Prostitution Prostitution laws in MauritiusMaurice
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.
Legal model
Legal, organisation banned. Selling and buying are legal, but brothels, procuring and organising are criminal offences.
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.[1][2]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Restricted Breach: criminal offence | Selling sex is not itself an offence. A "common prostitute" who is found wandering in any public place and behaving in a riotous or indecent manner is deemed an idle and disorderly person and is liable to a fine of up to 50,000 rupees and imprisonment of up to one year (Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act s. 26(1)(b) and (3)).[1][2] |
| Buying sexual services | Legal | No offence of buying sex from an adult was found in the Criminal Code or the Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act. Section 253 of the Criminal Code punishes those who, "to gratify the passions of another and for gain", procure or exploit a person's prostitution, which describes third parties rather than clients.[1] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Illegal Criminal offence | Keeping or managing a brothel, or assisting in it, permitting premises one occupies to be used as a brothel, or letting premises knowing they are to be used as one, is punishable by a fine of up to 200,000 rupees together with up to 10 years' imprisonment. A "brothel" is any premises resorted to by persons of both sexes for the purpose of prostitution. Prosecution requires the direction of the Director of Public Prosecutions.[2] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Illegal Criminal offence | Anyone who, to gratify the passions of another and for gain, procures, entices or leads away a person for prostitution, exploits or is an accomplice in the prostitution of another even with consent, or draws a benefit from or shares the earnings of a person who habitually engages in prostitution, faces up to 20 years and a fine of up to 200,000 rupees. Gain is not required where the person is under 18, is to be sent abroad, or where fraud, threats or violence are used.[1] |
| Advertising sexual services | Restricted Breach: criminal offence | No offence specifically on advertising sexual services was found. A third party who publishes such advertisements for gain could fall under s. 253 as an accomplice in exploiting another person's prostitution, and advertising how obscene matter can be obtained is an offence under s. 86 of the Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act (fine up to 100,000 rupees and up to one year).[1][2] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Selling sex is not itself an offence. A "common prostitute" who is found wandering in any public place and behaving in a riotous or indecent manner is deemed an idle and disorderly person and is liable to a fine of up to 50,000 rupees and imprisonment of up to one year (Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act s. 26(1)(b) and (3)).[1][2]
Note. Statute read in the Attorney General's Office consolidated text. How often s. 26 is used against sex workers was not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
No offence of buying sex from an adult was found in the Criminal Code or the Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act. Section 253 of the Criminal Code punishes those who, "to gratify the passions of another and for gain", procure or exploit a person's prostitution, which describes third parties rather than clients.[1]
Confidence: medium. Absence of an offence inferred from the two codes; other statutes (e.g. on children or trafficking) were not searched exhaustively. Sexual activity with a minor is separately criminalised.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
Keeping or managing a brothel, or assisting in it, permitting premises one occupies to be used as a brothel, or letting premises knowing they are to be used as one, is punishable by a fine of up to 200,000 rupees together with up to 10 years' imprisonment. A "brothel" is any premises resorted to by persons of both sexes for the purpose of prostitution. Prosecution requires the direction of the Director of Public Prosecutions.[2]
Note. Whether a sex worker working alone from her own premises falls within the "persons of both sexes" definition was not checked against case law.
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Anyone who, to gratify the passions of another and for gain, procures, entices or leads away a person for prostitution, exploits or is an accomplice in the prostitution of another even with consent, or draws a benefit from or shares the earnings of a person who habitually engages in prostitution, faces up to 20 years and a fine of up to 200,000 rupees. Gain is not required where the person is under 18, is to be sent abroad, or where fraud, threats or violence are used.[1]
Note. Penalty as in the Attorney General's consolidated text (s. 253 last amended by Act 36 of 2008).
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
No offence specifically on advertising sexual services was found. A third party who publishes such advertisements for gain could fall under s. 253 as an accomplice in exploiting another person's prostitution, and advertising how obscene matter can be obtained is an offence under s. 86 of the Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act (fine up to 100,000 rupees and up to one year).[1][2]
Confidence: low. Classification inferred from general provisions; no case law on adverts or websites was found. Information and communication technology legislation was not checked.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal Code (Cap. 195), Revised Laws of Mauritius C57 Criminal Code (Cap. 195) s. 253 | Section 253 criminalises procuring, enticing and exploiting the prostitution of another and sharing in its earnings.[1] | |
| Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act (Cap. 196), Revised Laws of Mauritius C58 Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act (Cap. 196) s. 26 · s. 86 · s. 90 | Section 90 criminalises brothel keeping and letting premises for a brothel; s. 26 makes riotous or indecent public conduct by a sex worker an idle-and-disorderly offence; s. 86 covers obscene matter.[2] |
Timeline
- 29 December 1838The Criminal Code (Cap. 195), based on the French Code pénal, is enacted; it remains the main penal statute.[1]
- 7 November 1870The Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act (Cap. 196) is enacted; it later carries the brothel-keeping and idle-and-disorderly offences.[2]
- 6 December 2008Act 36 of 2008 takes effect, amending the procuring offence (Criminal Code s. 253) and the brothel-keeping offence (Cap. 196 s. 90), among others.[1][2]
Sources
- Criminal Code (Cap. 195), Revised Laws of Mauritius C57. Attorney General's Office, Republic of Mauritius. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Criminal Code (Supplementary) Act (Cap. 196), Revised Laws of Mauritius C58. Attorney General's Office, Republic of Mauritius. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026