciting passers-by to indecency and distributing indecent material are separate offences. Floggings under Law No. 70 are still reported: a video from Sabha in July 2026 drew public criticism.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/libya/
LI,Liechtenstein,Liechtenstein,Europe,EEA | EFTA | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Liechtenstein's Criminal Code follows the Austrian one but, unlike Austria, has no licensing regime. Selling sex is not itself an offence; § 210 StGB punishes offering oneself for prostitution only in a way liable to cause justified public annoyance. Procuring and exploitation are crimes (§§ 215-217). Secondary sources often describe prostitution in Liechtenstein as illegal but tolerated; that wording does not match the current StGB, and other laws (for example on trade or foreign workers) were not checked.",restricted,criminal,legal,,restricted,,,,restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 6 months,,Criminal Code (LGBl. 1988 Nr. 37),https://www.gesetze.li/konso/pdf/1988.37,0,0,1,"In Liechtenstein the Criminal Code does not ban selling or buying sex between adults, but offering oneself for prostitution in a way liable to cause justified public annoyance is a crime (§ 210 StGB, up to six months). There is no law licensing brothels or registering sex workers. Bringing a person into prostitution, exploitative pimping and cross-border recruitment are crimes, in the same wording as in Austria. There is no specific rule on advertising beyond § 210, which covers any conduct aimed at arranging contacts if it is publicly offensive.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/liechtenstein/
LT,Lithuania,Lietuva,Europe,EU | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Both engaging in prostitution and paying for prostitution services are administrative offences under the same article of the Code of Administrative Offences, with the same fine. Profiting from another person's prostitution, procuring, organising or directing prostitution and involving a person in prostitution are crimes.",illegal,administrative,illegal,administrative,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,,,,,,,,,,,,€140 fine,€140 fine,Code of Administrative Offences (Administracinių nusižengimų kodeksas) | Criminal Code (Baudžiamasis kodeksas) | Law on the Provision of Information to the Public (Visuomenės informavimo įstatymas),https://rekvi.lt/istatymai/ank/487 | https://rekvi.lt/istatymai/bk/307 | https://rekvi.lt/istatymai/visuomenes-informavimo-istatymas/19,0,1,7,"Lithuania penalises both sides of the transaction: under Article 487 of the Code of Administrative Offences, engaging in prostitution and paying for prostitution services each carry a fine of EUR 90 to 140, or EUR 140 to 300 for a repeat offence. A person drawn into prostitution through dependence, coercion or deceit, as a minor or as a recognised trafficking victim is exempt. The Criminal Code punishes profiting from another person's prostitution and procuring (up to five years), organising prostitution (up to six years), directing it (one to seven years) and involving a person in prostitution (up to five years). The Law on the Provision of Information to the Public bans promoting or advertising sexual services in any public information medium. A bill raising fines for buyers to EUR 1,000 to 1,600 passed its first stage in April 2026.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/lithuania/
LU,Luxembourg,Lëtzebuerg / Luxembourg / Luxemburg,Europe,EU | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling sex is legal, but keeping a brothel, letting premises for the prostitution of others and procuring are crimes (Art. 379bis Code pénal), and public soliciting is an offence (Art. 382). Since the law of 28 February 2018, buying sex is a crime only in specific cases: from a victim of procuring or trafficking, from a minor, or from a person who is particularly vulnerable. Luxembourg therefore sits between abolitionism and the Nordic model, without a general ban on buying.",restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 6 months,,"Criminal Code (consolidated version of 19 December 2025) | Law of 28 February 2018 strengthening the fight against the exploitation of prostitution, procuring and trafficking in human beings for sexual purposes | Law of 1 April 1968 abolishing the official regulation of prostitution",https://data.legilux.public.lu/filestore/eli/etat/leg/code/penal/20251219/fr/html/eli-etat-leg-code-penal-20251219-fr-html.html | https://data.legilux.public.lu/filestore/eli/etat/leg/loi/2018/02/28/a170/jo/fr/html/eli-etat-leg-loi-2018-02-28-a170-jo-fr-html.html | https://data.legilux.public.lu/filestore/eli/etat/leg/loi/1968/04/01/n2/jo/fr/html/eli-etat-leg-loi-1968-04-01-n2-jo-fr-html.html,0,0,4,"In Luxembourg, selling sex is legal, but publicly soliciting is an offence, and running a brothel, letting premises for prostitution and procuring are crimes. A 2018 law made buying sex a crime when the person is a victim of procuring or trafficking, a minor, or particularly vulnerable, for example because of an irregular or precarious immigration status; a client who reports such offences is not prosecuted. Official regulation of prostitution was abolished in 1968. There is no offence aimed specifically at advertising, but the soliciting and procuring provisions are worded broadly.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/luxembourg/
MO,Macau,澳門 / Macau,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Macau has its own legal system; mainland China's prohibition does not apply. Selling and buying sex in private are not offences. Third-party involvement is criminalised broadly: Law 6/97/M punishes exploiting another person's prostitution even with consent, recruiting clients and ""in any way"" favouring or facilitating prostitution. Soliciting in a public place is an administrative offence with a fine and, for non-residents, expulsion.",restricted,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,"soliciting: MOP 5,000 fine",,Organised Crime Law (Law No. 6/97/M) | Macau Penal Code (approved by Decree-Law No. 58/95/M),https://bo.dsaj.gov.mo/bo/i/97/30/lei06.asp | https://bo.dsaj.gov.mo/bo/i/95/46/codpenpt/codpen0001.asp,0,0,2,"In Macau, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but almost every form of third-party involvement is a crime. The Organised Crime Law (Law 6/97/M) punishes enticing or diverting a person into prostitution, or exploiting another person's prostitution, even with their consent (1 to 3 years), and recruiting clients for sex workers or in any way favouring or facilitating prostitution (up to 3 years). The Penal Code adds procuring (lenocínio) where a person's situation of abandonment or need is exploited (1 to 5 years; 2 to 8 years with violence or deceit). Soliciting or offering sex for payment in a public or publicly accessible place is fined 5,000 patacas, and non-residents fined for it are expelled and commit the crime of disobedience if they re-enter within two years.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/macau/
MG,Madagascar,Madagasikara,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Adult prostitution is not an offence, but the Code pénal, modelled on the French code of 1960, criminalises procuring in broad terms (art. 334), including helping a person's prostitution or soliciting and living with a sex worker without sufficient own income, and running or tolerating prostitution in an establishment (art. 335). Its wording speaks of the ""lutte contre la prostitution"" and of ""rééducation"". Médecins du Monde (2024) calls the regime semi-prohibitionist.",legal,,legal,,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Penal Code (as amended, including by Ordinance 60-161 of 1960, Law 98-024 of 1999 and Law 2007-038 of 2008) | Law No. 2014-040 on combating trafficking in human beings",https://textes.lexxika.com/lois-malagasy/droit-penal/code-penal/livre-iii-des-crimes-des-delits-et-de-leur-punition/ | https://www.warnathgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Madagascar-Loi-n%C2%B02014-040.pdf,0,0,4,"Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences in Madagascar, but organising or profiting from it is. Article 334 of the Code pénal punishes as a procurer (proxénète), with two to five years and a fine of 1,000,000 to 10,000,000 ariary, anyone who knowingly helps, assists or protects another's prostitution or soliciting, shares in its proceeds, lives with a person who habitually engages in prostitution without sufficient own income, recruits or keeps an adult for prostitution even with consent, or acts as an intermediary. Running a prostitution establishment, or habitually tolerating prostitution in a hotel, bar or other place open to the public, is also an offence (art. 335). In 2014 the Antananarivo authorities were reported to have banned passive soliciting in the city centre.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/madagascar/
MW,Malawi,Malaŵi,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Penal Code has no offence of selling or buying sex. In 2016 the High Court said that the law ""has since the passing of the Penal Code not criminalized the actual act of prostitution"" and that living on the earnings is aimed at exploiters, not sex workers. Brothels, procuring, promoting prostitution and public soliciting are offences.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 3 months,,Penal Code (Chapter 7:01),https://malawilii.org/akn/mw/act/1929/22/eng@2014-12-31,0,0,2,"Malawi's Penal Code (Chapter 7:01) does not make selling or buying sex an offence, but criminalises nearly everything around it. Keeping a brothel carries seven years (s. 147). Promoting prostitution, which includes running a house or business for it, recruiting, soliciting customers for a sex worker or letting premises, carries 14 years (s. 147A, added in 2011). Living on the earnings is a misdemeanour (ss. 145–146). Soliciting in a public place is an offence for anyone (s. 180(e)). In Republic v Pempho Banda (2016) the High Court quashed the convictions of 19 women for living on the earnings of prostitution. It held that s. 146 targets those who exploit sex workers, not the women themselves.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/malawi/
MY,Malaysia,Malaysia,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Under the federal Penal Code, selling and buying sex are not offences in themselves, but soliciting in any place (s. 372B), exploiting a person for prostitution (s. 372), living on the earnings of another's prostitution (s. 372A) and keeping a brothel (s. 373) are. For Muslims, state and federal-territory Syariah laws add offences of prostitution and of sexual intercourse out of wedlock, which make the position prohibitionist for them.",restricted,criminal,restricted,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 1 year,,Penal Code (Act 574) | Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 (Act 559),https://www.wccpenang.org/01important/laws/Act-576-Section-375-376.pdf | https://lom.agc.gov.my/ilims/upload/portal/akta/LOM/EN/Act%20559%20-%20Syariah%20Criminal%20Offences%20(Federal%20Territories)%20Act%201997.pdf,1,0,4,"Malaysia has two layers. The federal Penal Code (Act 574) does not punish the sale or purchase of sex as such, but criminalises soliciting or importuning for prostitution or any immoral purpose in any place (up to one year or a fine), exploiting any person for prostitution (up to fifteen years, whipping and a fine), living on the earnings of another person's prostitution, and keeping, managing or knowingly letting premises for a brothel (up to fifteen years and a fine). Muslims are also subject to Syariah criminal law, which is state law: in the Federal Territories, the Syariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997 punishes a woman who prostitutes herself, acting as a muncikari (procurer) and sexual intercourse out of wedlock with fines of up to RM5,000, up to three years' imprisonment or up to six strokes of whipping.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/malaysia/
MV,Maldives,ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Prostitution is a specific offence under section 620 of the Penal Code (Law No. 6/2014) and section 29 of the Sexual Offences Act 2014. All sexual intercourse outside marriage is also an offence (section 411 of the Penal Code, with an additional Sharia penalty of 100 lashes, and section 27 of the Sexual Offences Act), so both seller and buyer are liable. Promoting prostitution, revenue from it and brothels are separately criminalised.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,flogging + up to 7 years,flogging + up to 3 years,"Penal Code (Law No. 6/2014) | Sexual Offences Act 2014, as summarised in UNFPA's 2023 human rights and gender review",https://antislaverylaw.ac.uk/country/maldives/ | https://maldives.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/unfpa_humanrights_genderreview_of_gbvrelatedlaws_in_maldives.pdf,0,0,2,"The Maldives prohibits prostitution under two overlapping laws. Under section 620 of the Penal Code, a person who ""performs an act of sexual intercourse or sexual contact with a person not his spouse in exchange for anything of value"" commits a Class 1 misdemeanour (up to one year). The Sexual Offences Act 2014 makes engaging in prostitution punishable by up to seven years (section 29). Facilitating or arranging prostitution for gain, or allowing a place to be used for it, is a Class 4 felony (section 621 of the Penal Code). The Sexual Offences Act separately prohibits using revenue from prostitution and setting up a brothel. Consensual sex outside marriage is itself an offence under both laws, punishable by imprisonment and 100 lashes. A 2023 UNFPA legal review recommended aligning the inconsistent penalties.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/maldives/
ML,Mali,,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The 2024 Penal Code does not punish selling or buying sex between adults. It punishes procuring, forced prostitution, inciting debauchery and public soliciting 'by any means, including passive conduct' (Articles 325-6 to 325-9). It has no separate brothel-keeping offence: organising another person's prostitution falls under procuring.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 2 months,,Law No. 2024-027 of 13 December 2024 on the Penal Code,https://sgg-mali.ml/JO/2024/mali-jo-2024-21-sp.pdf,0,0,1,"Mali replaced its 2001 Penal Code with Law No. 2024-027 of 13 December 2024, adopted by the National Transitional Council on 31 October 2024. The new Code does not make selling or buying sex between adults an offence. Publicly soliciting another person by any means, including passive conduct, for sexual relations in exchange for payment is punishable by two months in prison and a fine of 100,000 francs (Article 325-9). Procuring, defined as aiding, assisting or protecting another's prostitution, profiting from or sharing its proceeds, or recruiting or pressuring someone into it, carries five years, a fine of 1,000,000 francs and a ten-year residence ban (Article 325-8). Forcing a person into prostitution carries ten years (Article 325-7). No specific advertising or brothel offence was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mali/
MT,Malta,Malta,Europe,EU | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","No Maltese statute makes the private sale of sex between adults an offence, but loitering or soliciting in public, keeping or sharing in the management of a brothel, letting premises for prostitution and living on the earnings of another's prostitution are crimes under the 1930 White Slave Traffic (Suppression) Ordinance. Buying is an offence only from a minor or from a person known to be trafficked. A 2019 plan to decriminalise prostitution stalled and has not produced legislation.",restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 6 months,,White Slave Traffic (Suppression) Ordinance (Chapter 63 of the Laws of Malta) | Criminal Code (Chapter 9 of the Laws of Malta),https://legislation.mt/eli/cap/63/eng/pdf | https://legislation.mt/eli/cap/9/eng/pdf,0,1,5,"In Malta selling sex in private is not an offence, but almost everything around it is criminalised by the White Slave Traffic (Suppression) Ordinance (Cap. 63): soliciting or loitering in public (up to six months' imprisonment), brothel-keeping, letting premises and living on another's earnings, with a statutory presumption against anyone living with or habitually accompanying a sex worker. Researchers report that courts have treated sex workers sharing a flat as brothel-keeping. Buying is legal except from minors or knowingly from trafficking victims. The government announced in 2019 that it would decriminalise prostitution and regulate massage parlours and gentlemen's clubs, without legalising brothels. A public debate between decriminalisation and Nordic-model advocates continued into 2023, but the reform has stalled and no bill has been tabled.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/malta/
MH,Marshall Islands,Aolepān Aorōkin Ṃajeḷ,Oceania,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"The Criminal Code 2011 makes both engaging in prostitution (§251.1) and patronising prostitution (§251.2) felonies of the third degree, and criminalises promoting prostitution, including running a house of prostitution (§§251.3-251.4).",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 35 months,up to 35 months,"Criminal Code 2011 (Title 31 MIRC, Chapter 1)",https://bwcimplementation.org/sites/default/files/resource/MH_Criminal%20Code%20_EN.pdf,0,0,1,"In the Marshall Islands, the Criminal Code 2011 criminalises both sides of the transaction: engaging, or offering or agreeing to engage, in sexual conduct for something of value, and giving or agreeing to give something of value for sexual conduct, are each felonies of the third degree (up to 35 months and a $5,000 fine). Knowingly advancing or profiting from prostitution is also a third-degree felony; running or owning a house of prostitution or an enterprise with two or more sex workers, compelling a person, or involving a person under 18 is a second-degree felony (up to ten years). Premises regularly used for prostitution are a public nuisance that can be closed for up to a year.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/marshall-islands/
MR,Mauritania,موريتانيا,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"There is no offence specific to selling sex, but Article 307 of the 1983 Penal Code punishes zina (sexual relations outside marriage) committed by any adult Muslim, so selling and buying sex are offences under that general provision. Procuring, brothel-keeping and making premises available to sex workers are separately criminalised (Articles 311 to 318).",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,flogging; death if married,flogging; death if married,Penal Code (Ordinance No. 83-162 of 9 July 1983),https://bwcimplementation.org/sites/default/files/resource/Mauritania_PenalCode.pdf,0,0,2,"Mauritania's Penal Code (Ordinance No. 83-162 of 9 July 1983) applies Islamic criminal law to sexual conduct. Article 307 punishes zina committed by any adult Muslim and proven by four witnesses, by confession or, for a woman, by pregnancy: unmarried offenders face 100 lashes and one year in prison, married or divorced offenders death by stoning. Procuring carries six months to three years and a fine (Article 311), aggravated forms two to five years (Article 312), and running or financing a prostitution establishment or tolerating prostitution in a hotel or bar the same (Article 313). Making private premises available to sex workers carries six months to two years (Article 318). Publicly drawing attention to an opportunity for debauchery, or publishing an advertisement of that kind, is an offence (Article 264). Zina charges have reportedly been used against sex workers.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mauritania/
MU,Mauritius,Maurice,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned",Neither selling nor buying sex is an offence as such. Third-party involvement is criminalised: procuring and exploiting the prostitution of another for gain (Criminal Code s. 253) and keeping or letting premises for a brothel (Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act s. 90). A sex worker can also be charged as an idle and disorderly person for wandering in public and behaving in a riotous or indecent manner.,restricted,criminal,legal,,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,in public: 1 year,,Criminal Code (Cap. 195) | Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act (Cap. 196),"https://attorneygeneral.govmu.org/Documents/Laws%20of%20Mauritius/A-Z%20Acts/C/Cr/CriminalCodeCap195.pdf | https://attorneygeneral.govmu.org/Documents/Laws%20of%20Mauritius/A-Z%20Acts/C/Cr/CRIMINAL%20CODE%20(SUPPLEMENTARY)%20ACT,%20Cap%20196.pdf",0,0,2,"Prostitution itself is not an offence in Mauritius, and no provision penalising clients was found. The law targets third parties: procuring, enticing or leading away a person for prostitution, exploiting the prostitution of another even with consent, or sharing the earnings of a person who habitually engages in prostitution carries up to 20 years and a fine of up to 200,000 rupees (Criminal Code s. 253). Keeping or managing a brothel, or knowingly letting premises for one, carries up to 10 years and a fine of up to 200,000 rupees, and prosecution needs the direction of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act s. 90). A ""common prostitute"" who wanders in a public place and behaves in a riotous or indecent manner is an idle and disorderly person (s. 26). No change to these provisions between 2023 and October 2026 was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mauritius/
MX,Mexico,México,Latin America & Caribbean,,profile,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","No federal law makes selling or buying sex between adults an offence, but profiting from another person's prostitution and running brothels is lenocinio (art. 206 Bis Código Penal Federal, mirrored in state penal codes), and sexual exploitation is a federal trafficking offence. Day-to-day rules are local: municipal bandos and health regulations range from mandatory registration and health checks (Tijuana) to bans on street soliciting (Cancún), while Mexico City dropped its prostitution infraction in 2019.",varies,administrative,restricted,administrative,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,varies,administrative,varies,administrative,legal,none,restricted,,,,"Federal Penal Code | General Law to Prevent, Punish and Eradicate Trafficking in Persons Offences and to Protect and Assist Victims | Political Constitution of the United Mexican States | Civic Culture Law of Mexico City (2019) | Penal Code for the Federal District (Mexico City) | Regulation for the Control of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Municipality of Tijuana | Penal Code for the State of Baja California | Penal Code for the State of Quintana Roo | Migration Law",https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/CPF.pdf | https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/LGPSEDMTP.pdf | https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/CPEUM.pdf | https://www.congresocdmx.gob.mx/archivo-2d138a1bf3bd98b883c46c3572754fad44a97a75.pdf | https://www.congresocdmx.gob.mx/archivo-deae456e36ecb11eac420f0f1839cc70e9ea4685.pdf | https://www.tijuana.gob.mx/normatividad/documentos/Reglamentos/40_20211229154718384_wp.pdf | https://www.congresobc.gob.mx/Documentos/ProcesoParlamentario/Leyes/TOMO_V/20260828_CODPENAL.PDF | https://documentos.congresoqroo.gob.mx/codigos/C6-XVIII-14102026-20261016T150309-C1820261014261-C%C3%B3digo-Penal.pdf | https://www.diputados.gob.mx/LeyesBiblio/pdf/LMigra.pdf,4,1,20,"Mexico has no federal offence of selling or buying sex between adults. Federal and state penal codes punish lenocinio: profiting from another person's prostitution, inducing someone into it, or running a brothel. The 2012 General Law on trafficking punishes profiting from prostitution obtained by deception, violence, abuse of power or exploiting vulnerability with 15 to 30 years, makes consent irrelevant, and criminalises media that publish ads facilitating these offences. The rest is local. Tijuana requires sex workers to register, carry a municipal health card and take monthly checks; Cancún's police bylaw has punished offering and soliciting sex in public; Mexico City dropped its prostitution infraction in 2019, after a 2014 federal ruling ordered it to recognise sex workers as non-salaried workers. A 2025 bill to add sex work to the Federal Labour Law has not passed.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mexico/
FM,Micronesia (Federated States of),,Oceania,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Prostitution is a matter of state law. The Chuuk State Code (§9025, from state law TDL 2-94-21) prohibits prostitution and 'taking part or aiding' in it, defined to include the customer, and the Pohnpei Code (61 PC §§8-111 and 8-112) penalises engaging in prostitution, hiring a person for sex and pandering. No prostitution offence was found in the Kosrae or Yap codes; at national level the trafficking provisions of the FSM Code (Title 11) define exploitation to include benefiting from another person's prostitution.",varies,criminal,varies,criminal,varies,criminal,,,varies,criminal,varies,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Chuuk State Code, Title 12, Chapter 28 (Prohibition on Certain Forms of Vice) | Code of the State of Pohnpei, 2012 Edition, Title 61 (Criminal Law), Chapter 8",https://www.fsmlaw.org/chuuk/code/title12/T12_CH28.htm | https://www.fsmlaw.org/pohnpei/code/pdf/pohnpei%20state%202012%20code.pdf,4,0,5,"In the Federated States of Micronesia, criminal law on prostitution is made by the four states. In Chuuk, prostitution, defined as performing or agreeing to perform a sexual act for hire either as a sex worker or as a customer, and any taking part or aiding in it, is a misdemeanour punishable by up to one year or a fine of at least $500. In Pohnpei, engaging in prostitution or hiring a person for sex carries up to six months or a $500 fine, and pandering (inducing a person into prostitution or being paid for procuring one) up to one year or $500. No equivalent offence was found in the published codes of Kosrae or Yap.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/micronesia-federated-states-of/
MD,Moldova,Republica Moldova,Europe,CoE,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Practising prostitution and benefiting from paid sexual services are both contraventions under Article 89 of the Contravention Code (buyers since 9 December 2018). Since July 2022 the buyer's fine is higher than the seller's. Proxenetism, which includes inciting, facilitating or profiting from another person's prostitution, is a crime under Article 220 of the Criminal Code.",illegal,administrative,illegal,administrative,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,,,,,,,,,,,,"MDL 1,300 fine","MDL 2,400 fine","Contravention Code (Codul contravențional, Law No. 218/2008), as amended by Law No. 159 of 12 October 2018 | Criminal Code (Codul penal) | Law No. 62 of 17 March 2022 on Advertising",https://monitorul.gov.md/ro/monitorul/view/pdf/2075 | https://constcourt.md/ccdocview.php?l=ro&tip=decizii&docid=468 | https://monitorul.gov.md/ro/monitorul/view/pdf/2438,0,0,8,"Moldova sanctions both selling and buying sex as contraventions. Article 89 of the Contravention Code defines prostitution as satisfying a person's sexual desire by any method or means in exchange for payment; it carries a fine of 14 to 26 conventional units or 10 to 20 hours of community work, and paying or promising payment for such services carries 36 to 48 units or 40 to 60 hours. A person who acted against their will is exempt. Proxenetism (Article 220 of the Criminal Code) covers inciting or inducing prostitution, facilitating it and profiting from another person's prostitution, with a fine or two to five years. The 2022 Law on Advertising prohibits advertising that encourages, directly or indirectly, behaviour contrary to the law.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/moldova/
MC,Monaco,Monaco,Europe,CoE,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences, but the Code pénal defines procuring very broadly (helping, assisting or protecting another's prostitution, sharing its proceeds, acting as an intermediary), which rules out brothels and managed prostitution. Publicly soliciting people 'with a view to inciting them to debauchery' is a petty offence (contravention) punished by a fine.",restricted,administrative,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,,,,,,,,,,,,"soliciting: €1,000 fine",,Monegasque Penal Code,https://legimonaco.mc/code/code-penal/,0,0,1,"Monaco's Code pénal does not penalise selling or buying sexual services between adults. Procuring (proxénétisme) is punishable by six months to three years and a fine of €9,000–18,000 (art. 268) and covers recruiting or pressuring a person into prostitution, aiding, assisting or protecting another's prostitution, sharing its proceeds, being unable to justify one's income while habitually associating with sex workers, and acting as an intermediary. Aggravated procuring carries five to ten years, or ten to twenty years for a victim under 16 or an organised gang (art. 269). Public soliciting by gestures, words, writing or any other means is a contravention fined €600–1,000 (art. 421(3)). Paying a minor for sexual activity carries three to five years (art. 269-1). No reform was found for 2023–2026.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/monaco/
MN,Mongolia,Монгол Улс,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Selling and buying sex are both infringements (administrative offences) under the Law on Infringements, punished with a fine and confiscation of income. Since a 2020 amendment, mediating, drawing others into and organising prostitution, including setting up or financing a place for it, are crimes under Article 12.6 of the Criminal Code.",illegal,administrative,illegal,administrative,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,administrative,,,,,,,,,,,"MNT 50,000 fine","MNT 50,000 fine","Law on Infringements (revised edition, 2017) | Law amending the Criminal Code (adopted 10 January 2020)",https://mmra.gov.mn/Files/legalinfo.mn%20-%20%D0%97%D3%A8%D0%A0%D0%A7%D0%9B%D0%98%D0%99%D0%9D%20%D0%A2%D0%A3%D0%A5%D0%90%D0%99.pdf | https://parliament.mn/files/7b3bb44ee68f44a7a76c2aa315362129/?d=1,0,0,3,"Mongolia prohibits both selling and buying sex. Under Article 6.18(4) of the Law on Infringements (2017), a person who sells sex, or who pays for sex, has the illegally obtained income confiscated and is fined the tögrög equivalent of 50 units. Third-party involvement is criminal: Article 12.6 of the Criminal Code, as rewritten on 10 January 2020, punishes mediating for or drawing a person into prostitution with six months to three years' restriction of movement or imprisonment, and setting up or financing a place of prostitution, organising prostitution or supplying transport or housing for it with one to five years; an organised criminal group faces five to twelve years, and using a person under 18 counts as human trafficking. The same reform repealed the earlier administrative fine for organising prostitution on one's own premises.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mongolia/
ME,Montenegro,Crna Gora,Europe,CoE,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,Selling sex is a misdemeanour only when done in a public place (Article 27 of the 2011 public order law); buying is not penalised for adults. Classified as prohibition because the seller is the target of the public order offence; private selling between adults is not itself an offence. Procuring and advertising are crimes.,restricted,administrative,legal,none,illegal,administrative,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,"in public: €1,000 or 30 days",,"Law on Public Order and Peace (2011) | Criminal Code (2003, as amended)",https://www.sluzbenilist.me/propisi/306909 | https://www.ombudsman.co.me/docs/1612168040_krivicni-zakonik-crne-gore.pdf,0,0,3,"In Montenegro, anyone who engages in prostitution in a public place, or acts in ways that encourage prostitution, commits a misdemeanour punishable by a fine of EUR 200–1,000 or up to 30 days' imprisonment (Article 27 of the 2011 Law on Public Order and Peace). Renting or providing premises for prostitution, or otherwise mediating in it, is a separate misdemeanour with fines of up to EUR 5,000 for companies. Adult buyers are not penalised. Article 210 of the Criminal Code punishes inducing or inciting prostitution, handing a person over to another for prostitution, and propagating or advertising prostitution through public media or similar means, with three months to two years; using the sexual services of a minor carries two to ten years.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/montenegro/
MA,Morocco,المغرب,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"The Penal Code has no offence of selling sex as such, but Article 490 punishes any sexual relations between unmarried persons of different sexes, which covers both the person selling and the person buying. Public soliciting is a separate offence (Article 502), and Articles 497 to 504 criminalise procuring, brothels and tolerating prostitution on premises. The prohibition therefore rests on the general extramarital-sex offence plus the soliciting offence.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 1 year,extramarital sex: 1 year,"Penal Code (Dahir No. 1-59-413 of 26 November 1962), consolidated to 5 July 2018",https://www.onousc.ma/storage/code_penal.pdf,0,0,3,"Prostitution is prohibited in Morocco. Article 490 of the Penal Code punishes sexual relations between unmarried persons of different sexes with one month to one year in prison, which applies to both the seller and the buyer, and Article 502 punishes publicly soliciting people to debauchery by gestures, words, writings or any other means. Procuring in its many forms (Article 498), running or financing premises used for prostitution (Article 501) and tolerating prostitution on premises one controls (Article 503) are offences with prison terms of up to ten years, higher in aggravated cases. Repeal of Article 490 is publicly debated, but no bill to that effect had been found in Parliament as of October 2026.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/morocco/
MZ,Mozambique,Moçambique,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Penal Code (Lei n.º 24/2019) does not make selling or buying sex an offence. It punishes anyone who ""professionally or with intent to profit"" fosters, favours or facilitates another person's prostitution (art. 214, now headed ""Lenocínio""). This covers brothel-keeping and other organised third-party involvement even without coercion; coercion and abuse aggravate the penalty.",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,Law No. 24/2019 of 24 December revising the Penal Code | Law No. 17/2020 of 23 December amending the Penal Code,https://reformar.co.mz/documentos-diversos/lei-24-2019-lei-de-revisao-do-codigo-penal.pdf | https://archive.gazettes.africa/archive/mz/2020/mz-government-gazette-series-i-supplement-no-2-dated-2020-12-23-no-246.pdf,0,0,2,"Mozambique's Penal Code, revised by Lei n.º 24/2019 (in force from mid-2020), contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. The only adult prostitution offence is lenocínio (art. 214). Professionally or for profit fostering, favouring or facilitating another person's prostitution carries one to two years and a fine. With violence, serious threat, fraud, abuse of authority or dependence, or exploitation of mental incapacity or special vulnerability, the penalty rises to two to eight years. A 2020 amendment (Lei n.º 17/2020) retitled arts. 214–215 as ""Lenocínio"" and ""Lenocínio de menores"" and added a trafficking offence (art. 196-A). Publicly displaying sexually explicit material for commerce is a separate minor offence (art. 217(2)).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mozambique/
MM,Myanmar,မြန်မာ,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"The Suppression of Prostitution Act 1949, as amended in 1998, punishes publicly soliciting for prostitution and living from one's own prostitution, as well as brothel-keeping and living on the earnings of others. The Act contains no offence for clients.",illegal,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 3 years,,"Suppression of Prostitution Act 1949, as amended by Law No. 7/98",https://asiacatalyst.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Legal-Review-of-Detention-Centers-.pdf,0,0,2,"Myanmar's Suppression of Prostitution Act 1949, amended by Law No. 7/98 of 1998, criminalises people who sell sex rather than their clients. According to legal reviews of the Act, soliciting customers for prostitution (section 3) carries one to three years' imprisonment with hard labour and a possible fine, and a court may order detention in a designated facility instead of prison. Living on the earnings of a person whose occupation is prostitution and managing a brothel (section 5(1)) carry one to five years. The 1998 amendment widened ""brothel"" to any house, building, room, vehicle, vessel, aircraft or place habitually used for prostitution. The official text could not be opened for this review, so the detail rests on secondary legal analyses.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/myanmar/
NA,Namibia,,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Combating of Immoral Practices Act 21 of 1980 closely follows South Africa's Sexual Offences Act 1957, but has no equivalent of South Africa's later selling (1988) or buying (2007) offences. It therefore criminalises neither selling nor buying, only brothels, procuring, living on the earnings, assisting contact for prostitution and public soliciting. Lawyers quoted in 2025 said sex workers, not clients, are the ones generally prosecuted.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 2 years,,Combating of Immoral Practices Act 21 of 1980,https://namiblii.org/akn/na/act/1980/21/eng@2024-05-15,0,0,2,"Namibia's Combating of Immoral Practices Act 21 of 1980 does not make the exchange of sex for money an offence, but criminalises the conduct around it. This covers keeping a brothel (s. 2, up to three years), procuring (s. 5), helping a man contact a woman for sex outside marriage (s. 6), soliciting in a public street or place (s. 7) and living on the earnings of prostitution (s. 10). In Hendricks v Attorney General (2002) the High Court narrowed the definition of a brothel and struck down the deeming and presumption provisions. No reform bill or new court challenge from 2023–2026 was found. Advocacy groups and lawyers continue to call for repeal.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/namibia/
NR,Nauru,Ripublik Naoero,Oceania,,overview,2026-10-30,neo-abolitionism,Buying criminalised (Nordic model),"The Crimes Act 2016 contains no offence of selling sex, but makes it an offence to intentionally engage, employ, cause or permit another person to provide a commercial sexual service (s. 107, five years), which on its wording covers clients as well as managers, and to hold an interest in premises used for commercial sexual services by two or more people (s. 108). Amnesty International read ss. 107-109 as criminalising the organisation and buying of sexual services.",legal,none,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,,up to 5 years,Crimes Act 2016 (Act No. 18 of 2016),https://database.ilga.org/api/downloader/download/1/NR%20-%20LEG%20-%20Crimes%20Act%20(2016)%20-%20OR-OFF(en).pdf,0,0,2,"In Nauru, the Crimes Act 2016, which repealed the Criminal Code 1899, does not penalise selling sex but makes it an offence to intentionally engage, employ, cause or permit another person to provide a commercial sexual service (up to five years, seven with aggravating circumstances). Owning, leasing or controlling premises knowing they are made available for commercial sexual services by two or more people carries six years. Using intimidatory conduct to make someone enter or stay in prostitution, or hand over its earnings, carries 25 years. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/nauru/
NP,Nepal,नेपाल,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,neo-abolitionism,Buying criminalised (Nordic model),"The Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2007 treats prostitution entirely as trafficking. Putting someone into prostitution ""with or without any benefit"" and वेश्यागमन (going to a sex worker as a client) are both defined as human trafficking. The Act creates no offence for the person who sells sex, who falls within its definition of a victim. In practice, research by the Forum for Women, Law and Development found that police released clients and prosecuted sex workers under the Some Public (Crime and Punishment) Act 1970.",restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,up to 3 months,"Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2064 (2007), Act No. 5 of 2064",https://repository.lawcommission.gov.np/np/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B5-%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%A5%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%93%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0-%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A3-%E0%A4%90%E0%A4%A8-%E0%A5%A8%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AC%E0%A5%AA.pdf,0,1,6,"Nepal folds prostitution into its anti-trafficking law. Section 4(1) of the Human Trafficking and Transportation (Control) Act 2007 lists selling or buying a person, putting someone into prostitution with or without benefit, unlawful organ removal and वेश्यागमन (visiting a sex worker as a client) as acts of human trafficking. A client faces one to three months' imprisonment and a fine of 2,000 to 5,000 rupees. Anyone who puts another person into prostitution faces about ten to fifteen years. A ""victim"" includes a person ""put into prostitution"", and the Act creates no offence for the seller. Sex workers have instead been prosecuted under the Some Public (Crime and Punishment) Act 1970. A First Amendment Bill, tabled in 2025 and approved again by the Cabinet in July 2026, rewrites the trafficking definition.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/nepal/
NL,Netherlands,Nederland,Europe,EU | EEA | CoE | Schengen,profile,2026-10-30,regulation,Regulation (legal & licensed),"Since 1 October 2000, when the general brothel ban was lifted, selling and buying sex between adults and running a sex business are lawful; criminal law targets exploitation (art. 273f Sr). Regulation is municipal: councils may license sex businesses by bylaw (art. 151a Gemeentewet, usually in the APV), so the regime ranges from licensed window districts to a de facto zero policy. A national licensing law (Wrs) was dropped by the government in May 2026.",legal,none,restricted,criminal,regulated,,varies,,restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,legal,none,varies,criminal,varies,,legal,,restricted,,,,"Criminal Code (Wetboek van Strafrecht) | Act lifting the general brothel ban (Wet opheffing algemeen bordeelverbod) | Municipalities Act (Gemeentewet) | Amsterdam General Local Bylaw 2008 (APV) | Act criminalising abuse of prostitutes who are trafficking victims | Sexual Offences Act (Wet seksuele misdrijven), commencement decree | Act modernising and extending the criminalisation of human trafficking",https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0001854/2026-07-01 | https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stb-1999-464.html | https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0005416/2026-10-01 | https://lokaleregelgeving.overheid.nl/CVDR72510 | https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stb-2021-467.html | https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stb-2024-61.html | https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stb-2026-312.html,3,7,41,"Prostitution between adults is legal in the Netherlands, and sex businesses have been lawful since the brothel ban was lifted on 1 October 2000. There is no national licensing law: municipalities regulate through their local bylaw (APV), deciding whether and where clubs, windows, escort agencies and home-based work are allowed and licensing operators. Criminal law targets trafficking and exploitation (art. 273f Sr), sex with sellers under 18 and, since 2022, clients who know or should suspect a sex worker is trafficked (art. 273g Sr). In 2026 the government dropped the Wet regulering sekswerk, announced a statutory minimum age of 21 and tabled a bill on municipal supervision; a modernised trafficking law was enacted, and a bill obliging sex-ad platforms to verify advertisers' identity and age is before the Senate.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/netherlands/
NZ,New Zealand,Aotearoa,Oceania,,profile,2026-10-30,decriminalisation,Decriminalisation,"The Prostitution Reform Act 2003 states that its purpose is to decriminalise prostitution and to create a framework that safeguards sex workers' human rights and promotes their occupational health and safety (s 3). Selling, buying, brothels and third-party management are lawful; the remaining offences concern coercion, children, safer-sex duties, broadcast and print advertising, and operator certificates. The main exception is migrants: s 19 makes it a condition of every temporary visa that the holder may not provide commercial sexual services.",legal,,legal,,regulated,criminal,legal,,regulated,criminal,restricted,criminal,legal,,legal,,regulated,,legal,,illegal,administrative,,,Prostitution Reform Act 2003 | Immigration Act 2009 | Harmful Digital Communications Act 2015,https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2003/28/en/latest/ | https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2009/51/en/latest/ | https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2015/63/en/latest/,0,1,8,"New Zealand decriminalised prostitution with the Prostitution Reform Act 2003, in force from 28 June 2003. Selling and buying sex, street-based work, brothels and escort agencies are lawful, and contracts for sexual services are enforceable. Up to four sex workers who each keep their own earnings may work together without an operator; anyone else running a business of prostitution needs an annual operator certificate from the District Court. Councils may make bylaws on brothel location and sex-industry signage. Advertising is banned on radio, television and in cinemas and limited to the classified section of newspapers and periodicals; online advertising is not restricted by the Act. Section 19 bars temporary visa holders from sex work on pain of deportation; the UN women's rights committee asked for change in 2018, and in 2023 the government reported no reform under way.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/new-zealand/
NI,Nicaragua,Nicaragua,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. The Penal Code (Law 641, consolidated text published in 2024) punishes exploiting or profiting from the prostitution of others 'even with the person's consent' and running any house, venue or agency for it with eight to ten years (Art. 178), and defines trafficking so broadly that recruiting, transporting, housing or advertising for the purpose of prostitution qualifies, consent being irrelevant (Art. 182).",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Penal Code (Law No. 641, consolidated text)",http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/__062569d000710dd9.nsf/09cf45d6fc893868062572650059911e/c666a96aa982330c0625736100623636,0,0,2,"In Nicaragua, selling sex and paying an adult for sex are not offences, but nearly every form of third-party involvement is. Under Art. 178 of the Penal Code (Law 641), anyone who exploits the prostitution of another or benefits from it, even with that person's consent, or who keeps, rents, runs, finances or works in a house, venue or agency used for prostitution, faces eight to ten years and a fine of 300–500 day-units; aggravated forms carry up to fifteen years. Art. 182 makes it trafficking (ten to fifteen years, closure of the premises and confiscation) to organise, finance, promote, advertise, recruit, transport or house a person for the purposes of prostitution, and consent never exempts the offender. Paying a minor for sexual acts is a separate crime.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/nicaragua/
NE,Niger,,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex are not offences under Niger's Penal Code; a senior police officer stated in 2018 that prostitution as such is not an offence in Niger. Procuring, including living with a sex worker, and running or tolerating a prostitution establishment are criminalised (Articles 291 to 294).",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Penal Code (Law No. 61-27 of 15 July 1961), as amended by Law No. 2003-025 of 13 June 2003",https://antislaverylaw.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Niger-Penal-Code.pdf,0,0,2,"Niger's Penal Code (Law No. 61-27 of 15 July 1961, as amended) contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. Procuring, including aiding or protecting another's prostitution or soliciting, sharing its proceeds, knowingly living with a person habitually engaged in it or acting as an intermediary, carries six months to three years and a fine of 50,000 to 5,000,000 francs (Article 291), and two to five years in aggravated cases (Article 292). Owning, managing or running a prostitution establishment, or habitually tolerating prostitution in a hotel, bar or other place open to the public, carries two to five years, doubled for a repeat within ten years, with withdrawal of the licence (Article 294). Police have rounded up people at sites associated with sex work; in operations in 2016 and 2017, 192 of 431 girls detained were minors.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/niger/
NG,Nigeria,Nigeria,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Nigeria has two general penal laws. The Criminal Code (south) and the Penal Code (north) do not make selling or buying sex an offence as such, but punish public soliciting by a ""common prostitute"", living on earnings, procuring and brothels. The Penal Code also punishes adultery by people subject to a customary law that treats extra-marital sex as a crime. In the twelve Sharia states, Muslims are also subject to Sharia penal codes under which all sex outside marriage is zina, so prostitution is prohibited there (see subnational).",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 1 month,,"Criminal Code Act (Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004) | Penal Code Act (Cap. 53, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, Abuja) | Penal Code Law, Northern Region No. 18 of 1959 (annotated, 1963) | Harmonised Sharia Penal Code (Centre for Islamic Legal Studies), annotated against the enacted state codes","https://www.placng.org/lawsofnigeria/laws/C38.pdf | https://database.ilga.org/api/downloader/download/1/NG%20-%20LEG%20-%20Penal%20Code%20(Northern%20States)%20Federal%20Provisions%20Act%20(1959)%20-%20OR(en).pdf | https://anticor.world/assets/brics/The%20Panel%20Code%20Law,%20Northern%20Region%20No.18%201959.pdf | http://www.sharia-in-africa.net/media/publications/sharia-implementation-in-northern-nigeria/vol_4_4_chapter_4_part_III.pdf",1,0,8,"Nigeria has plural criminal law. In the south the Criminal Code punishes a ""common prostitute"" who solicits or behaves indecently in public (one month), men living on the earnings of prostitution, women controlling a sex worker for gain, procuring and keeping a brothel, but not selling or buying sex as such. The northern Penal Code has parallel soliciting, vagabond and brothel offences and an adultery offence for people under a customary law that criminalises extra-marital sex. Since 2000 twelve northern states have adopted Sharia penal codes that make all sex outside marriage zina, punishable by 100 lashes or stoning, and some passed separate laws banning prostitution; state hisbah (religious police) boards, notably Kano's, regularly arrest women accused of sex work.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/nigeria/
KP,North Korea,조선민주주의인민공화국,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Prostitution (매음) is both a crime under the Criminal Law and an administrative violation under the Administrative Penalties Law, punished with ""labour education"" or, under the Criminal Law, ""reform through labour"". Arranging, forcing or luring women into prostitution is also punishable. Current legal texts are not officially published in full, so this classification rests on a 2008 text of the Administrative Penalties Law and the government's own 2016 report to the UN.",illegal,criminal,illegal,,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 3 months,,Administrative Penalties Law of the DPRK (text as amended to 20 May 2008),https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/es/text/331347,0,0,2,"North Korea prohibits prostitution. In its 2016 report to the UN women's rights committee, the government stated that the Criminal Law ""defines prostitution as a crime"", with reform through labour of up to five years in serious cases (Article 249 in the version then in force), and that the Law on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Women (Article 40) subjects anyone who commits prostitution or arranges, forces or lures a woman into it to punishment under the Criminal Law. The 2008 text of the Administrative Penalties Law (Article 160) punishes anyone who engages in prostitution or encourages it with up to three months of labour education, more in serious cases. Both laws have been amended since these texts, and current article numbers and penalties could not be checked. No provision aimed specifically at buyers was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/north-korea/
MK,North Macedonia,Северна Македонија,Europe,CoE,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Selling sex is a misdemeanour under Article 19 of the 2007 Law on Misdemeanours against Public Order and Peace; buying from an adult who is not a trafficking victim is not an offence. Mediation in prostitution, including enabling others to use sexual services for gain, is a crime under Article 191 of the Criminal Code.",illegal,administrative,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,€800 fine,,"Criminal Code (1996, as amended)",https://jorm.gov.mk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/%D0%B7%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D1%87%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BD-%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BA%D1%81%D1%82.pdf,0,0,3,"North Macedonia treats selling sex as a public order misdemeanour: according to the text quoted by the women's rights organisation ESE, Article 19 of the 2007 Law on Misdemeanours against Public Order and Peace fines anyone who engages in prostitution, or rents out or provides premises for it, EUR 600–800 in denar equivalent. Buying sex from an adult is not penalised, except where the buyer knew or should have known the person was a trafficking victim (six months to five years). Article 191 of the Criminal Code punishes recruiting, inducing or luring a person into prostitution (five to ten years in the consolidated text), enabling another person to use sexual services for gain (three to five years) and organising these acts (at least ten years). No specific offence of advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/north-macedonia/
NO,Norway,Norge / Noreg,Europe,EEA | EFTA | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,neo-abolitionism,Buying criminalised (Nordic model),"Buying sex has been an offence since 2009 (straffeloven § 316, the 'sexkjøpsloven') and applies to Norwegian nationals and residents abroad. Selling is not an offence. Promoting another person's prostitution, renting out premises for it and public announcements offering or mediating it are offences under § 315.",legal,none,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,up to 1 year,"Penal Code (Act of 20 May 2005 no. 28), chapter 26 on sexual offences | Penal Code (Act of 20 May 2005 no. 28), chapter 1",https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2005-05-20-28/KAPITTEL_2-11 | https://lovdata.no/dokument/NL/lov/2005-05-20-28/KAPITTEL_1-1,0,2,5,"Norway criminalises the purchase of sex, not its sale. Under § 316 of the Penal Code anyone who obtains sexual intercourse or a sexual act by giving or agreeing payment faces a fine or up to one year in prison; since 2021 this also covers paying someone to perform sexual acts on themselves. § 315 punishes promoting the prostitution of others and renting out premises for prostitution with up to six years, and an unequivocal public announcement offering, mediating or requesting prostitution with a fine or up to six months. The Penal Code Council proposed decriminalising purchases between adults in 2022; the government declined, and in 2026 the Storting rejected a proposal for a public review of the law.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/norway/
OM,Oman,عُمان,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Practising prostitution or debauchery for a fee, indiscriminately, is a crime (Art. 256, Penal Law of 2018). Clients are covered by a specific offence of being caught in a place prepared for prostitution (Art. 255) and by the general offence of consensual sex outside marriage (Art. 259). Brothels, living off earnings, procuring and incitement, including online, are crimes.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 3 years,up to 1 year,Royal Decree 7/2018 Issuing the Penal Law | Royal Decree 12/2011 Issuing the Cyber Crime Law,https://qanoon.om/p/2018/l2018007/ | https://qanoon.om/p/2011/rd2011012/,0,0,2,"Oman's Penal Law (Royal Decree 7/2018) punishes anyone who practises prostitution or debauchery for a fee, indiscriminately, with one to three years' imprisonment (Art. 256). Anyone caught in a place prepared for prostitution intending to engage in it faces one month to one year (Art. 255), and consensual sex outside marriage six months to three years for both parties (Art. 259), on a complaint by a spouse or guardian or, where the accused has neither in Oman, by the Public Prosecution. Running a brothel, letting premises for one, knowingly working or living in one, or living off another's prostitution carries one to three years and OMR 500 to 1,000 (Art. 255). Inciting or helping someone into prostitution carries three to seven years (Art. 254), and doing so through an information network three to five years (Cyber Crime Law, Art. 15).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/oman/
PK,Pakistan,پاکستان,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Pakistan has no offence of selling sex as such. The general offence of fornication (section 496B of the Penal Code, inserted in 2006) covers any wilful intercourse between a man and a woman not married to each other, so both parties to a paid encounter commit it. The Offence of Zina (Enforcement of Hudood) Ordinance 1979 also remains in force. Brothels, soliciting, living on earnings and procuring are separate offences under the provincial Suppression of Prostitution Ordinance 1961.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,extramarital sex: 5 years,extramarital sex: 5 years,"Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860, as amended) | Suppression of Prostitution Ordinance 1961 (W.P. Ordinance II of 1961, Punjab version) | Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act 2016 (as amended in 2025)",https://pakistancode.gov.pk/pdffiles/administratord5622ea3f15bfa00b17d2cf7770a8434.pdf | http://nasirlawsite.com/laws/prostitu.htm | https://www.pakistancode.gov.pk/pdffiles/administrator6a061efe0ed5bd153fa8b79b8eb4cba7.pdf,0,0,3,"Under section 496B of the Pakistan Penal Code, a man and a woman not married to each other who wilfully have sexual intercourse commit fornication, punishable by up to five years' imprisonment and a fine of up to 10,000 rupees. This general offence applies to both seller and buyer. The 1961 Suppression of Prostitution Ordinance, in force in the provinces, punishes keeping or financing a brothel, letting premises for one, soliciting in or within sight of a public place, living on or exploiting another person's prostitution, and procuring a woman for prostitution with or without her consent. Selling or buying a person for prostitution carries up to 25 years (sections 371A and 371B). The telecoms regulator can block online content on grounds of ""decency or morality"".",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/pakistan/
PW,Palau,Beluu er a Belau,Oceania,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"The Penal Code (Title 17 of the Palau National Code, as revised by RPPL 9-21) makes prostitution a misdemeanour for both the person paid and the person paying (§4801), and promoting prostitution a felony (§§4803-4804).",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 1 year,up to 1 year,"Penal Code, Title 17 Palau National Code (RPPL 9-21)",https://palauosp.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Penal-Code-17-PNCA.pdf,0,0,1,"In Palau, the Penal Code (17 PNC) criminalises both selling and buying sex: engaging in, or agreeing or offering to engage in, sexual conduct for a fee, and paying, agreeing or offering to pay a fee for it, are misdemeanours (§4801). Knowingly advancing or profiting from prostitution, which includes procuring or soliciting patrons, permitting premises to be regularly used and operating a house of prostitution, is a class B felony (§4804); doing so by force, threat, fraud or intimidation, or with a person under 18, is a class A felony (§4803). The Code also has offences of loitering for prostitution (§4805) and promoting travel for prostitution (§4806).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/palau/
PA,Panama,Panamá,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,regulation,Regulation (legal & licensed),"Borderline. A 1949 health decree subjects prostitution to sanitary inspection and requires a Health Department permit to work as an 'alternadora' or similar in bars, cabarets and nightclubs, and the Penal Code refers to 'unauthorised' paid sexual activity. Selling has carried no sanction since 2008, but the decree's ban on prostitution inside towns was never repealed, and profit-driven facilitation or organisation of 'sexual exploitation' is a crime (Art. 180).",regulated,none,legal,none,restricted,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Decree 149 of 1949 on the repression of prostitution, social hygiene and public morality | Penal Code (Law 14 of 2007, consolidated text)",https://docs.panama.justia.com/federales/decretos/149-de-1949-jun-6-1949.pdf | https://ministeriopublico.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/codigo-penal-2016.pdf,0,0,5,"Panama regulates rather than prohibits sex work, through a 1949 health decree. Decree 149 of 1949 bans prostitution 'absolutely' within cities and towns, subjects it elsewhere to health inspection, and requires a Health Department permit for hostesses ('alternadoras'), dancers and waitresses in bars, cabarets and nightclubs. Its Art. 12, which fined 'clandestine prostitution', was repealed in 2008, and the Ombudsman states that sex work is not penalised. The Penal Code punishes facilitating, recruiting or organising the 'sexual exploitation' of others for profit (four to six years, Art. 180), moving a person for 'unauthorised paid sexual activity' (Art. 181), and trafficking, which includes advertising or arranging a person's travel to carry out acts of prostitution (fifteen to twenty years, Art. 456-A).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/panama/
PG,Papua New Guinea,Papua Niugini,Oceania,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Low confidence. The Summary Offences Act 1977 criminalises living on the earnings of prostitution (s. 55) and brothel-keeping (ss. 56-57), and the Criminal Code Act 1974 prohibits brothels (s. 231). In Wemay v Tumdual [1978] the National Court held that a sex worker paid for her own services lives on the earnings of prostitution, so selling sex itself can be prosecuted; a 1980 decision limited this to habitual rather than isolated transactions.",illegal,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,up to 1 year,,"Summary Offences Act 1977, Part VII (Prostitution), as quoted by Amnesty International",https://www.amnestyusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/png_report_-_sex_workers_rights_-_embargoed_-_final.pdf,0,0,1,"In Papua New Guinea, prostitution is not named as an offence, but the courts have read the Summary Offences Act 1977 offence of knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution (s. 55; a fine of up to K400 or one year) to cover sex workers' own earnings (Wemay v Tumdual, 1978), as long as they live on them habitually (Jon v Kuman, 1980). Keeping or managing a brothel, or financing one, carries a fine of up to K800 or two years (s. 56); using, permitting or letting premises for a brothel or 'for any purpose connected with prostitution' carries a fine (s. 57). Amnesty International reports that the Criminal Code Act 1974 (s. 231) also prohibits brothels, with up to three years. No offence aimed at clients or at advertising was identified.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/papua-new-guinea/
PY,Paraguay,Paraguay,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. The Penal Code's third-party offences are narrow: inducing a person into prostitution is punished only where the person is under 16, or between 16 and the age of majority and abused or in the offender's care (art. 139), and exploiting a person in prostitution by taking advantage of their earnings is punished as rufianería (art. 129a). No provision specifically bans brothels, so the case is borderline between abolitionism and decriminalisation.",legal,none,legal,none,restricted,criminal,,,restricted,criminal,legal,none,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Law 1160/97, Penal Code | Law 3440 amending several provisions of the Penal Code (2008)",https://www.bacn.gov.py/leyes-paraguayas/3497/ley-n-1160-codigo-penal | https://www.bacn.gov.py/leyes-paraguayas/3485/ley-n-3440-modifica-varias-disposiciones-de-la-ley-n-116097-codigo-penal,0,0,2,"Paraguay does not criminalise selling or buying sex between adults. As amended by Law 3440 of 2008, the Penal Code punishes inducing into prostitution a person under 16, or one aged between 16 and the age of majority by abusing their helplessness, trust or naivety or while responsible for their education, with up to five years or a fine (six if done commercially, eight if the victim is under 14). Exploiting a person who sells sex by taking advantage of their earnings (rufianería, now article 129a) carries up to five years. Trafficking for sexual exploitation is a separate offence. No offence specifically covers keeping a brothel or advertising sexual services.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/paraguay/
PE,Peru,Perú,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences, but the Penal Code punishes promoting or favouring another person's prostitution (art. 179), managing its proceeds (art. 180) and directing or managing it (art. 181), each with heavier penalties when done in the context of an economic activity or a legal person. In practice some municipalities have issued operating licences to brothels, which the press has reported alongside these offences.",legal,none,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,Law 30963 amending the Penal Code on sexual exploitation and related offences (2019),https://leyes.congreso.gob.pe/Documentos/2016_2021/ADLP/Normas_Legales/30963-LEY.pdf,0,0,2,"Prostitution by adults is not a crime in Peru, and paying an adult for sex is not an offence unless the person is a victim of sexual exploitation, which carries 9 to 12 years for the client. Law 30963 of June 2019 rewrote the third-party offences: promoting or favouring the prostitution of another person (4 to 6 years), managing the economic or other benefit of another's prostitution (4 to 8 years) and directing or managing another's prostitution (4 to 6 years), each rising to 6 to 12 years where committed in tourism, through a legal person or in the context of any economic activity. Despite these offences, press reports describe brothels holding municipal operating licences, while some municipalities have ordinances banning the activity.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/peru/
PH,Philippines,Pilipinas,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code, as amended in 2012, punishes women who for money habitually engage in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence unless the person is a trafficking victim. Profiting from prostitution is a crime (Article 341), and maintaining a person in prostitution can be trafficking.",illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,≈€280 or 30 days,,"Revised Penal Code (Act No. 3815, 1930) | Republic Act 10158 (2012) decriminalising vagrancy | Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (RA 9208), as amended by RA 10364 (2013) and RA 11862 (2022)",https://lawphil.net/statutes/acts/act1930/act_3815_1930.html | https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2012/ra_10158_2012.html | https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2003/ra_9208_2003.html,0,0,6,"The Philippines criminalises the person who sells sex, defined in gendered terms. Article 202 of the Revised Penal Code, rewritten by Republic Act 10158 (2012) when vagrancy was decriminalised, deems women who for money or profit habitually indulge in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct to be ""prostitutes"" and punishes them with arresto menor or a fine of up to ₱20,000, more for repeat offences (fines raised by RA 10951 in 2017). Buying sex from an adult is not an offence as such, but buying or engaging the services of a trafficked person for prostitution carries six to twelve years under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act. Engaging in the business of or profiting from prostitution is the ""white slave trade"" offence (Article 341), and maintaining or hiring a person to engage in prostitution is an act of trafficking when the means listed in the 2022 amendment are used.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/philippines/
PL,Poland,Polska,Europe,EU | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Neither selling nor buying sex between adults is an offence, and there is no registration or licensing scheme. The Criminal Code instead targets third parties: inducing or facilitating another person's prostitution for financial gain, or deriving financial benefit from it, is a crime (Art. 204), which in practice covers brothel keeping and pimping. Importunate public soliciting for gain is a petty offence.",restricted,administrative,legal,,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 30 days,,"Criminal Code of 6 June 1997 (consolidated text, Dz.U. 2026 item 1342) | Petty Offences Code of 20 May 1971 (consolidated text, Dz.U. 2026 item 1372)",https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2026/1342/text.pdf | https://api.sejm.gov.pl/eli/acts/DU/2026/1372/text.pdf,0,0,2,"In Poland, selling and buying sex between adults are legal and unregulated, but almost every form of third-party involvement is a crime: inducing a person into prostitution or facilitating it for financial gain, or profiting from someone else's prostitution, carries three months to five years (Art. 204 Criminal Code), and bringing a person into prostitution by abusing dependence, force or deceit carries up to fifteen years (Art. 203). Brothels are therefore illegal. Importunate soliciting in public is a petty offence. No law addresses advertising sexual services specifically.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/poland/
PT,Portugal,Portugal,Europe,EU | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences. Art. 169 of the Penal Code (lenocínio) punishes anyone who, professionally or with intent to profit, fosters, favours or facilitates another person's prostitution, with no requirement of coercion or exploitation since 1998. The Constitutional Court in plenary upheld that provision in 2021 (Acórdão 72/2021).",legal,none,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Penal Code (as revised by Decree-Law 48/95), art. 169: procuring (lenocínio) | Penal Code, art. 160: trafficking in human beings | Penal Code, art. 174: paying for sex with minors",https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?artigo_id=109A0169&nid=109&tabela=leis&pagina=1&ficha=1&so_miolo=&nversao= | https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?artigo_id=109A0160&nid=109&tabela=leis&pagina=1&ficha=1&so_miolo=&nversao= | https://www.pgdlisboa.pt/leis/lei_mostra_articulado.php?artigo_id=109A0174&nid=109&tabela=leis&pagina=1&ficha=1&so_miolo=&nversao=,0,1,7,"In Portugal selling and buying sex between adults are legal, but any professional or profit-seeking involvement by a third party in another person's prostitution is the crime of lenocínio (art. 169 of the Penal Code, six months to five years; one to eight years with violence, deception or abuse of vulnerability). Since a 1998 reform the offence no longer requires that the sex worker be exploited or in need. The Constitutional Court has repeatedly upheld it; a 2020 chamber ruling finding it unconstitutional was reversed by the plenary in January 2021. Paying for sex with a minor and knowingly using the services of a trafficking victim are crimes. There is no licensing system and no specific advertising offence.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/portugal/
QA,Qatar,قطر,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Practising prostitution as a profession or a means of living is a crime (Art. 298, Penal Code). Consensual sex outside marriage with a woman aged 16 or over is also a crime for both parties (Art. 281), so buying sex is an offence through that general provision. Under Art. 1, Sharia hudud rules apply to zina where the accused or the victim is Muslim. Brothels, procuring and public incitement are crimes.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 10 years,extramarital sex: 7 years,Law No. 11 of 2004 Issuing the Penal Code,https://almeezan.qa/legislations/415d8273-12e0-4e2c-aa02-5c0bf0a5c53c,0,0,1,"Qatar criminalises prostitution under its Penal Code (Law No. 11 of 2004). Making a profession or a means of living out of prostitution or sodomy carries up to ten years' imprisonment, as does exploiting another person's prostitution (Art. 298). Sex outside marriage with a woman aged 16 or over carries up to seven years for the man and the woman (Art. 281), which covers clients. Running a brothel, or knowingly letting premises for one, carries one to three years (Art. 295); leading, inciting or luring a woman into prostitution one to five years (Art. 296), and up to fifteen with coercion or a victim under 16 (Art. 297). Inciting debauchery or prostitution in a public place by word, gesture or any other means carries six months to three years (Art. 294). For Muslims, Art. 1 also makes the Sharia hudud rules on zina applicable.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/qatar/
CG,Republic of the Congo,République du Congo,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Republic of the Congo still applies the colonial French Penal Code as extended to French Equatorial Africa, with the 1946 French procuring and brothel provisions (Articles 334, 334 bis and 335) extended in 1947. Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences as such; procuring and keeping an establishment of prostitution are.",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,Penal Code applicable in French Equatorial Africa (Ministry of Justice reference edition) | Law No. 22-2019 of 17 June 2019 on combating trafficking in persons,https://database.ilga.org/api/downloader/download/1/CG%20-%20LEG%20-%20Penal%20Code%20(1836)%20-%20OR-OFF(fr).pdf | https://upr-info.org/sites/default/files/country-document/2024-01/A_HRC_WG.6_45_COG_1_FR.pdf,0,0,4,"The Republic of the Congo has not adopted a penal code of its own: the Ministry of Justice's reference edition is the French Penal Code as applied in French Equatorial Africa. It contains no offence of prostitution as such, which a Brazzaville court official confirmed to the press in 2020. Procuring in a broad sense, including aiding another's prostitution or soliciting, sharing its proceeds and recruiting even a consenting adult, is punishable by six months to two years and a fine of 400,000 to 4 million CFA francs (Article 334), with heavier penalties for aggravated cases (Article 334 bis). Keeping, managing or habitually tolerating prostitution in an establishment open to the public is an offence (Article 335). Trafficking is covered by Law No. 22-2019 of 17 June 2019.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/republic-of-the-congo/
RO,Romania,România,Europe,EU | EEA | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Prostitution was a crime under Article 328 of the 1968 Criminal Code until the new Code took effect on 1 February 2014, which has no such offence. Soliciting in public places for paid sex remains a contravention (fine) under Law No. 61/1991; private selling and buying between adults are not sanctioned. Borderline: the remaining offence targets public solicitation rather than selling as such.",restricted,administrative,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: ≈€280 fine,,Criminal Code (Law No. 286/2009) | Law No. 61/1991 on public order contraventions (republished 2020) | Criminal Code of 1968 (repealed),https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocument/109855 | https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocument/125693 | https://legislatie.just.ro/Public/DetaliiDocument/38070,0,0,3,"Romania removed prostitution from its criminal law when the 2009 Criminal Code replaced the 1968 Code on 1 February 2014; the old Article 328 had punished people who made their living from prostitution with three months to three years. Today, soliciting people in bars, parks, streets or other public places for paid sex, or urging someone to do so, is a contravention under Law No. 61/1991, fined RON 500–1,500; venue managers who tolerate it are fined and can have the venue suspended. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence unless the buyer knows the person is a trafficking victim. Procuring (""proxenetism""), defined as inducing or facilitating prostitution or profiting from it, carries two to seven years; its aggravated paragraphs were repealed in November 2024. No specific offence of advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/romania/
RU,Russia,Россия,Europe,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Selling sex is an administrative offence (Article 6.11 of the Code of Administrative Offences, fine of RUB 1,500–2,000). Buying from an adult is not an offence. Profiting from another person's prostitution is an administrative offence, and drawing people into prostitution or organising it are crimes.",illegal,administrative,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,,,,,,,,,,,,"RUB 2,000 fine",,"Code of Administrative Offences (2001), Articles 6.11–6.12 | Criminal Code (1996), Articles 240–241 | Federal Law No. 38-FZ on Advertising (2006)",https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_34661/954b8f2b542e295864cb885699926c73d2836835/ | https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_10699/3c75b4694749d34700b2195d2086060ae1171722/ | https://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_58968/3bfc26317bd01efad6f67aadf9981b248a57ef4b/,0,0,7,"In Russia, engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence fined RUB 1,500–2,000 (Article 6.11 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Receiving income from another person's prostitution is fined RUB 2,000–2,500 or punished with 10 to 15 days' administrative arrest (Article 6.12). The Criminal Code punishes drawing a person into prostitution or compelling them to continue (Article 240) and organising prostitution, keeping dens or systematically providing premises for it (Article 241; fine of RUB 100,000–500,000, forced labour or up to five years). Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Advertising sexual services is barred by the Federal Law on Advertising, which prohibits advertising goods and services whose sale is prohibited, and websites carrying such information can be added to the federal blocking register on the basis of a court decision.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/russia/
RW,Rwanda,Rwanda,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Borderline. The 2018 penal law (Law No. 68/2018) contains no prostitution offence, so selling sex is no longer a crime. Law No. 51/2018 on trafficking makes it sexual exploitation, ""for the purpose of exploitation"", to induce a person into sexual relations, run or rent premises, help a person engaged in sexual exploitation, announce that one facilitates sexual relations, or pay for sexual intercourse (Art. 24). Read broadly, the last item would make the model neo-abolitionist; how courts read it was not found. People who sell sex can also be held in transit centres for ""deviant behaviour"".",restricted,,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Law No. 68/2018 of 30/08/2018 determining offences and penalties in general | Law No. 059/2023 of 04/12/2023 amending Law No. 68/2018 | Law No. 51/2018 of 13/08/2018 relating to the prevention, suppression and punishment of trafficking in persons and exploitation of others",https://rwandalii.org/akn/rw/act/law/2018/68/eng@2018-09-27 | https://www.rlrc.gov.rw/index.php?eID=dumpFile&t=f&f=87112&token=ac1d623da10a482e97655ad48472ab6c81e800ce | https://rwandalii.org/akn/rw/act/law/2018/51/eng@2018-09-24,0,0,6,"Rwanda's 2018 law determining offences and penalties in general replaced the 2012 Penal Code and has no offence of prostitution; its 2023 amendment did not add one. Third-party activity falls under the 2018 anti-trafficking law: ""sexual exploitation"", meaning obtaining benefits through another person's involvement in prostitution or other sexual services, covers luring a person into sexual relations, hosting, assisting, announcing that one facilitates sexual relations, running or investing in houses of sexual exploitation, letting premises for it and paying for sexual intercourse, each with three to five years and a fine of FRW 3–5 million (Art. 24). Separately, a 2018 ministerial order lets authorities hold people showing ""deviant behaviours"", including prostitution, in transit centres, a practice UN experts and Human Rights Watch have criticised.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/rwanda/
KN,Saint Kitts and Nevis,Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Small Charges Act (Cap. 4.36) penalises keeping a brothel (s. 19), permitting premises to be used for habitual prostitution, a woman controlling a sex worker for gain, and public loitering or soliciting for prostitution (s. 40). No general offence of living on the earnings of prostitution was found in the Acts reviewed.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,restricted,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 2 months,,"Small Charges Act, Cap. 4.36 (Revised Edition, 31 December 2017) | Criminal Law Amendment Act, Cap. 4.05 (Revised Edition, 31 December 2017)",https://lawcommission.gov.kn/wp-content/documents/Act17TOC/Ch-04_36-Small-Charges-Act.pdf | https://lawcommission.gov.kn/wp-content/documents/Act17TOC/Ch-04_05-Criminal-Law-Amendment-Act.pdf,0,0,2,"In Saint Kitts and Nevis, selling and buying sex in private are not offences. The Small Charges Act (Cap. 4.36) makes keeping a brothel or disorderly house punishable by a fine of up to $3,500; a tenant or occupier knowingly permitting premises to be used for habitual prostitution, and a woman who controls a sex worker's movements for gain, face up to six months; loitering in a public place for prostitution 'to the annoyance of the public' carries two months, and a man persistently soliciting in public for immoral purposes six months. The Criminal Law Amendment Act (Cap. 4.05) covers detention in a brothel and procuring sex by threats or fraud. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/saint-kitts-and-nevis/
LC,Saint Lucia,,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Exchanging sex for money is not in itself an offence, but the Criminal Code (Cap. 3.01) criminalises brothel-keeping, including a tenant or occupier using premises 'for habitual prostitution of himself or herself' (s. 143), procuring a person to become a 'common prostitute' (s. 141), public soliciting (ss. 150 and 151(1)(b)) and living on the earnings of prostitution (s. 151). The own-premises limb makes indoor work from a home one occupies an offence if habitual.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,"soliciting: XCD 1,000 fine",,"Criminal Code, Cap. 3.01 (Revised Laws of Saint Lucia 2023)",http://attorneygeneralchambers.com/laws-of-saint-lucia/criminal-code/section-143,0,0,5,"In Saint Lucia, the Criminal Code (Cap. 3.01) does not make the exchange of sex for money an offence as such, but loitering about or importuning passers-by in a public place for prostitution carries a $1,000 fine, and persistently soliciting in public for immoral purposes or knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution carries five years on indictment or two years summarily. Permitting premises to be used as a brothel or for habitual prostitution, using premises one occupies for one's own habitual prostitution, and letting premises for a brothel carry up to $15,000 or three years. Procuring a person to become a 'common prostitute' carries seven years. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/saint-lucia/
VC,Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Criminal Code (Cap. 171) criminalises procuring a woman to become a 'common prostitute' (s. 131), a man living on the earnings of prostitution (s. 133), a woman controlling a sex worker (s. 134), living on a male sex worker's earnings (s. 135), brothel-keeping (s. 136), letting premises for a brothel (s. 137) and soliciting in public for immoral purposes (s. 285(d)).",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 3 months,,"Criminal Code, Chapter 171 | Criminal Code (Amendment) Act (text dated 2023 on legal.gov.vc; reported passed April 2024)",https://www.oas.org/en/sla/dlc/mesicic/docs/mesicic5_svg_annex8.pdf | https://legal.gov.vc/legal/images/PDF/Criminal_Code_Amendment_2023.pdf,0,1,3,"In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the Criminal Code (Cap. 171) attaches fourteen-year maxima to procuring a woman to become a 'common prostitute', a man knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution, a woman controlling a sex worker for gain, living on a male sex worker's earnings and keeping or managing a brothel; letting premises for use as a brothel carries seven years (fourteen on a repeat conviction). A brothel is a place 'resorted to by more than one prostitute'. Soliciting for any immoral purpose in a public place carries three months. A bill passed by Parliament in April 2024 raises most of these maxima to fifteen years (ten for letting premises). No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines/
WS,Samoa,Malo Saʻoloto Tutoʻatasi o Sāmoa,Oceania,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Under the Crimes Act 2013 both parties commit an offence: a person who has, agrees to or offers sex 'for gain or reward' faces three years (s. 72), and a person who offers or agrees to pay for sex faces five years (s. 73). Brothel-keeping (s. 70), living on the earnings of another's prostitution and soliciting for a sex worker (s. 74) carry ten years.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 3 years,up to 5 years,Crimes Act 2013 (No. 10 of 2013),https://mygov.gov.ws/wp-content/uploads/simple-file-list/Crimes-Act-2013.pdf,0,0,1,"In Samoa, the Crimes Act 2013 criminalises both selling and buying sex. Having, agreeing to or offering sexual intercourse or sexual connection for gain or reward carries up to three years (s. 72), and offering or agreeing to pay another person for sex carries up to five years (s. 73), with exceptions for spouses. Keeping or managing a brothel, or letting or permitting premises to be used as one, carries up to ten years; a brothel is any place used for prostitution 'whether by 1 woman or more' (s. 70). Living on the earnings of another person's prostitution, or soliciting for any sex worker, carries ten years (s. 74), and procuring a woman for sex for gain seven years (s. 75).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/samoa/
SM,San Marino,Repubblica di San Marino,Europe,CoE,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The 1974 Penal Code does not punish the private sale or purchase of sex as such, but punishes brothel-keeping, exploitation and 'in any way' facilitating prostitution. It also has unusually broad minor offences: soliciting in public, standing ostentatiously to find clients, causing 'scandal' to neighbours, and offering one's own or another's prostitution through the mass media. Because advertising by the seller is itself an offence, the regime sits close to prohibition for advertised prostitution; it is classed here as abolitionist because private, unadvertised selling is not an offence.",restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 2 months,via mass media: 2 months,Law no. 17 of 25 February 1974 – Penal Code of the Republic of San Marino | Law no. 97 of 20 June 2008 on preventing and combating violence against women and gender-based violence,https://www.consigliograndeegenerale.sm/on-line/home/archivio-leggi-decreti-e-regolamenti/documento17019121.html | https://www.consigliograndeegenerale.sm/on-line/home/archivio-leggi-decreti-e-regolamenti/documento17023744.html,0,0,3,"San Marino's Penal Code (Law no. 17 of 25 February 1974) defines prostitution as 'trading one's own body for gain'. Keeping a brothel or letting premises for one, repeatedly exploiting another's prostitution and facilitating it in any way are crimes; inducing prostitution has been an offence against personal liberty (art. 168-bis) since 2008. A contravention in art. 278 punishes public solicitation, ostentatious loitering for clients, causing scandal to neighbours, and offering one's own or another's prostitution, or seeking contact with a sex worker, through the mass media. In a case reported in June 2026, a woman who had been contacted through a dedicated website for a home visit, and her partner, accepted plea bargains under art. 278: a EUR 400 fine for her and a suspended six-month sentence for him. No reform bill was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/san-marino/
ST,São Tomé and Príncipe,São Tomé e Príncipe,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The 2012 Penal Code, modelled on Portugal's, has no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. It punishes anyone who professionally or for profit fosters, favours or facilitates another person's prostitution (lenocínio, Article 173), which also covers running a venue, and taking a person abroad for prostitution by force or deceit (Article 172).",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Penal Code approved by Law No. 6/2012 | Law No. 15/2021, first amendment to the Penal Code",https://cipstp.st/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/anp-lei-n%C2%BA-6-2012-c%C3%B3digo-penal-06.08.2012.pdf | https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/sao209843.pdf,0,0,2,"Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences in São Tomé and Príncipe. The Penal Code approved by Law 6/2012, which replaced the Portuguese colonial code of 1886, punishes lenocínio: fostering, favouring or facilitating another person's prostitution professionally or with intent to profit carries one to five years, and two to eight years where violence, threats, deceit or the victim's vulnerability or extreme economic need is exploited (Article 173). Leading a person into prostitution abroad by violence, threats or fraud carries two to eight years (Article 172). Paying a person aged 15 to 18 for sex, and facilitating the prostitution of anyone under 18, are separate offences whose penalties were raised by Law 15/2021. There is no separate brothel offence and no provision specifically on advertising sexual services.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/sao-tome-and-principe/
SA,Saudi Arabia,المملكة العربية السعودية,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Saudi Arabia has no written penal code. Sex outside marriage is prohibited by reference to sharia, either as the hadd offence of zina or as a discretionary (ta'zir) offence set by the judge, so both selling and buying sex are offences through this general prohibition. The only statutes found that touch prostitution are the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law (2009) and the Anti-Cyber Crime Law (2007).",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,flogging; death if married,flogging; death if married,"Anti-Cyber Crime Law (Royal Decree M/17 of 8 Rabi I 1428, 26 March 2007) | Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law (Royal Decree M/40 of 21/7/1430 H, 14 July 2009)",https://mcit.gov.sa//sites/default/files/anti_cyber_crime_law_en_0.pdf | https://sherloc.unodc.org/cld/uploads/res/anti-trafficking-in-persons-law-2009_html/Anti-Trafficking_in_Persons_Law_2009_Saudi_Arabia.pdf,0,1,5,"Saudi Arabia has no codified criminal law on prostitution. Judges rely on their interpretation of sharia: extramarital sex (zina) is a hadd offence, punishable by 100 lashes if the person is unmarried and death if married when the strict standard of proof is met, and otherwise punished at the judge's discretion. This applies to both parties to paid sex. No statute found defines brothel keeping or procuring, but exploitation for sexual assault falls under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Law (up to 15 years and/or SAR 1 million), and online material impinging on public morals carries up to five years and/or SAR 3 million (Anti-Cyber Crime Law, Art. 6). A Penal Code for Discretionary Sanctions announced in 2021 had not been issued by October 2026; a draft leaked in 2022 would criminalise sex work and inciting prostitution.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/saudi-arabia/
SN,Senegal,Sénégal,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,regulation,Regulation (legal & licensed),"Senegal is one of very few African countries with a registration system for sex workers. Under Law No. 66-21 of 1 February 1966 and its implementing Decree No. 69-616 of 20 May 1969, a person may sell sex if registered in the health and social register and attending regular check-ups. The regime covers individuals only: brothels, procuring and public soliciting remain offences under the Penal Code, so the framework also has strong abolitionist features.",regulated,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Penal Code (Law No. 65-60 of 21 July 1965), with the Code of Contraventions | Law No. 69-27 adding Article 327 bis to the Penal Code on prostitution by people under 21",https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/fr/legislation/details/6336 | https://www.vie-publique.sn/documents/7049/69%2027.pdf,0,0,4,"Senegal regulates prostitution by individuals through a health-registration system dating from 1966 and 1969. A person registered in the fichier sanitaire et social who carries an up-to-date health booklet (carnet sanitaire) and attends regular check-ups may sell sex; the statutory minimum age is 21, which the government says now reads as 18. Everything around the individual is criminalised: procuring, including living with a sex worker, carries one to three years (Penal Code Article 323), running a brothel two to five years (Article 325), and publishing an advertisement for an opportunity for debauchery is an offence (Article 257); public soliciting is a police contravention. A 2015 survey found about 80% of female sex workers unregistered. No reform of the 1960s texts was found as of October 2026.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/senegal/
RS,Serbia,Србија / Srbija,Europe,CoE,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Since the 2016 Law on Public Order and Peace, selling sex, buying it and providing premises for it are all misdemeanours carrying the same penalty (Article 16). Inducing, procuring and advertising prostitution are crimes under Article 184 of the Criminal Code.",illegal,administrative,illegal,administrative,illegal,administrative,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,"RSD 150,000 or 60 days","RSD 150,000 or 60 days","Law on Public Order and Peace (2016) | Criminal Code (2005, as amended)",https://pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs/eli/rep/sgrs/skupstina/zakon/2016/6/2/reg | https://pravno-informacioni-sistem.rs/eli/rep/sgrs/skupstina/zakon/2005/85/6/reg,0,2,4,"Serbia punishes both sides of a commercial sexual transaction. Article 16 of the 2016 Law on Public Order and Peace fines anyone who engages in prostitution, uses prostitution services or provides premises for it RSD 50,000–150,000, or imposes 30 to 60 days' imprisonment; the earlier law penalised only the seller. The law defines prostitution as providing sexual services for money or other value. Article 184 of the Criminal Code punishes inducing or inciting prostitution, handing a person over to another for prostitution, and propagating or advertising prostitution through public media or similar means, with six months to five years. In December 2024 the Commissioner for the Protection of Equality asked again for Articles 3 and 16 to be amended, and in December 2025 the Ombudsman published a draft that would extend the offence to conduct on social networks.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/serbia/
SC,Seychelles,Sesel,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex are not offences as such, but soliciting in a public place for prostitution (s. 154), brothels (s. 155), living on or exploiting the earnings of prostitution (s. 156) and procuring (ss. 143–144) are. Because public soliciting is itself an offence and the brothel definition covers premises used by any one person, the regime is restrictive for sex workers; a 2018 Seychelles Nation report described sex work as criminalised under ss. 154–155.",restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 2 years,soliciting: 2 years,Penal Code (Cap. 158),https://www.vertic.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/SC_Criminal_Code.pdf,0,0,2,"Prostitution itself is not an offence in Seychelles, but most ways of practising it are. Under the Penal Code (Cap. 158), a person who solicits another in a public place for prostitution is liable to two years' imprisonment (s. 154); a ""common prostitute"" behaving in a disorderly or indecent manner in public is an idle and disorderly person (s. 173). Keeping or managing a brothel, or knowingly letting premises for one, carries three years (s. 155), and a brothel is any premises used by any person for prostitution. Procuring, living on the earnings of or exploiting another person's prostitution carries five years (s. 156). A 2015 survey of sex workers reported that about half had been arrested. The text could only be checked as consolidated to June 2020; no later change to these provisions was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/seychelles/
SL,Sierra Leone,,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","No statute found makes selling or buying sex between adults an offence. The Sexual Offences Act 2012 criminalises causing or inciting a person to become a sex worker, or controlling their activities, for gain (section 17), which places Sierra Leone in the abolitionist group. Sex workers are nonetheless arrested under general loitering laws, which the ECOWAS Court ordered the State to amend or repeal in November 2024.",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,legal,none,,,,,,,,,,,,,Sexual Offences Act 2012 (Act No. 12 of 2012),https://www.sierra-leone.org/Laws/2012-12.pdf,0,1,2,"Sierra Leone's Sexual Offences Act 2012, the main statute on the subject, contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. Section 17 punishes anyone who intentionally causes or incites another person to become a sex worker, or controls their activities relating to prostitution, in return for or in expectation of gain, with up to ten years in prison. Clients of, and people who arrange or profit from, prostitution involving under-18s face up to fifteen years (sections 30 to 32). In practice sex workers are arrested under colonial-era loitering provisions; on 7 November 2024 the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, in AdvocAid Limited v Republic of Sierra Leone, ordered the State to amend, modify or repeal those laws. No specific brothel or advertising offence was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/sierra-leone/
SG,Singapore,Singapura,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","By statute, selling and buying sex between adults are legal, while brothel-keeping, living on earnings, public soliciting and online facilitation are offences. In practice police tolerate a limited number of licensed brothels in designated red-light areas, with registered workers under medical checks; this arrangement has no published legal basis, so some comparative sources call Singapore regulated.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: ≈€700 fine,,"Women's Charter 1961 (2020 Revised Edition), Part 11 | Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906",https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/WC1961?ProvIds=P111- | https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/MOPONA1906?ProvIds=pr19-,0,0,3,"Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences in Singapore, but nearly everything around them is. The Women's Charter 1961 criminalises keeping, managing or letting premises for a brothel (up to five years and S$100,000), living on the earnings of a woman's prostitution (up to seven years), keeping a place of assignation, and, since 2016, using a website, app or messaging service in the course of business to offer, facilitate or organise sexual services in Singapore (s. 146A). Soliciting in a public place is an offence under the Miscellaneous Offences (Public Order and Nuisance) Act. Alongside the statute, police tolerate licensed brothels in designated red-light areas, staffed by registered workers who undergo regular health checks under a scheme the government does not publish.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/singapore/
SK,Slovakia,Slovensko,Europe,EU | EEA | CoE | Schengen,profile,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences and no statute regulates prostitution. The Criminal Code defines prostitution (§ 132(1)) and punishes procuring (kupliarstvo, § 367), which covers not only recruiting and profiting but also enabling another person's prostitution, so running a brothel or providing premises for it is a criminal offence. Municipalities can regulate public order by ordinance, but no national offence targets street soliciting.",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,varies,administrative,legal,none,legal,none,legal,none,,,Criminal Code (Act No. 300/2005 Coll.) | Municipalities Act (Act No. 369/1990 Coll.) | Offences Act (Act No. 372/1990 Coll.) | Advertising Act (Act No. 147/2001 Coll.) | Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 (Digital Services Act),https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2005/300/ | https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/1990/369/ | https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/1990/372/ | https://www.slov-lex.sk/ezbierky/pravne-predpisy/SK/ZZ/2001/147/ | https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2022/2065/oj,1,0,17,"Slovakia does not criminalise selling or buying sex between adults and has no law regulating prostitution: there is no registration, licence or health-check regime. The Criminal Code defines prostitution as satisfying another's sexual needs by intercourse or similar sexual contact with an adult for reward (§ 132(1)) and punishes procuring (§ 367), including recruiting or offering a person for prostitution, profiting from another's prostitution and enabling it. Paying a child for sexual acts and trafficking are separate serious offences. Municipalities may regulate public order through generally binding ordinances, and some make offering sexual services in public spaces a minor offence. Police record very few procuring cases (two in 2024 and two in 2025). No pending legislation on prostitution was identified for this profile.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/slovakia/
SI,Slovenia,Slovenija,Europe,EU | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Neither selling nor buying sex between adults is an offence and there is no registration or licensing scheme. The Criminal Code (KZ-1, Art. 175) punishes taking part in another person's prostitution for the purpose of exploitation and inducing a person into prostitution by force, threat or deception. The public-order act only penalises offering sexual services in public in an importunate way. The status of non-exploitative third parties, such as venue operators, is not settled by the statute.",restricted,administrative,legal,,restricted,criminal,,,restricted,criminal,legal,,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: fine,,"Criminal Code (KZ-1), Official Gazette No. 55/2008 | Protection of Public Order Act (ZJRM-1), Official Gazette No. 70/2006",https://www.uradni-list.si/glasilo-uradni-list-rs/vsebina/2008-01-2296 | https://www.uradni-list.si/glasilo-uradni-list-rs/vsebina/2006-01-2998,0,0,2,"In Slovenia, selling and buying sex between adults are legal and unregulated. Offering sexual services in a public place in an importunate way that disturbs, alarms or outrages people is a minor offence punished by a fine. The Criminal Code punishes 'abuse of prostitution': taking part in another person's prostitution for the purpose of exploitation, or recruiting or inducing a person into prostitution by force, threat or deception (three months to five years; one to ten years for minors, several victims or organised crime). There is no licensing of venues, and no rule specific to advertising was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/slovenia/
SB,Solomon Islands,,Oceania,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Penal Code (Cap. 26) criminalises living on the earnings of prostitution, persistent public soliciting and controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 153), brothel-keeping (s. 155) and public soliciting by 'idle and disorderly persons' (s. 175); since the Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016 it also penalises procuring a person to provide commercial sexual services (s. 142(2)).",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 2 months,,"Penal Code, Chapter 26 | Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016 (No. 3 of 2016)",https://cjad.nottingham.ac.uk/documents/implementations/pdf/Solomon_Islands_-_Penal_Code_1963_amended_1990.pdf | https://antislaverylaw.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Solomon-Islands-Penal-Code-Amdt-Sexual-Offences-Act-2016.pdf,0,0,2,"In the Solomon Islands, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the Penal Code (Cap. 26) makes it a misdemeanour to knowingly live on the earnings of prostitution, to persistently solicit in a public place for immoral purposes, to control a sex worker's movements for gain, and to keep, manage, permit or let premises for a brothel. Soliciting for immoral purposes in a public place, or a 'common prostitute' behaving indecently in public, carries two months or a $20 fine. The Penal Code (Amendment) (Sexual Offences) Act 2016 added an offence of procuring a person to provide commercial sexual services, with up to fifteen years. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/solomon-islands/
SO,Somalia,Soomaaliya / الصومال,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"The Penal Code of 1962 makes practising prostitution in any form an offence (Article 405). It has no offence aimed at the client, but zina (sex outside marriage) is punished where Islamic courts apply Sharia. The same Code is applied in the federal member states, in Puntland and in Somaliland, which declares itself independent; Somalia has a hybrid system of formal, Sharia and customary (xeer) law.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 2 years,,"Penal Code, Legislative Decree No. 5 of 16 December 1962",https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/som209614.pdf,2,1,4,"Prostitution is an offence in Somalia. Under the Penal Code (Legislative Decree No. 5 of 16 December 1962, in force since 3 April 1964), whoever practises prostitution in any form faces two months to two years' imprisonment and a fine, increased for a married person (Article 405). Inciting anyone to lewd acts in a public place carries up to one year (Article 406). Instigating, aiding or in any way facilitating prostitution, or exploiting its proceeds, carries the same penalty as Article 405 (Article 407), and compelling a person into prostitution by violence or threats two to six years (Article 408). The Code also applies in Puntland and Somaliland. Some areas in southern Somalia with Islamic courts apply Sharia penalties for zina. In October 2026 the federal Parliament approved a Sexual Offences Bill whose final text was not public.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/somalia/
ZA,South Africa,,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Both sides of the transaction are offences. Since 2007, section 20(1A)(a) of the Sexual Offences Act 1957 punishes a person aged 18 or over who has sex ""for reward"", and section 11 of the 2007 Act punishes the client. Brothel-keeping, living on the earnings and procuring are also offences. Since September 2025 an internal NPA directive tells prosecutors not to enrol cases against sex workers while a constitutional challenge is pending. The statutes are unchanged; a decriminalisation bill has not yet reached Parliament.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 3 years,,Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957 (formerly the Immorality Act) | Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act 32 of 2007,https://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/acts/1957-023.pdf | https://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/acts/2007-032.pdf,0,2,9,"South Africa criminalises the whole sex trade. Under the Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957 (formerly the Immorality Act), a person aged 18 or over who has sex for reward commits an offence (s. 20(1A)(a), up to three years), as do brothel-keepers, those living on the earnings and anyone who for reward helps a client contact a sex worker (s. 12A). Since 2007 the client commits a separate offence (s. 11 of Act 32 of 2007). The Constitutional Court upheld the selling offence in S v Jordan (2002). A 2022 draft bill to repeal these offences was withdrawn for redrafting in 2023; the Justice department says a new draft will be published for comment and is likely to reach Parliament in 2027. Since September 2025 prosecutors have been told not to enrol cases against sex workers while a High Court challenge by SWEAT is pending.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/south-africa/
KR,South Korea,대한민국,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"The Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic (2004) prohibits sex trade outright and makes both selling and buying a crime (Article 21(1)). People who are legally recognised as victims of sex trade, for example those coerced or trafficked, are not punished (Article 6(1)). Arranging, providing premises, recruiting and advertising are separate crimes.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 1 year,up to 1 year,Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic (Sex Trade Punishment Act) | Act on the Prevention of Sexual Traffic and Protection of Victims,"https://www.law.go.kr/LSW/lsInfoP.do?lsiSeq=290119&efYd=20261002 | https://www.law.go.kr/%EB%B2%95%EB%A0%B9/%EC%84%B1%EB%A7%A4%EB%A7%A4%EB%B0%A9%EC%A7%80%EB%B0%8F%ED%94%BC%ED%95%B4%EC%9E%90%EB%B3%B4%ED%98%B8%EB%93%B1%EC%97%90%EA%B4%80%ED%95%9C%EB%B2%95%EB%A5%A0/(07212,20040322)",0,1,5,"South Korea criminalises both selling and buying sex. The Act on the Punishment of Acts of Arranging Sexual Traffic, enacted with a companion victim-protection act in March 2004 and in force since 23 September 2004, bans sex trade, arranging it, trafficking for it and advertising it. Anyone who engages in sex trade faces up to one year's imprisonment, a fine of up to 3 million won, detention or a petty fine; people recognised as victims of sex trade are exempt. Arranging sex trade or providing premises carries up to 3 years (7 as a business), and advertising sex trade or venues up to 3 years, with separate offences for businesses that produce, publish or distribute such ads. The Constitutional Court upheld the penalty for both parties in 2016, six votes to three. A bill to stop punishing people who sell sex was introduced on 17 September 2026.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/south-korea/
SS,South Sudan,,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Penal Code Act 2008 defines prostitution as ""an immoral sexual intercourse for a consideration"" but does not make the act itself an offence. Public soliciting (section 252), brothel-keeping and living off prostitution (section 253) and procuring (section 254) are offences, and the vagrancy section covers soliciting for immoral purposes in public. Human Rights Watch describes sex work as criminalised; in practice the soliciting and vagrancy offences reach most street-based work.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 6 months,,Penal Code Act 2008 (Act 9),https://antislaverylaw.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/South-Sudan-Penal-Code.pdf,0,0,2,"South Sudan's Penal Code Act 2008 does not penalise selling or buying sex in private, but criminalises most of what surrounds it. Publicly soliciting another person for prostitution carries up to six months' imprisonment, a fine or both (section 252), and a person who in a public place solicits or importunes for immoral purposes, or lives on the earnings of a sex worker, can be convicted as a vagabond (up to three months). Keeping a brothel, or demanding payment from a sex worker for managing, soliciting for or bringing them into the country, carries up to two years (section 253), and procuring a person to become a prostitute up to two years, or ten years where the person is a child (section 254). Adultery is an offence (section 266). Human Rights Watch documented arrests, six-month sentences and forced HIV tests of women accused of sex work in Juba in 2021.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/south-sudan/
ES,Spain,España,Europe,EU | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not crimes. Art. 187 of the Penal Code punishes coercing someone into prostitution and profiting from 'exploiting' another person's prostitution, even with consent, but only where exploitation (vulnerability or abusive conditions) is shown. Renting premises for prostitution (tercería locativa) is not an offence. Clients and sex workers in public space face administrative fines under the 2015 public-safety law and municipal ordinances.",legal,none,restricted,administrative,restricted,criminal,,,restricted,criminal,restricted,,,,restricted,administrative,,,,,,,,"in public: €30,000 fine","Organic Law 10/1995 of 23 November, Penal Code | Organic Law 4/2015 of 30 March on the protection of public safety | Law 34/1988 of 11 November, General Advertising Law | Organic Law 10/2022 of 6 September on the comprehensive guarantee of sexual freedom",https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1995-25444 | https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2015-3442 | https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1988-26156 | https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2022-14630,1,2,12,"Prostitution between adults is not a crime in Spain. The Penal Code punishes coercion into prostitution and profiting from exploited prostitution, but not consensual third-party involvement without exploitation, and not renting premises. Since 2015 a national public-safety law fines clients who solicit near places used by minors or where it endangers traffic, and many municipalities, including Barcelona, fine soliciting in public space. Since October 2022 advertising that 'promotes prostitution' is unlawful advertising under the General Advertising Law. Bills to criminalise all procuring, tercería locativa and buying were taken into consideration in 2022 but lapsed, and were rejected at first reading in May 2024. The Cortes were dissolved on 6 October 2026 for elections on 29 November 2026, so all pending bills lapsed.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/spain/
LK,Sri Lanka,ශ්‍රී ලංකාව / இலங்கை,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","No statute makes the exchange of sex for money between adults an offence; a Colombo (Fort) magistrate held in 2020 that ""prostitution is not an offence per se under our law"". Brothel keeping (Brothels Ordinance 1889), living on the earnings of prostitution and public soliciting (Vagrants Ordinance 1841) are offences. Police use the Vagrants Ordinance's ""common prostitute"" clause against women in public places, so in practice sex workers themselves face arrest.",restricted,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 6 months,soliciting: 6 months,"Vagrants Ordinance (No. 4 of 1841, Cap. 32, as amended) | Brothels Ordinance (1889), as quoted in the National STD/AIDS Control Programme's guide for police",https://hrlibrary.umn.edu/research/srilanka/statutes/Vagrants_Ordinance.pdf | https://aidscontrol.gov.lk/images/publications/Laws_Concerning_en.pdf,0,0,3,"Selling and buying sex in private are not offences in Sri Lanka. Two colonial-era ordinances regulate the surroundings. Under the Vagrants Ordinance, a ""common prostitute"" wandering in a public street and behaving in a riotous or indecent manner is an ""idle and disorderly person"" who can be arrested without a warrant. Soliciting any person in a public place for illicit sexual intercourse carries up to six months or a fine. Knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution, or systematically procuring, is punishable by up to two years. The Brothels Ordinance makes it an offence to keep or manage a brothel or to let premises for one. Courts have read ""brothel"" narrowly: a guest house where couples meet is not one.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/sri-lanka/
SD,Sudan,السودان,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Selling sex is a specific offence (Article 154 of the Criminal Act 1991, rewritten in 2020), and all sex outside marriage is the hadd offence of zina (Articles 145–146), which covers the client as well. Running a place for prostitution and inducing a person into it are separate offences.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,flogging; death if married,flogging; death if married,"Criminal Act 1991 | Miscellaneous Amendments (Repeal or Amendment of Provisions Restricting Freedoms) Law, Law No. 12 of 2020",https://redress.org/storage/2021/09/Criminal-Act-1991-English.pdf | https://redress.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/2-Sudan-Amendments-July-2020-English-REDRESS-translation.pdf,0,0,3,"Prostitution is prohibited in Sudan under the Criminal Act 1991. Since the July 2020 amendments, a person who is in a place of prostitution with the intention of providing a sexual service to another, with or without payment, outside a legal relationship, faces up to three years in prison (Article 154); the earlier alternative of up to 100 lashes was removed. Zina, sexual intercourse outside a lawful bond, remains punishable by 100 lashes for an unmarried person and by death by stoning for a married one (Article 146), and applies to both parties. Running or renting out a place for prostitution carries up to five years, rising to life imprisonment on a third conviction (Article 155), and inducing or hiring a person into prostitution up to five years (Article 156). Enforcement since the outbreak of war in April 2023 was not assessed.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/sudan/
SR,Suriname,Suriname,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Selling and buying sex between adults are not offences under the Penal Code as revised in 2015. Making a profession or habit of intentionally causing or promoting sexual acts by others with third parties, the article headed ""Bordeelhouder"" (brothel keeper), is a crime, and profiting as a pimp from a woman's prostitution is a petty offence. Public soliciting is reportedly covered by the Police Penal Act.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 1 month,,Act of 30 March 2015 revising the Penal Code (S.B. 2015 no. 44),https://www.dna.sr/media/vo4du3gs/s-b-_2015_no-_44_wet_van_30_mrt_15_wijz-_wetboek_van_strafrecht.pdf,0,0,3,"Suriname's Penal Code, revised by the law of 30 March 2015, does not punish adults for selling or buying sex. Article 306, headed ""Bordeelhouder"", punishes whoever makes a profession or habit of intentionally causing or promoting sexual acts by others with third parties with up to two years and a fourth-category fine, which covers brothel keeping and organised procuring. Article 503 keeps a petty offence for a man who, as a pimp, draws profit from a woman's prostitution. Paying for sex with a person aged 16 or 17 carries up to six years, and trafficking for exploitation up to nine. A December 2024 newspaper report cites a Police Penal Act provision on women who solicit passers-by in the street.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/suriname/
SE,Sweden,Sverige,Europe,EU | EEA | CoE | Schengen,profile,2026-10-30,neo-abolitionism,Buying criminalised (Nordic model),"Sweden is the reference case for the model: since 1 January 1999 buying sex has been an offence while selling has not. The purchase offence is now 'köp av sexuell handling' in 6 kap. 11 § Brottsbalken (renamed and extended to remote/online acts on 1 July 2025); procuring (koppleri, 6 kap. 12 §) covers brothels, third-party profit, landlords who tolerate the activity and the people behind escort-ad websites.",legal,none,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,legal,none,restricted,,restricted,administrative,,up to 1 year,"Swedish Criminal Code (Brottsbalken, SFS 1962:700) | Government bill 2024/25:124 on stronger protection against sexual violations (remote purchase and procuring) | Aliens Act (Utlänningslagen, SFS 2005:716) | Land Code (Jordabalken, SFS 1970:994), chapter 12 (Tenancy Act) | Act on Responsibility for Electronic Bulletin Boards (SFS 1998:112)",https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/brottsbalk-1962700_sfs-1962-700/ | https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/proposition/skarpt-syn-pa-sexuella-krankningar-bedragerier_hc03124/html/ | https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/utlanningslag-2005716_sfs-2005-716/ | https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/jordabalk-1970994_sfs-1970-994/ | https://www.riksdagen.se/sv/dokument-och-lagar/dokument/svensk-forfattningssamling/lag-1998112-om-ansvar-for-elektroniska_sfs-1998-112/,0,3,27,"Selling sexual acts is not an offence in Sweden, but buying them is: 'köp av sexuell handling' (Brottsbalken 6 kap. 11 §) carries imprisonment of up to one year, with fines removed from the scale in August 2022. Since 1 July 2025 the offence also covers paid sexual acts performed at a distance, such as live webcam shows where the buyer induces the act, but not ordinary pre-recorded pornography. Procuring (koppleri, 6 kap. 12 §) criminalises anyone who promotes or improperly profits from another person's sale, including brothel-keeping, publishing other people's ads and running escort-ad websites; landlords who knowingly tolerate it are treated as procurers. In practice escort sites are hosted abroad and out of Swedish reach. Reported purchase offences reached 2,266 in 2025, the highest figure in Brå's 2016–2025 series.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/sweden/
CH,Switzerland,Schweiz / Suisse / Svizzera,Europe,EFTA | CoE | Schengen,overview,2026-10-30,regulation,Regulation (legal & licensed),"Prostitution is a lawful activity. The Confederation only legislates through criminal law: exploitative procuring (Art. 195 StGB), paying for sex with minors (Art. 196) and a fine for breaching cantonal rules on the place, time and manner of prostitution (Art. 199). The cantons regulate the rest, so registration duties, permits for venues and street zones differ from canton to canton; cantonal rules must stay proportionate and may not obstruct prostitution beyond what is necessary.",regulated,criminal,legal,,regulated,criminal,,,restricted,criminal,varies,administrative,,,,,,,,,,,,,Swiss Criminal Code (SR 311.0) | Geneva Prostitution Act (I 2 49) | Ticino Act on the Exercise of Prostitution (550.500),https://fedlex.data.admin.ch/filestore/fedlex.data.admin.ch/eli/cc/54/757_781_799/20261001/de/html/fedlex-data-admin-ch-eli-cc-54-757_781_799-20261001-de-html-2.html | https://silgeneve.ch/legis/data/rsg_i2_49.htm | https://m3.ti.ch/CAN/RLeggi/public/index.php/raccolta-leggi/pdfatto/atto/9304,2,2,9,"Selling and buying sex between adults are legal in Switzerland, and since a 2021 Federal Supreme Court ruling the agreed payment enjoys criminal-law protection. Brothels and other venues are legal under cantonal rules, which in cantons such as Geneva and Ticino include registration of sex workers and a declaration or permit for venues. Procuring is a crime only where it exploits a person (Art. 195 StGB). There is no federal ban on advertising; cantonal rules vary. The National Council rejected a ban on buying sex in 2022, and in 2025 parliament asked the Federal Council to update its 2015 report on prostitution and human trafficking.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/switzerland/
SY,Syria,سوريا,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution, adopted for the whole United Arab Republic and still applied in Syria, punishes the habitual practice of prostitution, procuring, brothels and advertising; the Penal Code (Articles 509–516) separately punishes practising or facilitating secret prostitution. Neither law has a specific offence for the client. Changes after the December 2024 change of government were not checked.",illegal,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 3 years,,"Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution in the United Arab Republic | Penal Code (Legislative Decree No. 148 of 1949), as described by the UN",https://manshurat.org/sites/default/files/docs/pdf/014408.pdf | https://arabstates.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/2200890-gjr-syria-web.pdf,0,0,3,"Syria prohibits prostitution under Law No. 10 of 1961 on Combating Prostitution, issued during the union with Egypt and applied in Syria from six months after its publication. The law repealed Syria's 1933 law on licensed prostitution and empowered the Syrian social affairs minister to place licensed women in a special institution. Habitually practising prostitution or debauchery is punishable by three months to three years and/or a fine (Article 9(c)); working or habitually living in a brothel by up to a year (Article 13). Inciting or facilitating prostitution, running a brothel and exploiting another's prostitution carry up to three years, as does advertising an invitation to prostitution (Article 14). The Penal Code of 1949 adds offences of habitually inciting young people to debauchery and of practising or facilitating secret prostitution (Article 509).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/syria/
TW,Taiwan,臺灣,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Since the 2011 amendment, the Social Order Maintenance Act fines both the person selling and the person buying sex (an administrative penalty), except inside zones that city and county governments may create by local ordinance under Article 91-1. No local government has created such a zone, so in practice the law operates as prohibition. On paper it is a regulation model: zones, licensed venues, registered workers and health checks. Profiting from arranging or harbouring sex is a crime under Criminal Code art. 231.",illegal,administrative,illegal,administrative,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,"TWD 30,000 fine","TWD 30,000 fine",Social Order Maintenance Act | Criminal Code of the Republic of China | Child and Youth Sexual Exploitation Prevention Act,https://laws.gov.taipei/Law/LawSearch/LawArticleContent/FL004501 | https://mojlaw.moj.gov.tw/LawContent.aspx?LSID=FL001424 | https://laws.gov.taipei/Law/LawSearch/LawArticleContent/FL002523,0,0,7,"Taiwan fines both parties to a sex transaction under Article 80 of the Social Order Maintenance Act (up to NT$30,000) and penalises brokering under Article 81. The 2011 amendment followed Constitutional Interpretation No. 666 (2009), which held that fining only the seller violated equality. Article 91-1 lets city and county governments legalise sex work in designated zones with licensed venues, registered workers and health checks; no zone has been created, and the last brothel licensed under pre-2011 local rules was reported closed in 2022. Inducing, harbouring or brokering sex for profit is a crime with up to five years under Criminal Code Article 231. Online messages that could draw minors into sex trade are a crime under the child sexual exploitation law, which reaches adult sex ads not restricted to adults.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/taiwan/
TJ,Tajikistan,Тоҷикистон,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence (Article 130 of the 2008 Code of Administrative Offences). A repeat within a year can lead to 10 to 15 days' administrative arrest. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Brothels, procuring for gain, pimping and drawing people into prostitution by coercion or deception are crimes (Articles 238-239 of the Criminal Code).",illegal,administrative,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,fine,,"Code of Administrative Offences (2008, as amended) | Criminal Code (1998, as amended)",https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/23714 | https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/23720,0,0,2,"Tajikistan penalises the person who sells sex. Engaging in prostitution carries a fine of 20 to 30 calculation indicators, and a repeat within a year after a penalty carries 30 to 50 indicators or administrative arrest of 10 to 15 days (Article 130 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Organising or keeping a brothel, procuring for mercenary motives and pimping are crimes carrying a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 indicators or up to five years' imprisonment, and five to eight years if repeated or committed by an organised group (Article 239 of the Criminal Code). Drawing someone into prostitution by violence, threats, abuse of dependency, blackmail or deception carries a fine or up to two years (Article 238).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/tajikistan/
TZ,Tanzania,Tanzania,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","On the mainland the Penal Code does not make selling or buying sex an offence as such, but criminalises loitering or soliciting in public by a ""common prostitute"" (s. 176(a)), living on the earnings of prostitution (ss. 145–146), keeping a brothel (s. 148) and procuring any person, even consenting, to become a prostitute (s. 139). Online content related to prostitution is prohibited by regulation. Zanzibar has its own penal legislation, which was not reviewed here.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 3 months,,"Penal Code (Cap. 16, Revised Edition 2023) | Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations, 2020",https://www.nps.go.tz/uploads/documents/sw-1751356809-THE%20PENAL%20CODE.pdf | https://www.article19.org/resources/tanzania-regulations-criminalise-free-speech/,0,0,2,"On mainland Tanzania, the Penal Code (Cap. 16, R.E. 2023) does not prohibit selling sex itself but criminalises almost everything around it. A common prostitute loitering or soliciting in a public place for prostitution, or behaving there in a disorderly or indecent way, is an idle and disorderly person liable to a fine of up to TZS 100,000 and/or three months (s. 176(a)). Living on the earnings of prostitution and persistent soliciting by a man (s. 145), a woman living on such earnings or controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 146), and keeping any place for prostitution (s. 148) are offences; procuring any person, with or without consent, to become a prostitute carries 10 to 20 years and/or a fine (s. 139). Online content related to prostitution is prohibited under the 2020 Online Content Regulations. Zanzibar's own penal law was not reviewed.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/tanzania/
TH,Thailand,ประเทศไทย,Asia,,profile,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"The Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539 (1996) has no offence of selling sex as such, but it penalises the usual ways of doing so: soliciting in public (s. 5, an administrative 'phinai' fine since the 2022 Fine Act), being in a prostitution establishment for prostitution (s. 6, criminal) and advertising (s. 7, criminal). Buying from an adult is not an offence, so the case sits between prohibition and abolitionism; it is classed as prohibition because selling is sanctioned.",illegal,criminal,restricted,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,administrative,restricted,,restricted,,illegal,criminal,up to 1 month,,"Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539 (1996) | Entertainment Places Act B.E. 2509 (1966), as amended (No. 2) 1978, (No. 3) 1982, (No. 4) 2003 and (No. 5) 2017 | Act on Phinai Fines B.E. 2565 (2022)",https://law.m-society.go.th/law/download/167/th | https://report.dopa.go.th/laws/document/1/35.pdf | https://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2565/A/066/T_0022.PDF,0,3,16,"Prostitution is unlawful in Thailand under the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539 (1996). Sex workers can be fined up to 1,000 baht for soliciting in public (s. 5, now an administrative fine imposed by social-development ministry officials, not the police) and imprisoned or fined for being in a prostitution establishment (s. 6) or advertising (s. 7). Buying sex from an adult is not itself an offence. Brothel-keeping (s. 11) and procuring (s. 9) carry long prison terms. Massage parlours, hostess bars and karaoke lounges are licensed under the Entertainment Places Act B.E. 2509 (1966), which does not permit prostitution. A citizen bill to repeal the 1996 Act and treat sex work as work reached the House on 28 May 2026; classed as a financial bill, it cannot be debated without the Prime Minister's endorsement, and none had been reported by 30 October 2026.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/thailand/
GM,The Gambia,,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"The Criminal Offences Act 2025, which repealed the colonial-era Criminal Code (Cap. 10:01), makes it a misdemeanour for a man (section 114) or a woman (section 115) to commit, or be an accomplice in the commission of, prostitution. Selling sex is therefore an offence, and the accomplice wording may also reach clients, although no case applying it to a client was found. Brothel-keeping and living on the earnings of prostitution are also offences.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 2 years,up to 2 years,Criminal Offences Act 2025,https://moj.gov.gm/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Assent-Copy-Criminal-Offences-Act-2025-Passed-28th-March-2025.pdf,0,0,2,"The Gambia's Criminal Offences Act 2025, passed by the National Assembly in March 2025 and being applied by the courts by July 2025, replaced the 1933 Criminal Code. Part XVI makes it a misdemeanour for any person to commit, or be an accomplice in the commission of, prostitution; for a man to persistently solicit or importune in a public place for immoral purposes; for anyone knowingly to live on the earnings of prostitution or to control a sex worker's movements for gain; and to keep or manage any place used for prostitution. Misdemeanours without a specific penalty are punishable by a fine, up to two years in prison, or both (section 38). Magistrates may issue warrants to search premises suspected of being used for prostitution (section 116).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/the-gambia/
TL,Timor-Leste,Timor-Leste,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Penal Code (Decree-Law 19/2009) contains no offence of selling or buying sex between adults. It punishes anyone who, for profit or as a way of life, fosters, facilitates or in any way contributes to another person's prostitution (Article 174), and child prostitution below age 17 (Article 175).",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,"Penal Code (approved by Decree-Law 19/2009 of 8 April, amended by Law 6/2009 of 15 July)",https://www.mj.gov.tl/jornal/files/Codigo_Penal.pdf,0,0,2,"Timor-Leste's Penal Code, approved by Decree-Law 19/2009 of 8 April 2009, does not make selling or buying sex between adults an offence. Under Article 174 (sexual exploitation of a third party), anyone who with intent to profit, or making it a way of life, fosters, facilitates or in any way contributes to another person practising prostitution faces three to ten years' imprisonment, rising to four to twelve years where the offender exploits the victim's abandonment or economic need, uses violence or threats, moves the victim to another country or keeps their identity documents. Exploiting the prostitution of a person under 17 carries four to twelve years (five to fifteen if aggravated) even with the minor's consent, as does offering, obtaining or delivering a minor for prostitution (Article 175). Trafficking is covered by Articles 163–164.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/timor-leste/
TG,Togo,Togo,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,neo-abolitionism,Buying criminalised (Nordic model),"Borderline. Selling sex is not an offence, but public soliciting is fined (Art. 398). The 2015 Penal Code ends its procuring article with a clause punishing the client of a person in prostitution in the same way as the procurer (Art. 402), which the national police read as covering clients. Running venues and procuring are crimes. Treated as buyer criminalisation, with public soliciting penalised.",restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,"soliciting: XOF 300,000 fine",up to 10 years,Law No. 2015-10 of 24 November 2015 on the new Penal Code,https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/Tog186175.pdf,0,0,3,"Togo's Penal Code of 24 November 2015 does not make selling sex an offence, but publicly soliciting by any means, even passively, in order to prostitute oneself is fined 100,000 to 300,000 CFA francs, with community service for a repeat within a year. Procuring, defined broadly as aiding, protecting or profiting from another person's prostitution, carries five to ten years and a fine of 5 to 20 million CFA francs, and the same article says the client of the person in prostitution is punished in the same way. Running, financing or tolerating prostitution in an establishment, or providing premises or vehicles for it, carries the same penalty. Procuring through a telecommunications network aimed at the public is an aggravating circumstance. In April 2025 the national police warned that clients are among those liable.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/togo/
TO,Tonga,Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga,Oceania,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Criminal Offences Act (Cap. 4.04) criminalises brothel-keeping and letting or permitting premises for a brothel or habitual prostitution (s. 80), a man living on the earnings of prostitution, a woman controlling a sex worker for gain and public soliciting for immoral purposes (s. 81), and procuring a woman to frequent a brothel (s. 126).",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 6 months,,"Criminal Offences Act, Cap. 4.04 (2020 Revised Edition)",https://ago.gov.to/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1924/1924-0010/CriminalOffencesAct_3.pdf,0,0,1,"In Tonga, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the Criminal Offences Act (Cap. 4.04) penalises the activities around them. Keeping or managing a brothel, or letting or permitting premises to be used as a brothel or for habitual prostitution, carries a fine of up to T$5,000 or one year (s. 80). A man who knowingly lives on the earnings of prostitution faces two years, and on a repeat conviction may also be ordered to be whipped; a woman who controls a sex worker for gain faces T$5,000 or two years; soliciting or importuning in a public place for immoral purposes carries six months (s. 81). Procuring a woman to leave home to frequent a brothel carries five years (s. 126). No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/tonga/
TT,Trinidad and Tobago,,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Sexual Offences Act (Ch. 11:28) criminalises procuring a person for prostitution (s. 17), brothel-keeping (s. 22), living on the earnings of prostitution and soliciting for immoral purposes 'in any place' (s. 23) and controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 24); the Summary Offences Act (Ch. 11:02) adds a street offence for women soliciting passers-by (s. 46(j)).",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 2 months,,"Sexual Offences Act, Chapter 11:28 (updated to 31 December 2016) | Summary Offences Act, Chapter 11:02 (updated to 31 December 2016)",https://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/laws2/alphabetical_list/lawspdfs/11.28.pdf | https://rgd.legalaffairs.gov.tt/laws2/alphabetical_list/lawspdfs/11.02.pdf,0,0,2,"In Trinidad and Tobago, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the activities around them are. The Sexual Offences Act (Ch. 11:28, as updated to 31 December 2016) makes procuring another person for prostitution punishable by fifteen years, and keeping or managing a brothel, letting or permitting premises to be used as one, knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution, soliciting 'in any place' for immoral purposes, and controlling a sex worker's movements for gain each punishable by five years. Under the Summary Offences Act, a woman loitering about and soliciting passers-by for prostitution may be dealt with as a 'rogue and vagabond' (two months). No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/trinidad-and-tobago/
TN,Tunisia,تونس,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Borderline. A decree of 30 April 1942 and a 1977 Interior Ministry circular still provide for licensed houses with registered women, so Tunisia is often listed as a regulated country. Outside that system, Article 231 of the Penal Code punishes women who sell sex and, as accomplices, their clients. The last licensed houses, in Tunis and Sfax, have been shut since March 2020, so in practice no legal route was found to exist in 2026.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,regulated,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 2 years,up to 2 years,"Penal Code (Decree of 9 July 1913), as amended",https://legislation-securite.tn/latest-laws/decret-du-9-juillet-1913-portant-promulgation-du-code-penal/,0,0,3,"Tunisia keeps a colonial-era licensing system on paper but criminalises prostitution outside it. Article 231 of the Penal Code punishes women who, outside the cases provided for by regulations, offer themselves to passers-by or engage in prostitution, even occasionally, with six months to two years in prison, and treats anyone who has sex with them as an accomplice liable to the same penalty. Procuring carries one to three years (Article 232), and publicly drawing attention to an opportunity for debauchery, including by electronic messages, carries six months (Article 226 bis). The 1942 decree regulates registered sex work in licensed houses, subject to medical checks, a special tax and Interior Ministry registration. The last houses, in Tunis and Sfax, were closed in March 2020 during the COVID-19 crisis; no reopening was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/tunisia/
TR,Turkey,Türkiye,Europe,CoE,overview,2026-10-30,regulation,Regulation (legal & licensed),"A 1961 regulation (Tüzük) issued under the 1930 Public Hygiene Law provides for licensed brothels (genelev) and the registration of women as ""genel kadın"", with commission oversight and compulsory medical checks. Outside that system, the Penal Code criminalises encouraging, facilitating or mediating prostitution and providing a place for it (Article 227); buying is not an offence.",regulated,none,legal,none,regulated,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,Regulation on registered women and brothels and on combating venereal diseases spread through prostitution (1961) | Turkish Penal Code No. 5237 (2004) | Law No. 5651 on internet publications,https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=5984&MevzuatTur=2&MevzuatTertip=4 | https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=5237&MevzuatTur=1&MevzuatTertip=5 | https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuat?MevzuatNo=5651&MevzuatTur=1&MevzuatTertip=5,0,0,3,"Turkey runs a state-licensed brothel system under the 1961 regulation on registered women and brothels, issued under Public Hygiene Law No. 1593 and last amended in 1973. Local commissions register women as ""genel kadın"", who must be at least 21, Turkish citizens and not stateless, and subject them to compulsory medical examinations; opening a genelev requires an application to the highest local civil administrator, commission review and police permission. Article 227 of the Penal Code punishes encouraging, facilitating or mediating prostitution or providing a place for it with two to four years, and since 2016 distributing material prepared to facilitate or mediate prostitution with one to three years. Under Law No. 5651, online content raising sufficient suspicion of an Article 227 offence can be removed or access to it blocked. Buying sex from an adult is not an offence.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/turkey/
TM,Turkmenistan,Türkmenistan,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Both selling and buying sex are offences. Engaging in prostitution and paying for sex with a person engaged in prostitution are administrative offences (Articles 360-361 of the Code of Administrative Offences). Prostitution repeated within a year of an administrative penalty becomes a crime carrying up to two years' imprisonment (Article 138 of the Criminal Code). Brothels, procuring and pimping are separate crimes.",illegal,criminal,illegal,administrative,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,fine,fine,"Code of Administrative Offences of Turkmenistan (text as hosted by WIPO Lex, c. 2014) | Criminal Code of Turkmenistan No. 222-I of 12 June 1997 (as amended to 9 November 2013)",https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/13824 | https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/14676,0,0,2,"Turkmenistan penalises both parties. Engaging in prostitution is fined 10 to 20 times the base amount. Having sexual relations with a person engaged in prostitution for payment is fined 5 to 10 times the base amount (Articles 360 and 361 of the Code of Administrative Offences). People suspected of either offence may be detained for up to 24 hours pending the case. Repeating prostitution within a year of an administrative penalty is a crime punishable by a fine, up to two years' corrective labour or up to two years' imprisonment (Article 138 of the Criminal Code). Organising or keeping a brothel and procuring each carry up to five years, and pimping two to six years. These figures come from texts consolidated to 2013-2014, the latest available.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/turkmenistan/
TV,Tuvalu,Tuvalu,Oceania,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Exchanging sex for money in private is not an offence, but the Penal Code (Cap. 10.20, 2022 Revised Edition) criminalises procuring a woman or girl to become a 'common prostitute' (s. 136), a man living on the earnings of prostitution or persistently soliciting (s. 145), a woman controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 146), brothel-keeping (s. 148) and public soliciting by 'idle and disorderly persons' (s. 167).",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 2 months,,"Penal Code (Cap. 10.20, 2022 Revised Edition)",https://tuvalu-legislation.tv/cms/images/LEGISLATION/PRINCIPAL/1965/1965-0007/1965-0007_2.pdf,0,0,1,"In Tuvalu, selling and buying sex in private are not offences, but the Penal Code (Cap. 10.20, 2022 Revised Edition), inherited from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, penalises the activities around them. Procuring or attempting to procure a woman or girl to become a 'common prostitute', or to leave home to frequent a brothel, carries two years. A man who knowingly lives on the earnings of prostitution or persistently solicits in public for immoral purposes, a woman who controls a sex worker for gain, and anyone who keeps, manages, permits or lets premises for a brothel commits a misdemeanour (two years and a fine where no penalty is specified). Soliciting for immoral purposes in public carries two months or a $20 fine. No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/tuvalu/
UG,Uganda,Uganda,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Practising or engaging in prostitution is a specific offence under s. 139 of the Penal Code Act, punishable by seven years, alongside offences of living on the earnings of prostitution, soliciting, keeping a brothel and procuration. There is no offence aimed specifically at clients; bills that would have added one (2019, 2024) were not enacted.",illegal,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,up to 7 years,,Penal Code Act (Cap. 120; Cap. 128 in the 2023 Revised Edition),https://www.jurisafrica.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/The-Uganda-Penal-Code-Act.pdf.pdf,0,0,4,"Prostitution is prohibited in Uganda. Under the Penal Code Act, any person who practises or engages in prostitution is liable to seven years' imprisonment (s. 139); a prostitute is a person who regularly or habitually holds himself or herself out as available for sexual intercourse or other sexual gratification for monetary or other material gain (s. 138). Living on the earnings of prostitution and soliciting for immoral purposes in any place (s. 136), keeping a brothel (s. 137) and procuring a woman or girl into prostitution (s. 131) carry seven years each. No offence targets clients: the Sexual Offences Bill, which would have punished them, was passed in 2021 but refused assent, and its 2024 version was withdrawn in March 2026. Section numbers follow Cap. 120; the 2023 Revised Edition re-issued the Act as Cap. 128.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/uganda/
UA,Ukraine,Україна,Europe,CoE,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Selling sex is an administrative offence under Article 181-1 of the Code on Administrative Offences (warning or small fine). Buying is not an offence. Keeping places of debauchery, pandering, pimping and involving others in prostitution are crimes (Articles 302 and 303 of the Criminal Code).",illegal,administrative,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,none,,,,,,,,,,,fine,,"Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences (1984, as amended) | Criminal Code of Ukraine (2001, as amended)",https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/80731-10 | https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/2341-14,0,0,5,"Ukraine penalises the person who sells sex with an administrative sanction: under Article 181-1 of the Code on Administrative Offences, engaging in prostitution is punishable by a warning or a fine of 5 to 10 non-taxable minimum incomes, rising to 8 to 15 for a repeat within a year. Buying sex is not an offence. The Criminal Code punishes creating or maintaining places of debauchery and pandering (Article 302; fines or restriction of liberty, up to five years' imprisonment where done for gain or by an organised group) and pimping or drawing a person into prostitution by deception, blackmail, exploiting vulnerability or violence (Article 303; three to five years, more in aggravated cases). Article 302 was last amended in 2023. No specific offence of advertising sexual services was found in the provisions checked.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/ukraine/
AE,United Arab Emirates,الإمارات العربية المتحدة,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Selling sex is a crime: a 'habitual prostitute or debauchee' faces temporary imprisonment (Art. 422, Crimes and Penalties Law). There is no offence aimed at clients as such, but sex between unmarried adults remains an offence under Art. 409, prosecutable only on a complaint by a spouse or guardian. Brothels, procuring and incitement, including online, are crimes. The same federal code applies in all seven emirates, including Dubai.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,up to 15 years,extramarital sex: 3 years,Federal Decree-Law No. 31 of 2021 Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties Law | Federal Decree-Law No. 34 of 2021 on Countering Rumours and Cybercrimes,https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1529 | https://uaelegislation.gov.ae/en/legislations/1526,0,0,4,"Prostitution is illegal in the United Arab Emirates, including Dubai and Abu Dhabi: the federal Crimes and Penalties Law (Decree-Law 31/2021, in force since 2 January 2022) applies to any crime on the State's territory. Habitual prostitution carries temporary imprisonment (three to fifteen years by default). Running or facilitating a brothel carries temporary imprisonment and at least AED 100,000; inciting or assisting prostitution at least two years and a fine since December 2025; exploiting another's prostitution up to five years. Inciting prostitution online carries temporary imprisonment and AED 250,000 to 1,000,000 (Decree-Law 34/2021). The 2020 and 2021 reforms on consensual relations did not legalise paid sex: sex between unmarried adults is still an offence (Art. 409), prosecutable only on a complaint by a spouse or guardian.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/united-arab-emirates/
GB,United Kingdom,,Europe,CoE,profile,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The classification describes England and Wales: selling and buying sex between adults are not in themselves offences, but brothel-keeping (two or more people working from the same premises), causing, inciting or controlling prostitution for gain, persistent street soliciting and kerb crawling are. Scotland follows a similar pattern under its own statutes. Northern Ireland has criminalised paying for sexual services since 1 June 2015 and is shown separately as neo-abolitionist.",legal,none,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,restricted,administrative,illegal,criminal,legal,none,legal,none,restricted,,,"soliciting: ≈€1,200 fine",Sexual Offences Act 1956 | Street Offences Act 1959 | Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 | Sexual Offences Act 2003 | Policing and Crime Act 2009 | Modern Slavery Act 2015 | Online Safety Act 2023 | Crime and Policing Act 2026 | Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002 | Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 | Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 | Prostitution (Public Places) (Scotland) Act 2007 | Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 | Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008,https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/4-5/69/section/33A | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/7-8/57/section/1 | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2001/16/section/46 | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/42/section/53 | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2009/26/part/2/crossheading/prostitution | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/30/section/2 | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/50/schedule/7 | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/20/contents | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/2013/regulation/19 | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1982/45/section/46 | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1995/39/section/11 | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2007/11/section/1 | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nia/2015/2/section/15 | https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisi/2008/1769/article/64A,2,3,52,"Criminal law on prostitution is devolved, so the UK has three regimes. In England and Wales selling and buying sex are legal, but almost everything around them is restricted: brothel-keeping, profiting from or controlling another person's prostitution, persistent street soliciting, kerb crawling, cards in phone boxes, and paying for sex with someone a third party has coerced (a strict-liability offence). Advertising one's own services online is not an offence, and the Crime and Policing Act 2026 received Royal Assent on 29 April 2026 without any of the amendments that would have criminalised publishing prostitution adverts. Adult services websites are instead regulated through the Online Safety Act 2023, which makes causing, inciting or controlling prostitution for gain priority illegal content. Scotland is broadly similar; Northern Ireland criminalises buying.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/united-kingdom/
US,United States,,North America,,profile,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Prohibition, because selling sex is a criminal offence in 49 states and the District of Columbia and buying in all 50. There is no federal offence of selling or buying sex as such; federal law targets interstate transport and enticement (Mann Act), online promotion (18 U.S.C. § 2421A) and trafficking. Nevada, where licensed brothels operate in some rural counties, is shown as regulation, and Maine, which since 2023 criminalises only buying, as neo-abolitionist.",varies,criminal,varies,criminal,varies,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,illegal,criminal,varies,criminal,legal,none,illegal,administrative,,,"Mann Act (18 U.S.C. chapter 117) | Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 (FOSTA-SESTA) | Communications Decency Act, Section 230 | Sex trafficking of children or by force, fraud, or coercion | Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS 244.345; NRS chapters 201 and 207) | Maine: An Act to Reduce Commercial Sexual Exploitation (Public Law 2023, chapter 316) | Pennsylvania Act 41 of 2026 (SB 45) | Immigration and Nationality Act, inadmissibility",https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2421 | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-115publ164/html/PLAW-115publ164.htm | https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/47/230 | https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1591 | https://www.leg.state.nv.us/nrs/nrs-244.html | https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1435&snum=131 | https://www.palegis.us/statutes/unconsolidated/law-information?sessYr=2026&sessInd=0&actNum=41 | https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/8/1182,51,2,82,"Prostitution is not legal in Las Vegas or Reno. In the United States prostitution is mainly a matter of state law, and selling and buying sex are crimes in every state except in licensed brothels in some rural Nevada counties, and except that Maine (since 2023) no longer punishes selling. Nevada bars brothel licences in any county of 700,000 or more people, which is Clark County (Las Vegas); Washoe County (Reno) bans them by ordinance. Federal law adds the Mann Act (taking a person across state lines for prostitution) and, since FOSTA-SESTA in 2018, a crime of running a website with intent to promote or facilitate the prostitution of another person; Section 230 no longer shields such sites from state prosecution or civil sex-trafficking claims. Backpage was seized in 2018 and its owners prosecuted.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/united-states/
UY,Uruguay,Uruguay,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,regulation,Regulation (legal & licensed),"Law 17.515 of 2002 declares sex work lawful when carried out under its conditions: workers over 18 must be in the National Sex Work Register and hold a valid health card, and brothels, whiskerías and similar venues need a municipal licence and police authorisation. The 1927 procuring law (Law 8.080) still punishes exploiting another person's prostitution for profit, and Law 17.515 presumes that offence where a venue operator takes an excessive share.",regulated,administrative,legal,none,regulated,administrative,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,administrative,,,,,,,,,,,,,Law 17.515 on sex work (2002) | Law 8.080 on procuring (1927),https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/leyes/17515-2002 | https://www.impo.com.uy/bases/leyes/8080-1927,0,1,3,"Uruguay regulates sex work under Law 17.515 of 2002. Sex work is lawful for people over 18 who are listed in the National Sex Work Register, kept by the Ministries of Public Health and the Interior, and who hold a health card issued free of charge after periodic medical checks; registered workers may not be detained for the activity alone. Sex work may be offered in zones set by each departmental government and in licensed brothels, whiskerías and similar venues, which need municipal and police authorisation and may be run only by a natural person. Breaches by workers or venue owners carry fines of 5 to 100 indexed units. Exploiting another person's prostitution for profit remains a crime under Law 8.080. A 2024 bill backed by a Chamber committee would abolish the register and the health card.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/uruguay/
UZ,Uzbekistan,Oʻzbekiston,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Engaging in prostitution is an administrative offence under Article 190 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility (fines, and up to 15 days' administrative arrest for a repeat). Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Pimping and organising or keeping a brothel are crimes under Article 131 of the Criminal Code.",illegal,administrative,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,fine,,"Code of Administrative Responsibility (1994, as amended) | Criminal Code (1994, as amended)",https://lex.uz/docs/97664 | https://lex.uz/docs/111453,0,0,3,"In Uzbekistan the person who sells sex is penalised. Engaging in prostitution carries a fine of three to seven times the base calculation amount (BCA), and a repeat within a year after a penalty carries seven to ten BCA or up to 15 days' administrative arrest (Article 190 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, sanctions as amended in 2019). Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Pimping ""for mercenary or other base motives"" and organising or keeping a brothel are crimes under Article 131 of the Criminal Code. Brothel keeping carries a fine, community work, restriction of liberty or up to three years' imprisonment, rising to five to eight years where a minor is involved or an organised group is responsible. Trafficking for the purpose of drawing a person into prostitution carries five to ten years.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/uzbekistan/
VU,Vanuatu,Ripablik blong Vanuatu,Oceania,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","Exchanging sex for money is not an offence, but s. 101 of the Penal Code (Cap. 135) prohibits procuring, aiding or facilitating the prostitution of another person, sharing in its proceeds or being subsidised by a person engaging in prostitution (five years), and s. 148 penalises disorderly or indecent behaviour in public for the purpose of prostitution and soliciting for immoral purposes in public (three months).",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 3 months,,"Penal Code, Chapter 135 (Consolidated Edition 2006)",https://wipolex-res.wipo.int/edocs/lexdocs/laws/en/vu/vu034en.pdf,0,0,1,"In Vanuatu, selling and buying sex are not offences in themselves. Section 101 of the Penal Code (Cap. 135) makes it an offence, punishable by five years, to procure, aid or facilitate the prostitution of another person, to share in the proceeds of such prostitution 'whether habitual or otherwise', or to be subsidised by any person engaging in prostitution; there is no separate brothel offence, but running premises for others would fall under 'facilitate'. Behaving in a disorderly or indecent manner in a public place for the purpose of prostitution, and soliciting for immoral purposes in a public place, carry three months (s. 148). No offence aimed specifically at advertising sexual services was found.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/vanuatu/
VE,Venezuela,Venezuela,Latin America & Caribbean,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Penal Code does not make selling or buying sex between adults an offence. It punishes whoever, repeatedly or for profit and to satisfy the passions of another, induces, facilitates or favours the prostitution of any person, which reaches third parties who organise or profit from prostitution, including brothel keepers. Other provisions protect minors and punish coercion by relatives or husbands.",legal,none,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,,,Penal Code (2000 text; later reformed),https://venezuela.justia.com/federales/codigos/codigo-penal/gdoc/,0,0,1,"Venezuelan law does not punish people who sell sex or their adult clients. The Penal Code makes it an offence, punishable by one to six years, to induce, facilitate or favour the prostitution of any person repeatedly or for profit and to satisfy the passions of another, with a higher penalty where the person is a minor. Separate provisions in the chapter on corrupters punish inducing or facilitating the prostitution of minors and forcing a descendant, wife or ward into prostitution by violence or threats. This overview could only check the text through a copy of the 2000 version of the Code; the Code has been reformed since and current secondary copies number the chapter on corrupters one article lower, so provision numbers here are approximate.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/venezuela/
VN,Vietnam,Việt Nam,Asia,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"The Ordinance on Prostitution Prevention 2003 prohibits both buying and selling sex (Article 4). Both are administrative violations punished with warnings or fines, since 15 December 2025 under Decree 282/2025/ND-CP. Harbouring, brokering and organising prostitution are crimes under the Penal Code.",illegal,administrative,illegal,administrative,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,administrative,,,,,,,,,,,"VND 500,000 fine","VND 2,000,000 fine","Ordinance on Prostitution Prevention (No. 10/2003/PL-UBTVQH11) | Decree 282/2025/ND-CP on administrative sanctions for security, public order and social safety, social evils and domestic violence",https://vanban.chinhphu.vn/default.aspx?pageid=27160&docid=80891 | https://datafiles.chinhphu.vn/cpp/files/vbpq/2025/11/282-cp.signed.pdf,0,0,6,"Vietnam prohibits both buying and selling sex but treats both as administrative violations rather than crimes. The Ordinance on Prostitution Prevention (No. 10/2003/PL-UBTVQH11) bans buying, selling, harbouring, organising, brokering and protecting prostitution. Fines are set by Government decree: Decree 282/2025/ND-CP, in force since 15 December 2025 and replacing Decree 144/2021/ND-CP, fines buyers VND 1–2 million and people who sell sex a warning or VND 300,000–500,000, more where several people are involved. Harbouring (""chứa mại dâm"") and brokering (""môi giới mại dâm"") are criminal offences under Articles 327 and 328 of the Penal Code 2015. Buying sex from a person under 18 is a crime.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/vietnam/
YE,Yemen,اليمن,Middle East & North Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,prohibition,Selling and buying prohibited,"Practising prostitution is a crime (Art. 278, Crimes and Penalties Law of 1994), and both parties to paid sex also commit zina, a hadd offence (Art. 263). Inciting prostitution, running a brothel and consenting to a female relative's prostitution are separate crimes. This entry describes the 1994 statute; enforcement by the authorities that control different parts of the country was not examined.",illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,flogging; death if married,flogging; death if married,Republican Decree-Law No. 12 of 1994 on Crimes and Penalties,https://agoye.gov.ye/page.php?id=285&lng=arabic,0,0,1,"Yemen's Crimes and Penalties Law (Republican Decree-Law No. 12 of 1994) punishes anyone who practises debauchery or prostitution with up to three years' imprisonment or a fine (Art. 278). Paid sex is also zina: the hadd punishment is 100 lashes for an unmarried man or woman, plus up to a year's imprisonment at the court's discretion, and stoning to death for a muhsan (married) offender (Art. 263). Inciting prostitution carries up to three years, up to seven if the act follows, and up to ten or fifteen where the person incited is under 15 or the inciter lives on their earnings (Art. 279). Running a house or place for prostitution carries up to ten years, closure for up to two years and confiscation (Art. 281). A man who consents to prostitution by his wife or a female relative in his care faces up to fifteen years, and death on repetition (Art. 280).",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/yemen/
ZM,Zambia,,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Penal Code has no offence of selling or buying sex as such. It criminalises brothel-keeping, procuring, living on the earnings and public soliciting, with unusually high penalties since 2005. Sex worker groups report that police mostly use the soliciting, idle-and-disorderly and rogue-and-vagabond provisions against sex workers.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,restricted,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 1 month,,Penal Code (Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia),https://zambialii.org/akn/zm/act/1930/42/eng@2023-12-26,0,0,2,"Zambia's Penal Code does not make the exchange of sex for money itself an offence, but the surrounding conduct is heavily criminalised. Since a 2005 amendment, keeping a brothel is a felony with a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 25 years (s. 149). Living on the earnings of prostitution, or persistently soliciting in a public place, is a felony carrying up to 15 years (s. 146), as is controlling a sex worker for gain (s. 147). Procuring carries at least 20 years (s. 140). Soliciting in public is also a minor ""idle and disorderly"" offence (s. 178(g)). Sex worker organisations report that arrests rely mainly on the vagrancy and nuisance provisions.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/zambia/
ZW,Zimbabwe,,Sub-Saharan Africa,,overview,2026-10-30,abolitionism,"Legal, organisation banned","The Criminal Law Code defines a ""prostitute"" but does not make selling or buying sex an offence. It criminalises publicly soliciting (in person, in print or online), keeping a brothel, demanding money from a sex worker, and procuring. In 2015 the Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional the arrest and prosecution of nine women for soliciting where there was no evidence of a solicited man.",restricted,criminal,legal,none,illegal,criminal,,,illegal,criminal,illegal,criminal,,,,,,,,,,,soliciting: 6 months,,Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23],https://zimlii.org/akn/zw/act/2004/23/eng@2022-03-11,0,0,2,"Zimbabwe's Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act [Chapter 9:23] treats prostitution itself as lawful but criminalises the activities around it. Publicly soliciting another person for prostitution is an offence, either in a public place or by publication in any printed or electronic medium (s. 81, up to six months). Keeping a brothel, or demanding payment from a sex worker for managing a brothel, soliciting clients for her or bringing her into the country, carries up to two years (s. 82). Procuring an adult to become a prostitute also carries up to two years (s. 83). In May 2015 the Constitutional Court declared unconstitutional the arrest and prosecution of nine women for soliciting where the State had no evidence that anyone had been solicited.",https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/zimbabwe/