This map shows the status of sex work laws ( Includes a few activities surrounding sex work such as brothels and hiring of services) by country. This map includes 234 countries (and territories). This version is intended to be an unofficial comprehensive update from Chartsbin's 2007 version on prostitution laws.
- Number of countries sex work is Criminalised: 127
- Number of countries sex work has a Nordic Model System: 12
- Number of countries sex work is Limited Legal: 51
- Number of countries sex work is Legal: 23
- Number of countries with No laws or scarce information on sex work: 20
- Number of countries sex work is Decriminalised: 2
Sex work in Australia is a mixed system. New South Wales is decriminalisation, South Australia is criminalised and the other States and Territory's various degrees of legal.
The status of sex work laws varies from country to country, from full decriminalisation and considered a profession to being punishable by death. In some jurisdictions, sex work is criminalised. In a few places sex work itself (providing sexual and intimate services) is legal, but most surrounding activities such as soliciting in a public place, operating a brothel and other forms of pimping are illegal, often making it very difficult to do sex work without breaking any laws. This is the Nordic Model System. In some jurisdictions, sex work is legal and regulated by the current government. This means the regulations governing sex work can change as the current governments or public opinions change.
[Adapted from http://chartsbin.com/view/snb]
Editors Notes:
Australia is counted twice as it is both limited and decriminalised.This is also why the bullet point numbers add to 235.
Argentina is Limited Legal.
SOURCES:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Africa
http://prostitution.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000772
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_model https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_by_country
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_prostitution_in_Oceania
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Europe
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9757521
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/ramsi-rejects-solomons-prostitute-claims/2006/11/15/1163266598949.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Jamaica
http://www.redlightaruba.com/ https://books.google.com.au/books?id=AoN_CgAAQBAJ&pg=PA83&lpg=PA83&dq=bermuda+prostitution+laws&source=bl&ots=Wpo3bL14Ck&sig=K-ZRQex42DIS9Qq9OVTQbkhkcRA&hl=en&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwiM9ZbM7tnQAhUHVZQKHcgGCAgQ6AEILTAD#v=onepage&q=bermuda%20prostitution%20laws&f=false
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Benin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Asia
https://www.dol.gov/ilab/reports/child-labor/findings/2013TDA/cookislands.pdf
http://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/bills/bills2011/2011B07.pdf
http://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text.jsp?file_id=198052 h
ttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Tuvalu
http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Protection-of-Women-Ordinance.pdf
http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/sex-women-brothels-in-the-vi
8 years ago
