Laws by Country

Countries Where Prostitution Is Legal 2025

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Legality of Prostitution

Illegal

Illegal/Legal

Legal

Limited Legality

Legality of Prostitution

39
69
54
Country
Legality of Prostitution
Legal Model in Use
Additional Details on Legality of Prostitution
India Flag
IndiaLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels, solicitation and offering to sell sex in public place is illegal.
Indonesia Flag
IndonesiaLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution in Indonesia is legally considered a "crime against decency/morality", although it is widely practiced, tolerated and even regulated in some areas.
Nigeria Flag
NigeriaLimited LegalityAbolitionism/Prohibitionism
  • Varies by state/territory.
Mexico Flag
MexicoLimited LegalityLegalization/Abolitionism/Prohibitionism
  • Prostitution in Mexico is legal under Federal Law. Each of the 31 states enacts its own prostitution laws and policies
Japan Flag
JapanLimited LegalityProhibitionism
  • The Prostitution Prevention Law, enacted in 1957, forbids the act of having ‘intercourse with an unspecified person in exchange for paymen; however ther paid sexual acts are not illegal
United Kingdom Flag
United KingdomLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal. Lax enforcement. In Northern Ireland, which previously had similar laws, paying for sex became illegal from 1 June 2015.
France Flag
FranceLimited LegalityNeo-Abolitionism
  • Selling is legal, but buying, organizing, solicitation illegal. Loopholes exist.
Spain Flag
SpainLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution in Spain is not addressed by any specific law, but a number of activities related to it, such as pimping, are illegal.
Algeria Flag
AlgeriaLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Buying sex is not illegal except insofar as it violates Sharia law.
Canada Flag
CanadaLimited LegalityNeo-abolitionism
  • Selling sex is legal, but buying sex is illegal following implementation of House Government Bill C-36 of 2014.
Australia Flag
AustraliaLimited LegalityLegalization/Prohibitionism
  • The law varies depending on the state from decriminalized to legally regulated to criminal
Mali Flag
MaliLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Selling sex is legal but associated activities are criminalised. Soliciting on the streets is a criminal offence.
Burkina Faso Flag
Burkina FasoLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Romania Flag
RomaniaLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Benin Flag
BeninLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
  • HIV, sex trafficking and child sex tourism are problems in the country.
South Sudan Flag
South SudanLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal. Lax enforcement.
Cuba Flag
CubaLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution in Cuba is not officially illegal; however, there is legislation against pimps, sexual exploitation of minors, and pornography.
  • Sex trafficking is a problem in the country.
Tajikistan Flag
TajikistanLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution in Tajikistan is legal, but related activities such as soliciting, procuring and brothel keeping are prohibited
Sweden Flag
SwedenLimited LegalityNeo-Abolitionism
  • Selling and brothels are legal, but purchasing illegal. Loopholes exist.
Israel Flag
IsraelLimited LegalityNeo-Abolitionism
  • Selling is legal, but buying, organizing, solicitation illegal.
Austria Flag
AustriaLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Paraguay Flag
ParaguayLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Selling sex is legal at the national level and there are no associated activities criminalised at the national level. There are, however, local ordinances which prohibit activities like soliciting in the streets.
Bulgaria Flag
BulgariaLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution has been legal in Bulgaria since 1990, but is not subject to any further regulation. Prostitution is neither expressly permitted nor banned under Bulgarian law.
El Salvador Flag
El SalvadorLimited LegalityAbolitionism/Prohibitionism/Legalization
  • Prostitution in El Salvador is not prohibited by national law, but may be prohibited by local municipal ordinances.
  • Related activities such as facilitating, promoting or giving incentives to a person to work as a prostitute (pimping) are illegal.
  • Brothel ownership, however, is legal.
Singapore Flag
SingaporeLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution in Singapore in itself is not illegal, but various prostitution-related activities are criminalized. This includes public solicitation, living on the earnings of a prostitute and maintaining a brothel
Finland Flag
FinlandLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal. In Finland, Norway and Switzerland the right to sell sex is restricted based on citizenship. Aliens caught selling sex in Finland or Norway may be deported and of foreign citizens only EU citizens can get a Swiss prostitution license.
Norway Flag
NorwayLimited LegalityNeo-Abolitionism
  • Selling and brothels are legal, but purchasing illegal. Loopholes exist.
Ireland Flag
IrelandLimited LegalityNeo-Abolitionism
  • Selling sex is legal, but buying sex is illegal under Articles 24 and 25 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.
Namibia Flag
NamibiaLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Selling sex itself is legal but a number of other activities are criminalised. There are laws against soliciting in a public place and brothel-keeping.
Armenia Flag
ArmeniaLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution and sex tourism are legal, but operating a brothel is prohibited and engaging in other forms of pimping are punishable by one to 5 years imprisonment.
Botswana Flag
BotswanaLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
North Macedonia Flag
North MacedoniaLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution in North Macedonia is legal, though with various restrictions.
Fiji Flag
FijiLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution in Fiji is legal, but most activities connected with it are illegal: brothel keeping, pimping and buying or selling sex in public.
Solomon Islands Flag
Solomon IslandsLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal. Lax enforcement.
Macau Flag
MacauLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels, solicitation, & "street prostitution" illegal.
Luxembourg Flag
LuxembourgLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal in Luxembourg, but the bill will criminalise customers of prostitutes who are minors, vulnerable individuals – for instance, individuals suffering from mental illness or without valid papers – or the victims of human trafficking.
Malta Flag
MaltaLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Selling sex is legal in Malta but it is illegal to solicit in public. Civil code makes it possible to evict from premises if sex work is taking place.
Belize Flag
BelizeLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution in itself is ‘legal’ in Belize, contracting the services of a commercial sex worker is illegal. There are also offenses such as pimping, owning or operating a brothel, or living off the proceeds of prostitution, which are punishable by law.
Bahamas Flag
BahamasLimited LegalityAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
  • Sex trafficking is a problem on the island
Brazil Flag
BrazilLegalAbolitionism
  • It is illegal to profit from the prostitution of others; to maintain a house for the purpose of prostitution and to entice or procure a woman for prostitution.
Bangladesh Flag
BangladeshLegalLegalization
  • Solicitation still illegal.
Ethiopia Flag
EthiopiaLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
DR Congo Flag
DR CongoLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Turkey Flag
TurkeyLegalLegalization
  • Organized and regulated.
Germany Flag
GermanyLegalLegalization
  • Organized and regulated.
Italy Flag
ItalyLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution in Italy (Italian: prostituzione), defined as the exchange of sexual acts for money, is legal, although organized prostitution, whether indoors in brothels or controlled by third parties, is prohibited.
Kenya Flag
KenyaLegalAbolitionism
  • The Kenyan Penal Code does not criminalize sex work. However, it criminalizes third parties who live on the earnings of prostitution
Colombia Flag
ColombiaLegalLegalization
  • Organized and regulated. Inconsistent enforcement.
Argentina Flag
ArgentinaLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Poland Flag
PolandLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Mozambique Flag
MozambiqueLegalLegalization
Peru Flag
PeruLegalLegalization
  • Organized and regulated.
Madagascar Flag
MadagascarLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Ivory Coast Flag
Ivory CoastLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Venezuela Flag
VenezuelaLegalLegalization
  • Organized and regulated.
Malawi Flag
MalawiLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Zambia Flag
ZambiaLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal. Lax enforcement.
Kazakhstan Flag
KazakhstanLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Chile Flag
ChileLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal and regulated under Article 41 of the Codigo Sanitario.
  • Brothel keeping and procuring for prostitution are illegal.
Senegal Flag
SenegalLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Guatemala Flag
GuatemalaLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution and brothels legal, pimping illegal.
Netherlands Flag
NetherlandsLegalLegalization
  • Organized and regulated.
Ecuador Flag
EcuadorLegalLegalization
  • Organized and regulated. Inconsistent enforcement.
Bolivia Flag
BoliviaLegalLegalization
  • Organized and regulated.
Belgium Flag
BelgiumLegalLegalization
  • Human trafficking or exploiting individuals involved in prostitution is punishable by a maximum prison sentence of 30 years.
Dominican Republic Flag
Dominican RepublicLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Honduras Flag
HondurasLegalAbolitionism
  • Although adult prostitution is legal for adults over the age of 18 and relatively widespread, the law prohibits promoting or facilitating prostitution.
Czech Republic Flag
Czech RepublicLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, but unregulated.
  • Organized prostitution (brothels, prostitution rings, pimping, etc.) is prohibited
Portugal Flag
PortugalLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Greece Flag
GreeceLegalLegalization
  • Organized and regulated. Illegal prostitution also common.
Togo Flag
TogoLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Hungary Flag
HungaryLegalLegalization
  • Organized and regulated.
Switzerland Flag
SwitzerlandLegalLegalization
  • Organized and regulated. Pimping and forced prostitution still illegal.
Sierra Leone Flag
Sierra LeoneLegalAbolitionism
  • Soliciting and 3rd party involvement are prohibited by the Sexual Offences Act 2012.
Hong Kong Flag
Hong KongLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Kyrgyzstan Flag
KyrgyzstanLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Nicaragua Flag
NicaraguaLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Denmark Flag
DenmarkLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution in Denmark was decriminalised in 1999, but certain related activities remain illegal. Both buying and selling sexual services are legal, but activities such as operating brothels and pimping are illegal, as is prostitution by non-residents.
Lebanon Flag
LebanonLegalLegalization
  • Prostitution in Lebanon is nominally legal and regulated. However, no licences have been issued since 1975
  • Sex trafficking, therefore, is a problem in Lebanon.[6]
Central African Republic Flag
Central African RepublicLegalAbolitionism
  • Profiting off the prostitution of others is illegal, as is coercing people into prostitution.
  • Human trafficking and Child prostitution is a problem in the country
New Zealand Flag
New ZealandLegalLegalization
  • Prostitution was decriminalized under the Prostitution Reform Act 2003.
Costa Rica Flag
Costa RicaLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Panama Flag
PanamaLegalLegalization
  • Organized and regulated.
Eritrea Flag
EritreaLegalLegalization
Uruguay Flag
UruguayLegalLegalization
  • Organized and regulated.
Guinea-Bissau Flag
Guinea-BissauLegalDecriminalization
Latvia Flag
LatviaLegalLegalization
  • Prostitution is legal and regulated under Cabinet Regulation No. 32 Regarding Restriction of Prostitution 2008.
  • Sex trafficking, child prostitution, and HIV are all problems in Latvia.
Trinidad and Tobago Flag
Trinidad and TobagoLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Timor-Leste Flag
Timor-LesteLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Cyprus Flag
CyprusLegalAbolitionism
  • It is illegal to operate brothels, organize prostitution rings, live off the profits of prostitution, encourage prostitution or force a person to engage in prostitution. Buying and selling sex are not illegal.
Estonia Flag
EstoniaLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
Cape Verde Flag
Cape VerdeLegalDecriminalization
  • Sex trafficking and child prostitution still illegal.
Monaco Flag
MonacoLegalAbolitionism
  • Prostitution is legal, brothels and solicitation illegal.
United States Flag
United StatesIllegal/LegalProhibitionism/Legalization
  • Illegal in 49.5 of 50 states, but still prevalent.
China Flag
ChinaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Frequent legal exception: happy ending massages.
Pakistan Flag
PakistanIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still common despite steep penalties.
Russia Flag
RussiaIllegalProhibitionism
Egypt Flag
EgyptIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still exists, but not prevalent.
  • Prostitution is illegal under Article 9(c) of Law No. 10/1961 on the Combating of Prostitution.
Philippines Flag
PhilippinesIllegalProhibitionism
  • Illegal but tolerated.
Vietnam Flag
VietnamIllegalProhibitionism
Iran Flag
IranIllegalProhibitionism
  • Repeat offenders may be executed.
Thailand Flag
ThailandIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Tanzania Flag
TanzaniaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
South Africa Flag
South AfricaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Myanmar Flag
MyanmarIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
South Korea Flag
South KoreaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Illegal but tolerated.
Uganda Flag
UgandaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Iraq Flag
IraqIllegalProhibitionism
  • Buyer, seller, & organizer all liable. Steep penalties.
Afghanistan Flag
AfghanistanIllegalProhibitionism
  • Sex outside of marriage is punishable by death.
  • The law against prostitution is expressed as a law against 'debauchery', 'immorality' or other such term.
  • Many observers considered ‘temporary marriages’ a form of prostitution. Temporary marriages lasted from one day to a few months, in exchange for a dowry.”
Yemen Flag
YemenIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Angola Flag
AngolaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Lax enforcement.
  • Child prostitution is a problem in the country.
Ukraine Flag
UkraineIllegalProhibitionism
  • Illegal but tolerated.
Morocco Flag
MoroccoIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Uzbekistan Flag
UzbekistanIllegalProhibitionism
  • Lax enforcement.
Ghana Flag
GhanaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Saudi Arabia Flag
Saudi ArabiaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Steep penalties.
Cameroon Flag
CameroonIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Nepal Flag
NepalIllegalProhibitionism
Niger Flag
NigerIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
North Korea Flag
North KoreaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Prevalence unclear
Syria Flag
SyriaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Lax enforcement.
Sri Lanka Flag
Sri LankaIllegalProhibitionism
Taiwan Flag
TaiwanIllegalProhibitionism
  • Technically legal in "special zones" ... none of which exist.
Chad Flag
ChadIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Somalia Flag
SomaliaIllegalProhibitionism
Cambodia Flag
CambodiaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Zimbabwe Flag
ZimbabweIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Rwanda Flag
RwandaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Burundi Flag
BurundiIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Tunisia Flag
TunisiaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Legal in two small areas of country only.
Haiti Flag
HaitiIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Jordan Flag
JordanIllegalProhibitionism
  • Illegal but tolerated.
United Arab Emirates Flag
United Arab EmiratesIllegalProhibitionism
  • Steep penalties.
Papua New Guinea Flag
Papua New GuineaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Illegal but tolerated.
Azerbaijan Flag
AzerbaijanIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Belarus Flag
BelarusIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
  • Sex trafficking is a problem in the country
Laos Flag
LaosIllegalProhibitionism
Turkmenistan Flag
TurkmenistanIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Libya Flag
LibyaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Palestine Flag
PalestineIllegalProhibitionism
  • Reportedly still legal in city of Ramallah
Oman Flag
OmanIllegalProhibitionism
Kuwait Flag
KuwaitIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Croatia Flag
CroatiaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Georgia Flag
GeorgiaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Mongolia Flag
MongoliaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Qatar Flag
QatarIllegalProhibitionism
  • Steep penalties.
Moldova Flag
MoldovaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Jamaica Flag
JamaicaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Prostitution is illegal under Article 23 of the Sexual Offences Act 2011.
Lithuania Flag
LithuaniaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Gambia Flag
GambiaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Albania Flag
AlbaniaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Prostitution is illegal under Article 113 of the Criminal Code.
Bahrain Flag
BahrainIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still exists, but not prevalent.
  • Sex trafficking is a problem in the country
Eswatini Flag
EswatiniIllegalProhibitionism
  • Illegal but tolerated.
Djibouti Flag
DjiboutiIllegalProhibitionism
  • Illegal but tolerated.
Guyana Flag
GuyanaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Bhutan Flag
BhutanIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still exists, but not prevalent. Sex trafficking is a problem in the country.
Suriname Flag
SurinameIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread. Lax enforcement.
Maldives Flag
MaldivesIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still exists, but not prevalent.
Brunei Flag
BruneiIllegalProhibitionism
Iceland Flag
IcelandIllegalNeo-Abolitionism
  • Selling is legal, but buying, organizing, solicitation illegal. Still widespread.
Barbados Flag
BarbadosIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still exists, but not prevalent.
Samoa Flag
SamoaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Still widespread.
Antigua and Barbuda Flag
Antigua and BarbudaIllegalProhibitionism
  • Prostitution is illegal under Article 22 of the Sexual Offences Act 1995.
  • Prostitution today is legal in many countries, though several different models of legality exist, including:
  • Legalization: Prostitution is legal and governmen regulations exist, such as health checks, registration, and zoning laws, with the aim of ensuring the safety of both workers and clients.
  • Abolitionism: Prostitution is technically legal, but the law aims to reduce or eliminate it by criminalizing related activities like brothel ownership, pimping, or solicitation. The intent is to discourage the commercial sex trade and reduce exploitation without directly punishing sex workers.
  • Neo-Abolitionism: /very similar to Abolitionism. Sex workers are legally innocent and selling sex remains legal, but it is illegal to buy sex and for third parties (such as pimps or brothels) to profit from it.
  • Prohibitionism: Prostitution is illegal across the board and in all forms.
  • Decriminalization: Prostitution is legal (or unaddressed by the law) and is regulated only minimally, if at all.