Where Is Prostitution Legal In The World?

Where Is Prostitution Legal In The World - Photo: KnowInsiders

Prostitution, a word that has been disregarded and looked down upon, for years now. But the harsh truth is, prostitution has always made its place in a country, regardless of its legal status due to abject poverty and unpredictable situations some people go through. Some countries prefer to completely prohibit it while others tend to provide social security benefits to sex workers and treat them on an equal pedestal just like other workers.

What Is Prostitution - The World's Oldest Profession

While prostitution, in reality, is probably not the oldest profession in the world—farmers, hunters, and shepherds were probably around first—the saying dates back to 1888 when Rudyard Kipling began a story about a prostitute with the sentence, “Lalun is a member of the most ancient profession in the world.” Regardless of its status as the “world’s oldest,” prostitution is most certainly one of the most controversial professions, as various cultures have drastically different opinions of sex workers.

Attitudes Change Over Time

Photo: Britannica

Throughout history, civilizations have taken opposing views of prostitutes and the sex trade. In Ancient Greece, for example, prostitutes wore distinctive clothes, paid taxes, and many become very influential within that society. In Ancient Rome, prostitution was legal and widespread, with no attempt to hide such behaviors. During the Middle Ages, the institution was viewed as less than ideal but necessary to protect so-called “innocent” or “respectable” women from the sexual inclinations of medieval young men.

Following the Protestant Reformation and into the Victorian Era, however, social attitudes began to change, as prostitutes were blamed for outbreaks of sexually transmitted diseases and other maladies. This attitude began to take hold, and by the 20th Century, many countries and jurisdictions had begun to outlaw the practice.

Laws in Today’s World

Today, prostitution is illegal in much of the world. In countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, and Mexico, prostitution is legal and regulated by the government. In Brazil, India, and Great Britain, organized brothels are illegal but prostitution is legal. In some countries, it is the act of buying sex—not selling it—that is illegal, while both are illegal in the United States (except for Nevada).

There are also very real concerns regarding human trafficking. Many of the prostitutes in ancient cultures were orphaned children or captured slaves who had little choice regarding their role, but the idea of basic human rights was still taking shape. In many parts of the world today, little has changed in that regard, as young girls—and boys—are often forced into sex work against their will, sometimes after being kidnapped and taken to another country.

Various legal stances on prostitution

Similarly, the world's countries have adopted many different legal approaches regarding exactly which aspects of prostitution are legal or illegal and how best to regulate or eliminate the industry.

• Prohibitionism - Prostitution is illegal (prohibited/criminalized) across the board. Selling, buying, organizing (via brothels, pimps, etc), and soliciting sex for money are all against the law. This approach is common in deeply religious countries, especially countries that outlaw pornography.

• Neo-abolitionism - This philosophy considers prostitution to be violence against women. Selling sex is technically legal—but buying, organizing, and soliciting sex are all illegal. Prostitutes are considered legally blameless when caught in the act, but their clients and pimps (the prostitute's "organizer" or boss) are prosecuted. This "reverse loophole" is designed to suppress demand.

• Abolitionism - The most prevalent approach worldwide. Selling sex and buying sex are both legal. However, in an effort to prevent exploitation of the sex worker, public solicitation; the operation of brothels; and forms of "organization" such as pimping, procuring, and forced prostitution are all usually prohibited.

• Legalization - Selling, buying, and some forms of organizing (typically brothels) and soliciting of sex are legal. But they are also regulated, such as requiring prostitutes to register or only allowing prostitution in certain districts.

• Decriminalization - Selling, buying, organizing, and solicitation of sex are all legal (or simply not addressed in the law at all) and are subject to minimal or no special regulations.

Some countries, such as Australia and the United States, state and local governments may have additional laws regarding prostitution.

It is important to note that a country's laws often fail to paint an accurate picture of the level of prostitution in that country.

For instance, sex workers in many neo-abolitionist countries have found loopholes that have enabled prostitution to thrive despite the seemingly strict laws—for example, prostitutes may offer a perfectly legal service, such as a dance session, that just happens to progress to a sex act as an off-the-clock bonus. Similarly, local law enforcement often takes an opposite stance on prostitution. Especially in tourist areas, local law enforcement is often tolerant of prostitution despite laws that prohibit it ... conversely, law enforcement personnel may harrass, shake down, or even abuse sex workers in countries that have legalized prostitution.

Prostitution is legal and big business across Europe

In Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Greece, Turkey, the Netherlands, Hungary, and Latvia, prostitution is legal and regulated. In other countries, it is legal but not regulated.

Europe's 'biggest brothel' is Germany. While sex work was tolerated as early as the 1800s, the government formally legalized it in 2002. The trade has since exploded into a $16.3 billion a year business with as many as over 1 million sex workers.

In Greece, the economy has been so bad that it has pushed more women into the sex trade, with Athens seeing a 7% increase in sex workers since 2012, even as the price for sex has dropped.

Switzerland and Germany have both pioneered so-called "sex boxes" to eliminate street solicitation. In 2012, the Swiss government spent $2 million to build a facility where sex workers pay a daily fee to work the facility.

Top Countries That Have Legalized Prostitution

1. New Zealand

Prostitution has been legal for Kiwis since 2003. There are even licensed brothels operating under public health and employment laws, which means the workers get social benefits just like other emplyees. Definitely a progressive move.

2. Australia

The legal status of prostitution in Oz differs from state to state. It is decriminalised in some areas, and illegal in other parts. Same goes for for brothel ownership. The Aussies love their fun I suppose.

3. Austria

It is all legal in Austria

Prostitution is completely legal in Austria. Prostitutes are required to register, undergo periodic health examinations, be 19 years old or older, and pay taxes. Despite this, there is a lot of smuggling and forced prostitution here.

4. Bangladesh

Male prostitution is illegal, but everything else is legal. Bangladesh has a severe minor trafficking problem, which is perpetuated by corruption. Pimping and owning a brothel is also legal.

5. Belgium

They have been trying to remove the stigma, violence and fear associated with prostitution by not just legalising it but also running proper state of the art brothels with fingerprint technology and keycards!

6. Brazil

Prostitution in itself is legal here, though you'll totally get busted if you're channeling your inner Snoop Dogg and pimping away to glory.

7. Canada

Sex workers and their allies have held several annual Red Umbrella marches in downtown Vancouver to press for legal reforms to enhance their safety. Conservative and Liberal governments have ignored their concerns

Prostituting yourself is legal, but buying sex became illegal during the end of 2014. This deeply flawed system puts sex workers in a very dangerous and position.

8. Colombia

It is legal to work in the sex industry in Colombia, though pimping isn't. Prostitution is especially widespread in cities such as Cartagena and Barranquilla.

9. Denmark

Prostitution is legal here. The government even helps those with disabilities get laid by incurring the extra costs some of them have to pay.

10. Ecuador

Everything related to sex work is legal here. You can sell your body, run a brothel or be a pimp with no legal ramifications. Forced prostitution is a bit of a problem here though.

11. France

Prostitution is legal in France, though soliciting in public is still outlawed. Pimping is illegal and brothels were outlawed in France in 1946, right after the War.

12. Germany

Prostitution was legalised here in 1927 and there are proper state run brothels. The workers are provided with health insurance, have to pay taxes and they even receive social benefits like pension.

13. Greece

Greece has also followed the German method of including prostitution as an actual job in society. The sex workers get equal rights and have to go for health checkups pretty often.

14. Indonesia

Considering prostitution itself is not even present in their law in any clear form, it's plain to say that the sex trade is legal. This also means that it is very dangerous for forced workers and minors.

15. Netherlands

One of the places most famous for it's red-window sex workers, prostitution is, obviously, legal here, just like a lot of other things. They've always had a slightly more open way of dealing with things deemed taboo elsewhere.

Full List Of Countries Where Prostitution Is Legal

(Until December 2021)

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