Prostitution Prostitution laws in Micronesia (Federated States of)
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.
Legal model
Selling and buying prohibited. Selling sex is an offence (criminal or administrative), whether or not buying is.
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.[1][2][3]
Regional differences
- Chuuk Selling and buying prohibited: Prostitution, defined to include the customer, and taking part or aiding in it are misdemeanours (§9025 Chuuk State Code).[1]
- Pohnpei Selling and buying prohibited: Engaging in prostitution and hiring a person for sex (61 PC §8-112) and pandering (61 PC §8-111) are offences.[2]
- Kosrae: No prostitution offence was found in the criminal chapters of Title 13 of the Kosrae State Code as published; this is not confirmation that none exists.[4]
- Yap: No prostitution offence was found in the Yap Penal Code (Title 11) chapters as published; this is not confirmation that none exists.[5]
At a glance
| Question | Status | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Selling sexual services | Varies | Selling sex is an offence in Chuuk (misdemeanour: up to one year, or a fine of not less than $500 per violation, or both) and Pohnpei (up to six months or a $500 fine, or both). No offence was found in the Kosrae or Yap codes.[1][2][4][5] |
| Buying sexual services | Varies | Chuuk's definition of prostitution covers acting 'as a customer of a prostitute', so clients commit the §9025 offence. In Pohnpei a person who 'aids another in the practice of prostitution by hiring such other person' for sex is guilty of prostitution. No offence was found in Kosrae or Yap.[1][2] |
| Brothels and managed venues | Varies | No brothel-specific offence was found. In Chuuk, running a venue would fall under 'in any way taking part or aiding in prostitution'; in Pohnpei, under pandering where the operator induces people into prostitution or is paid for procuring them.[1][2] |
| Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping) | Varies | Pohnpei penalises pandering, defined as causing or inducing a person to engage in prostitution by promises, threats or any scheme, or receiving or giving money for procuring a person for prostitution (up to one year or $500). Chuuk penalises aiding in prostitution. At national level, the trafficking provisions of the FSM Code (Title 11, added by PL 17-38) define exploitation to include obtaining a benefit from another person's prostitution.[1][2][3] |
| Advertising sexual services | Varies | No advertising-specific offence was found. In Chuuk 'offering … to perform' a sexual act for hire is itself prostitution, which would cover a sex worker's own ad, and publishing ads for others could amount to 'aiding'; Pohnpei's offences do not address offers.[1] |
The law in detail
Selling sexual services
Selling sex is an offence in Chuuk (misdemeanour: up to one year, or a fine of not less than $500 per violation, or both) and Pohnpei (up to six months or a $500 fine, or both). No offence was found in the Kosrae or Yap codes.[1][2][4][5]
Confidence: medium. Read from the state codes on the FSM Legal Information System (fsmlaw.org); the Chuuk State Code there is marked as a draft compilation and the Pohnpei Code is a 2012 advance copy.
Checked 30 October 2026
Buying sexual services
Chuuk's definition of prostitution covers acting 'as a customer of a prostitute', so clients commit the §9025 offence. In Pohnpei a person who 'aids another in the practice of prostitution by hiring such other person' for sex is guilty of prostitution. No offence was found in Kosrae or Yap.[1][2]
Confidence: medium. Read from the state codes on the FSM Legal Information System (fsmlaw.org); the Chuuk State Code there is marked as a draft compilation and the Pohnpei Code is a 2012 advance copy.
Checked 30 October 2026
Brothels and managed venues
No brothel-specific offence was found. In Chuuk, running a venue would fall under 'in any way taking part or aiding in prostitution'; in Pohnpei, under pandering where the operator induces people into prostitution or is paid for procuring them.[1][2]
Confidence: low. Read from the state codes on the FSM Legal Information System (fsmlaw.org); the Chuuk State Code there is marked as a draft compilation and the Pohnpei Code is a 2012 advance copy. Application to venues is an inference from the wording.
Checked 30 October 2026
Third parties profiting (procuring / pimping)
Pohnpei penalises pandering, defined as causing or inducing a person to engage in prostitution by promises, threats or any scheme, or receiving or giving money for procuring a person for prostitution (up to one year or $500). Chuuk penalises aiding in prostitution. At national level, the trafficking provisions of the FSM Code (Title 11, added by PL 17-38) define exploitation to include obtaining a benefit from another person's prostitution.[1][2][3]
Confidence: medium. Read from the state codes on the FSM Legal Information System (fsmlaw.org); the Chuuk State Code there is marked as a draft compilation and the Pohnpei Code is a 2012 advance copy.
Checked 30 October 2026
Advertising sexual services
No advertising-specific offence was found. In Chuuk 'offering … to perform' a sexual act for hire is itself prostitution, which would cover a sex worker's own ad, and publishing ads for others could amount to 'aiding'; Pohnpei's offences do not address offers.[1]
Confidence: low. Inference from the statutory definitions; no case law or guidance on advertising or platform liability was found, and electronic-communications laws were not reviewed.
Checked 30 October 2026
Key legislation
| Law | What it does here | In force |
|---|---|---|
| Chuuk State Code, Title 12, Chapter 28, Prohibition on Certain Forms of Vice Chuuk State Code, Title 12, Chapter 28 (Prohibition on Certain Forms of Vice) §9021 · §9025 | Defines prostitution to include customers (§9021(6)) and prohibits prostitution and taking part or aiding in it (§9025).[1] | |
| Code of the State of Pohnpei, 2012 Edition (Advance Copy) Code of the State of Pohnpei, 2012 Edition, Title 61 (Criminal Law), Chapter 8 61 PC §8-111 · 61 PC §8-112 | Pandering (§8-111) and prostitution, including hiring (§8-112).[2] |
Sources
- Chuuk State Code, Title 12, Chapter 28, Prohibition on Certain Forms of Vice. FSM Supreme Court, FSM Legal Information System. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Code of the State of Pohnpei, 2012 Edition (Advance Copy). FSM Supreme Court, FSM Legal Information System, 2012. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- FSM Code, Title 11 (Crimes), Chapter 6, Subchapter II, Trafficking in Persons. FSM Supreme Court, FSM Legal Information System. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Kosrae State Code, Title 13, Chapter 5, Offenses Against the Public Welfare and Tradition. FSM Supreme Court, FSM Legal Information System. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026
- Yap State Code (index, Title 11 Crimes and Punishment). FSM Supreme Court, FSM Legal Information System. legislation · accessed 30 October 2026