Prostitution laws in DenmarkDanmark
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.
Legal model
Legal, organisation banned. Selling and buying are legal, but brothels, procuring and organising are criminal offences.
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.[1][2]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Legal | Selling sex as an adult is not an offence. The Penal Code's prostitution provisions punish those who run, exploit or mediate the prostitution of others, not the person selling.[1][2] |
| Buying sexual services | Legal | Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Having sexual intercourse or another sexual act with a person under 18 for payment or a promise of payment is punishable by a fine or up to two years.[1] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Running a business in which another person has sex with customers for payment is procuring (rufferi), punishable by up to four years. Renting out a hotel room for commercial prostitution carries a fine or up to one year.[1][2][3] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Otherwise exploiting another person's commercial prostitution, or promoting it by acting as an intermediary for gain or repeatedly, is punishable by a fine or up to three years. Inducing someone into prostitution by deception or other improper means carries a fine or up to two years.[1][3] |
| Advertising sexual services | Legal | There is no specific offence of advertising sexual services, and sex workers advertise in print and online media. Media that publish such adverts for payment could in principle be prosecuted as intermediaries under § 233(2), but a long-standing practice has been not to prosecute them.[1][2] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Selling sex as an adult is not an offence. The Penal Code's prostitution provisions punish those who run, exploit or mediate the prostitution of others, not the person selling.[1][2]
The 2022 working group report notes that the purpose of the procuring provision is not to reach the person who sells their own services but whoever profits from the services of others.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
Buying sex from an adult is not an offence. Having sexual intercourse or another sexual act with a person under 18 for payment or a promise of payment is punishable by a fine or up to two years.[1]
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Running a business in which another person has sex with customers for payment is procuring (rufferi), punishable by up to four years. Renting out a hotel room for commercial prostitution carries a fine or up to one year.[1][2][3]
Since the 2013 reform the offence is defined by running a business in which another person sells sex, not by the type of venue. According to the 2022 Ministry of Justice report it applies whether or not the operator made or intended to make a profit.
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Otherwise exploiting another person's commercial prostitution, or promoting it by acting as an intermediary for gain or repeatedly, is punishable by a fine or up to three years. Inducing someone into prostitution by deception or other improper means carries a fine or up to two years.[1][3]
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
There is no specific offence of advertising sexual services, and sex workers advertise in print and online media. Media that publish such adverts for payment could in principle be prosecuted as intermediaries under § 233(2), but a long-standing practice has been not to prosecute them.[1][2]
The Ministry of Justice working group on digital sexual offences (June 2022) concluded that sugar-dating services and paid advertising of prostitution in print or electronic media can fall under § 233(2), second sentence (intermediary activity), and that independent mediation of contact between a seller and a customer through online advertising seems to be the core area of that provision. It noted the practice of not prosecuting media that carry prostitution adverts, said that prosecuting them was a political choice, and suggested that if the practice is to continue the provision should be considered for repeal. It recommended that any change of practice be made by law and apply only to future conduct.
Confidence: medium. We found no later legislation acting on the 2022 working group's analysis, but did not confirm the current prosecution practice directly with the prosecution service.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Bekendtgørelse af straffeloven (LBK nr 1294 af 07/11/2025) Penal Code (Consolidated Act No. 1294 of 7 November 2025) § 224 · § 225 · § 233 · § 233 a | § 233 (procuring, exploitation, intermediaries, hotel rooms), § 233 a (inducement) and § 224 (paid sex with persons under 18).[1] | |
| Lov om ændring af straffeloven, retsplejeloven, lov om tilhold, opholdsforbud og bortvisning og lov om restaurationsvirksomhed og alkoholbevilling m.v. (Seksualforbrydelser) (LOV nr 633 af 12/06/2013) Act No. 633 of 12 June 2013 amending the Penal Code (sexual offences) § 1 no. 23 | Replaced § 233 with the current procuring provisions and added § 233 a.[3] | 1 July 2013 |
Pending and under review
Under review · updated 9 February 2026
Working group on the living conditions of people who sell sex
Set up by the previous government, the working group published its final report on 9 February 2026. Its six main conclusions include that unclear legislation makes protection difficult and creates confusion about rights, and that contact with authorities is marked by barriers. The report made no legislative proposals, and the June 2026 government platform of the new four-party government does not mention prostitution.[4][5]
Timeline
- 1 July 2013Act No. 633/2013 in force: § 233 rewritten to cover any business in which others sell sex, plus exploitation and intermediary activity; § 233 a added.[3]
- June 2022Ministry of Justice working group on digital sexual offences concluded that paid advertising of prostitution can fall under the intermediary offence in § 233(2).[2]
- 9 February 2026Government working group published its report on the living conditions of people who sell sex.[4]
Sources
- Bekendtgørelse af straffeloven (LBK nr 1294 af 07/11/2025) (Consolidated Penal Code). Retsinformation (Civilstyrelsen), 7 November 2025. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Rapport fra arbejdsgruppen om digitale krænkelser (Report of the working group on digital sexual offences). Justitsministeriet, June 2022. government · accessed 30 October 2026
- Lov om ændring af straffeloven, retsplejeloven, lov om tilhold, opholdsforbud og bortvisning og lov om restaurationsvirksomhed og alkoholbevilling m.v. (Seksualforbrydelser) (LOV nr 633 af 12/06/2013) (Act amending the Penal Code and other acts (sexual offences)). Retsinformation (Civilstyrelsen), 12 June 2013. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Rapport samler viden om livet for personer, der sælger sex (Report gathers knowledge about the lives of people who sell sex). Rådet for Socialt Udsatte, 9 February 2026. government · accessed 30 October 2026
- Det politiske grundlag for firkløverregeringen (Political platform of the four-party government). Statsministeriet, June 2026. government · accessed 30 October 2026