# Prostitution Laws

> How the world’s countries regulate prostitution, sourced to the statute. A world map and 196 country entries (15 full profiles, the rest overviews) on how prostitution and sex work are regulated: the legal model, whether selling, buying, brothels, procuring and advertising are legal, the penalties, the statutes, pending bills and statistics, each fact tied to an official source and dated.

This describes the law; it is not legal advice. Laws change and local rules vary: check the linked official sources, and consult a lawyer before relying on it. Text and data are CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/): reuse them with the credit "Source: Prostitution Laws (prostitutionlaws.org)" and a link.

Every page answers the same questions; the legal models are: Decriminalisation; Regulation (legal & licensed); Legal, organisation banned; Buying criminalised (Nordic model); Selling and buying prohibited.

## Data

- [Country index (JSON)](https://prostitutionlaws.org/data/index.json): one small entry per country: legal model, the status of each question, pending bills, region, links
- [One country (JSON)](https://prostitutionlaws.org/data/countries/de.json): the full profile with every source, at /data/countries/<ISO 3166 alpha-2, lower case>.json
- [Everything (JSON)](https://prostitutionlaws.org/data/countries.json): all profiles in one file
- [Everything (CSV)](https://prostitutionlaws.org/data/countries.csv): one row per country, the model and the status of each question
- [Changes (RSS)](https://prostitutionlaws.org/changes.xml): new and updated entries
- [OpenAPI description](https://prostitutionlaws.org/openapi.json): the endpoints above, OpenAPI 3.1
- [Developers](https://prostitutionlaws.org/developers/): the data API, the remote MCP server (https://prostitutionlaws.org/mcp) and the A2A agent (https://prostitutionlaws.org/a2a)

## Guides

- [Where is prostitution legal?](https://prostitutionlaws.org/where-is-prostitution-legal/): all countries in one sortable table
- [Compare countries](https://prostitutionlaws.org/compare/): the table view of the map
- [What's changing](https://prostitutionlaws.org/changes/): pending bills and reforms
- [EU and international law](https://prostitutionlaws.org/europe/): the EU, Council of Europe and ECtHR instruments that bear on sex work and adult advertising
- [Methodology](https://prostitutionlaws.org/methodology/): the models, the questions and the sourcing rules
- [About](https://prostitutionlaws.org/about/): who maintains the site, corrections, licence

## Countries

### Europe

- [Albania](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/albania.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Andorra](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/andorra.md): Buying criminalised (Nordic model)
- [Armenia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/armenia.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Austria](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/austria.md): Regulation (legal & licensed)
- [Azerbaijan](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/azerbaijan.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Belarus](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/belarus.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Belgium](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/belgium.md): Decriminalisation (full profile)
- [Bosnia and Herzegovina](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bosnia-and-herzegovina.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Bulgaria](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bulgaria.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Croatia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/croatia.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Cyprus](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cyprus.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Czechia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/czechia.md): Legal, organisation banned (full profile)
- [Denmark](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/denmark.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Estonia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/estonia.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Finland](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/finland.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [France](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/france.md): Buying criminalised (Nordic model) (full profile)
- [Georgia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/georgia.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Germany](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/germany.md): Regulation (legal & licensed) (full profile)
- [Greece](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/greece.md): Regulation (legal & licensed)
- [Hungary](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/hungary.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Iceland](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/iceland.md): Buying criminalised (Nordic model)
- [Ireland](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/ireland.md): Buying criminalised (Nordic model)
- [Italy](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/italy.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Kosovo](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kosovo.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Latvia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/latvia.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Liechtenstein](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/liechtenstein.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Lithuania](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/lithuania.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Luxembourg](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/luxembourg.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Malta](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/malta.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Moldova](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/moldova.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Monaco](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/monaco.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Montenegro](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/montenegro.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Netherlands](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/netherlands.md): Regulation (legal & licensed) (full profile)
- [North Macedonia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/north-macedonia.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Norway](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/norway.md): Buying criminalised (Nordic model)
- [Poland](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/poland.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Portugal](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/portugal.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Romania](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/romania.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Russia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/russia.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [San Marino](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/san-marino.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Serbia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/serbia.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Slovakia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/slovakia.md): Legal, organisation banned (full profile)
- [Slovenia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/slovenia.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Spain](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/spain.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Sweden](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/sweden.md): Buying criminalised (Nordic model) (full profile)
- [Switzerland](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/switzerland.md): Regulation (legal & licensed)
- [Turkey](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/turkey.md): Regulation (legal & licensed)
- [Ukraine](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/ukraine.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [United Kingdom](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/united-kingdom.md): Legal, organisation banned (full profile)

### North America

- [Canada](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/canada.md): Buying criminalised (Nordic model) (full profile)
- [United States](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/united-states.md): Selling and buying prohibited (full profile)

### Latin America & Caribbean

- [Antigua and Barbuda](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/antigua-and-barbuda.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Argentina](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/argentina.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Bahamas](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bahamas.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Barbados](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/barbados.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Belize](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/belize.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Bolivia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bolivia.md): Regulation (legal & licensed)
- [Brazil](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/brazil.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Chile](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/chile.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Colombia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/colombia.md): Regulation (legal & licensed)
- [Costa Rica](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/costa-rica.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Cuba](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cuba.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Dominica](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/dominica.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Dominican Republic](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/dominican-republic.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Ecuador](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/ecuador.md): Regulation (legal & licensed)
- [El Salvador](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/el-salvador.md): Buying criminalised (Nordic model)
- [Grenada](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/grenada.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Guatemala](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/guatemala.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Guyana](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/guyana.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Haiti](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/haiti.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Honduras](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/honduras.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Jamaica](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/jamaica.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Mexico](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mexico.md): Legal, organisation banned (full profile)
- [Nicaragua](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/nicaragua.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Panama](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/panama.md): Regulation (legal & licensed)
- [Paraguay](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/paraguay.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Peru](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/peru.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Saint Kitts and Nevis](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/saint-kitts-and-nevis.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Saint Lucia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/saint-lucia.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Saint Vincent and the Grenadines](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/saint-vincent-and-the-grenadines.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Suriname](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/suriname.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Trinidad and Tobago](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/trinidad-and-tobago.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Uruguay](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/uruguay.md): Regulation (legal & licensed)
- [Venezuela](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/venezuela.md): Legal, organisation banned

### Middle East & North Africa

- [Algeria](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/algeria.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Bahrain](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bahrain.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Egypt](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/egypt.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Iran](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/iran.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Iraq](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/iraq.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Israel](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/israel.md): Buying criminalised (Nordic model)
- [Jordan](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/jordan.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Kuwait](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kuwait.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Lebanon](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/lebanon.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Libya](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/libya.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Morocco](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/morocco.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Oman](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/oman.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Qatar](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/qatar.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Saudi Arabia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/saudi-arabia.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Sudan](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/sudan.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Syria](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/syria.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Tunisia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/tunisia.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [United Arab Emirates](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/united-arab-emirates.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Yemen](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/yemen.md): Selling and buying prohibited

### Sub-Saharan Africa

- [Angola](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/angola.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Benin](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/benin.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Botswana](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/botswana.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Burkina Faso](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/burkina-faso.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Burundi](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/burundi.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Cabo Verde](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cabo-verde.md): Decriminalisation
- [Cameroon](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cameroon.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Central African Republic](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/central-african-republic.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Chad](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/chad.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Comoros](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/comoros.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Côte d'Ivoire](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cote-d-ivoire.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Democratic Republic of the Congo](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/democratic-republic-of-the-congo.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Djibouti](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/djibouti.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Eritrea](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/eritrea.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Eswatini](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/eswatini.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Ethiopia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/ethiopia.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Gabon](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/gabon.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Ghana](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/ghana.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Guinea](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/guinea.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Guinea-Bissau](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/guinea-bissau.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Kenya](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kenya.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Lesotho](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/lesotho.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Liberia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/liberia.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Madagascar](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/madagascar.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Malawi](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/malawi.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Mali](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mali.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Mauritania](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mauritania.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Mauritius](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mauritius.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Mozambique](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mozambique.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Namibia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/namibia.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Niger](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/niger.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Nigeria](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/nigeria.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Republic of the Congo](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/republic-of-the-congo.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Rwanda](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/rwanda.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [São Tomé and Príncipe](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/sao-tome-and-principe.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Senegal](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/senegal.md): Regulation (legal & licensed)
- [Seychelles](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/seychelles.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Sierra Leone](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/sierra-leone.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Somalia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/somalia.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [South Africa](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/south-africa.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [South Sudan](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/south-sudan.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Tanzania](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/tanzania.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [The Gambia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/the-gambia.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Togo](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/togo.md): Buying criminalised (Nordic model)
- [Uganda](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/uganda.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Zambia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/zambia.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Zimbabwe](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/zimbabwe.md): Legal, organisation banned

### Asia

- [Afghanistan](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/afghanistan.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Bangladesh](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bangladesh.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Bhutan](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/bhutan.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Brunei](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/brunei.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Cambodia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/cambodia.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [China](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/china.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Hong Kong](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/hong-kong.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [India](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/india.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Indonesia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/indonesia.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Japan](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/japan.md): Legal, organisation banned (full profile)
- [Kazakhstan](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kazakhstan.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Kyrgyzstan](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kyrgyzstan.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Laos](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/laos.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Macau](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/macau.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Malaysia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/malaysia.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Maldives](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/maldives.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Mongolia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/mongolia.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Myanmar](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/myanmar.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Nepal](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/nepal.md): Buying criminalised (Nordic model)
- [North Korea](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/north-korea.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Pakistan](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/pakistan.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Philippines](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/philippines.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Singapore](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/singapore.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [South Korea](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/south-korea.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Sri Lanka](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/sri-lanka.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Taiwan](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/taiwan.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Tajikistan](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/tajikistan.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Thailand](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/thailand.md): Selling and buying prohibited (full profile)
- [Timor-Leste](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/timor-leste.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Turkmenistan](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/turkmenistan.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Uzbekistan](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/uzbekistan.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Vietnam](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/vietnam.md): Selling and buying prohibited

### Oceania

- [Australia](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/australia.md): Decriminalisation (full profile)
- [Fiji](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/fiji.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Kiribati](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/kiribati.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Marshall Islands](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/marshall-islands.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Micronesia (Federated States of)](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/micronesia-federated-states-of.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Nauru](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/nauru.md): Buying criminalised (Nordic model)
- [New Zealand](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/new-zealand.md): Decriminalisation (full profile)
- [Palau](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/palau.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Papua New Guinea](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/papua-new-guinea.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Samoa](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/samoa.md): Selling and buying prohibited
- [Solomon Islands](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/solomon-islands.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Tonga](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/tonga.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Tuvalu](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/tuvalu.md): Legal, organisation banned
- [Vanuatu](https://prostitutionlaws.org/countries/vanuatu.md): Legal, organisation banned

## Optional

- [Data and graphics](https://prostitutionlaws.org/data/): downloads, the embeddable map and share graphics
- AI agents: the remote MCP server https://prostitutionlaws.org/mcp and the A2A agent https://prostitutionlaws.org/a2a (Agent Card at /.well-known/agent-card.json) offer read-only tools (get_country_law, compare_countries, find_countries, list_pending_changes, list_countries); every page also registers them as WebMCP tools