In 2012 it was estimated that there were between 40 and 42 million prostitutes in the world. [1] The list of countries below provides an estimate for the number of people working as prostitutes in each country. China, India, and the United States are the countries with the most prostitutes.[ citation needed ]
There are a number of difficulties involved in collecting meaningful prostitution statistics. For example, the greater visibility of some forms of prostitution, such as street prostitution, makes statistics on these forms easier to collect. However, in some countries street prostitution forms a much smaller part of the sex industry than indoor prostitution. Similarly sex workers with health, addiction and other support needs are more likely to be known to the authorities and hence easier for researchers to contact, but may not be representative of prostitution as a whole. National Ugly Mugs, a support organisation for sex workers in the United Kingdom, has identified several factors making it difficult to collect statistics for the sex industry, including low response rates, the small scale of research compared to the size of the sex industry, and the diversity of the industry. As a result published statistics are often conflicting and contested. [2]
In countries where prostitution is illegal, the use of arrest data to create general prostitution statistics can be misleading. The majority of prostitutes are never arrested, and those who are, can often be charged with other offences instead. Class bias may be introduced into the statistics as a result of police officers being more likely to arrest street prostitutes than high-class call girls. In comparing one area with another there may be differences in the definition of a crime, the police enforcement rate, and the possibility of the inflation of arrest figures or the under-reporting of crime. [3]
Due to the unregulated and often illegal nature of the work, only estimates are available for the number of prostitutes in a country. The numbers for a country can vary considerably dependent on the source. Some countries' numbers may suffer from poor methodology. In other cases, results may be influenced by whether the organisation producing the numbers is for or against the nature of the work. Where available, figures are taken from Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 2016 "Sex Workers: Size Estimates."
| Country | Number of prostitutes Source: UNAIDS 2016 - 2018 Sex Workers: Size Estimates [4] [5] | Number of prostitutes Other sources and year | Population [6] | Prevalence (prostitutes per 10,000 population) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | 12,500 (2016) | 34,656,032 | 4 | |
| Albania | No data | 5,000 - 30,000 (2006) [7] | 2,926,348 | 17 - 103 |
| Algeria | No data | 40,606,052 | - | |
| Angola | 54,000 (2017) | 28,813,463 | 19 | |
| Antigua and Barbuda | No data | 800 (2014) | 100,963 | 79 |
| Argentina | 74,900 (2014) | 43,847,430 | 17 | |
| Armenia | 9,000 (2018) | 2,924,816 | 30 | |
| Australia | 20,500 (2012) | 20,000 (2017) [8] | 24,125,848 | 8 |
| Austria | No data | 30,000 (2013) [9] | 8,712,137 | 34 |
| Azerbaijan | 13,800 (2018) | 9,725,376 | 14 | |
| Bahamas | 3,035 (2016) | 391,232 | 78 | |
| Bahrain | No data | 13,500 (2007) [10] | 1,425,171 | 95 |
| Bangladesh | 140,000 (2015) | 162,951,560 | 1 | |
| Belarus | 22,000 (2016) | 9,480,042 | 23 | |
| Belgium | No data | 26,000 (2015) [11] | 11,358,379 | 23 |
| Benin | 28,800 (2017) | 10,872,298 | 26 | |
| Bhutan | 400 - 500 (2017) [12] | 797,765 | 5 - 6 | |
| Bolivia | 31,000 (2016) | 10,887,882 | 29 | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 4,000 (2016) | 3,516,816 | 11 | |
| Botswana | 4,200 (2016) | 2,250,260 | 19 | |
| Brazil | 1,400,000 (2013) | 207,652,865 | 26 | |
| Bulgaria | 10,000 (2016) | 7,131,494 | 14 | |
| Burkina Faso | 31,000 (2016) | 18,646,433 | 17 | |
| Burundi | 51,000 (2016) | 10,524,117 | 49 | |
| Cambodia | 34,000 (2016) | 15,762,370 | 22 | |
| Cameroon | 70,500 (2018) | 23,439,189 | 47 | |
| Canada | No data | 36,289,822 | - | |
| Cape Verde | 1,400 (2016) | 539,560 | 26 | |
| Central African Republic | 782 (2016) | 4,594,621 | 2 | |
| Chad | 1,200 (2016) | 14,452,543 | 1 | |
| Chile | No data | 4,980 (2014) [13] | 17,909,754 | 2 - 3 |
| China | No data | 2,800,000 - 4,500,000 (2010) [14] | 1,403,500,365 | 14 - 32 |
| Colombia | 244,400 (2013) | 48,653,419 | 2 | |
| Comoros | 200 (2016) | 795,601 | 3 | |
| Congo | 9,700 (2017) | 5,125,821 | - | |
| Costa Rica | 3,000 (2017) | 15,000 (unknown) [15] | 4,857,274 | 31 |
| Croatia | No data | 21,066 (2006) [16] | 4,213,265 | 50 |
| Cuba | 82,500 (2017) | 11,475,982 | 78 | |
| Cyprus | No data | 1,170,125 | - | |
| Czech Republic | 13,000 (2016) | 10,610,947 | 12 | |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 350,300 (2018) | 78,736,153 | 45 | |
| Denmark | No data | 6,000 (2009) [17] | 5,711,870 | 11 |
| Djibouti | 2,900 (2016) | 942,333 | 31 | |
| Dominican Republic | 97,800 (2015) | 10,648,791 | 56 - 94 | |
| East Timor | 1,700 (2016) | 1,268,671 | 13 | |
| Ecuador | 34,400 (2014) | 16,385,068 | 21 | |
| Egypt | 23,000 (2016) | 95,688,681 | 2 | |
| El Salvador | 20,000 (2016) | 6,344,722 | 32 | |
| Equatorial Guinea | 5,800 (2016) | 1,221,490 | 41 | |
| Eritrea | 1,600 (2016) | 4,954,645 | 3 | |
| Estonia | 1,000 (2016) | 1,312,442 | 7 | |
| Ethiopia | 85,000 (2016) | 102,403,196 | 2 | |
| Federated States of Micronesia | 290 (2016) | 104,937 | 29 | |
| Fiji | 900 (2014) | 898,760 | 10 | |
| Finland | No data | 4,000 (2009) [17] | 5,503,132 | 7 |
| France | No data | 30,000 (2018) [18] | 64,720,690 | 5 |
| Gabon | 368 (2016) | 1,979,786 | 2 | |
| Gambia | 3,100 (2016) | 2,038,501 | 15 | |
| Georgia | 6,500 (2016) | 3,925,405 | 17 | |
| Germany | No data | 300,000 (2009) [17] | 81,914,672 | 37 |
| Ghana | 52,000 (2016) | 28,206,728 | 18 | |
| Greece | No data | 10,500 –15,000 (2009) [17] | 11,183,716 | 9 - 13 |
| Guatemala | 83,000 (2019) | 16,582,469 | 16 | |
| Guinea | 8,400 (2016) | 12,395,924 | 7 | |
| Guinea-Bissau | 3,100 (2016) | 1,815,698 | 17 | |
| Guyana | 5,300 (2016) | 773,303 | 69 | |
| Haiti | 70,300 (2015) | 10,847,334 | 65 | |
| Honduras | 22,800 (2016) | 9,112,867 | 25 | |
| Hungary | No data | 20,000 - 25,000 (2006) [19] | 9,753,281 | 21 - 26 |
| India | 657,800 (2016) | 1,324,171,354 | 5 | |
| Indonesia | 226,800 (2016) | 261,115,456 | 9 | |
| Iran | 90,000 (2015) | 91,500 (2015) [20] | 80,277,428 | 11 |
| Iraq | No data | 37,202,572 | - | |
| Ireland | 1,000 (2016) | 4,726,078 | 2 | |
| Israel | No data | 12,000 (2015) [21] | 8,191,828 | 15 |
| Italy | No data | 60,000 (2009) [17] | 59,429,938 | 10 |
| Ivory Coast | 10,900 (2016) | 23,695,919 | 4 | |
| Jamaica | 18,700 (2014) | 2,881,355 | 66 | |
| Japan | No data | 127,748,513 | - | |
| Jordan | No data | 9,455,802 | - | |
| Kazakhstan | 19,000 (2016) | 17,987,736 | 11 | |
| Kenya | 167,900 (2018) | 48,461,567 | 35 | |
| Kiribati | 114 (2016) | 114,395 | 10 | |
| Kuwait | No data | 4,052,584 | - | |
| Kyrgyzstan | 7,100 (2016) | 5,955,734 | 12 | |
| Laos | 13,000 (2016) | 6,758,353 | 19 | |
| Latvia | No data | 29,558 (2006) [16] | 1,970,530 | 150 |
| Lebanon | 4,300 (2018) | 6,006,668 | 7 | |
| Lesotho | 7,500 (2018) | 2,203,821 | 29 | |
| Liberia | 163,100 (2017) | 4,613,823 | 2 | |
| Libya | No data | 6,293,253 | - | |
| Lithuania | No data | 1,000 – 3,000 (unknown) [22] | 2,908,249 | 3 - 10 |
| Luxembourg | No data | 300 (2009) [17] | 575,747 | 5 |
| Macedonia | 3,600 (2016) | 2,081,206 | 17 | |
| Madagascar | 191,200 (2018) | 24,894,551 | 68 | |
| Malawi | 9,300 (2016) | 18,091,575 | 5 | |
| Malaysia | 21,000 (2016) | 31,187,265 | 7 | |
| Maldives | No data | 1,139 (2013) [23] | 427,756 | 27 |
| Mali | 36,000 (2016) | 17,994,837 | 20 | |
| Marshall Islands | 250 (2016) | 53,066 | 47 | |
| Mauritania | 315 (2016) | 4,301,018 | 1 | |
| Mauritius | 6,200 (2016) | 1,262,132 | 49 | |
| Mexico | 240,000 (2019) | 127,540,423 | 19 | |
| Moldova | 12,000 (2016) | 4,059,608 | 30 | |
| Mongolia | 1,300 (2016) | 3,027,398 | 4 | |
| Morocco | 72,000 (2017) | 36,276,786 | 21 | |
| Mozambique | 27,300 (2012) | 28,829,476 | 5 | |
| Myanmar | 66,000 (2016) | 52,885,223 | 13 | |
| Nepal | 67,000 (2016) | 28,982,771 | 23 | |
| Namibia | 8,100 (2016) | 2,479,713 | 33 | |
| Netherlands | 25,000 (2011) | 16,987,330 | 15 | |
| New Zealand | 3,500 (2018) | 5,932 (2005) [24] | 4,660,833 | 13 |
| Nicaragua | 14,800 (2017) | 6,149,928 | 29 | |
| Niger | 47,000 (2016) | 20,672,987 | 23 | |
| Nigeria | 410,000 (2019) | 103,500 (2015) | 185,989,640 | 5 |
| North Korea | No data | 25,000 (2014) [25] | 25,368,620 | 10 |
| Norway | No data | 3,000 (2009) [17] | 5,254,694 | 6 |
| Oman | No data | 4,424,762 | - | |
| Pakistan | 228,800 (2016) | 193,203,476 | 12 | |
| Palestine | No data | 4,790,705 | - | |
| Panama | 8,300 (2018) | 4,034,119 | 13 | |
| Papua New Guinea | No data | 8,084,991 | - | |
| Paraguay | 3,400 (2016) | 6,725,308 | 5 | |
| Peru | 67,000 (2016) | 31,773,839 | 21 | |
| Philippines | 210,000 (2019) | 103,320,222 | 15 | |
| Poland | No data | 19,000 (unknown) [15] | 38,224,410 | 5 |
| Portugal | No data | 28,000 (2005) [26] | 10,371,627 | 27 |
| Qatar | No data | 2,569,804 | - | |
| Romania | No data | 158,225 (2006) [16] | 19,778,083 | 80 |
| Russia | No data | 719,822 (2006) [16] | 143,964,513 | 50 |
| Rwanda | 12,000 (2016) | 11,917,508 | 10 | |
| Samoa | 400 (2016) | 195,125 | 21 | |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | 89 (2016) | 199,910 | 5 | |
| Saudi Arabia | No data | 32,275,687 | - | |
| Senegal | 21,000 (2016) | 15,411,614 | 14 | |
| Serbia | 3,900 (2016) | 8,820,083 | 4 | |
| Seychelles | 586 (2016) | 94,228 | 62 | |
| Sierra Leone | 240,000 (2013) | 7,396,190 | 325 | |
| Singapore | No data | 5,622,455 | - | |
| Slovakia | No data | 21,777 (2006) [16] | 5,444,218 | 40 |
| Slovenia | No data | 29,090 (2006) [16] | 2,077,862 | 140 |
| Somalia | 11,000 (2016) | 14,317,996 | 7 | |
| South Africa | 24,000 (2018) | 56,015,473 | 4 | |
| South Korea | No data | 50,791,919 | - | |
| South Sudan | 5,000 (2016) | 12,230,730 | 4 | |
| Spain | 70,300 (2016) | 46,347,576 | 15 | |
| Sri Lanka | 14,000 (2016) | 20,798,492 | 7 | |
| Sudan | 212,500 (2016) | 39,578,828 | 53 | |
| Suriname | 2,200 (2016) | 558,368 | 39 | |
| Swaziland | 4,000 (2016) | 1,343,098 | 30 | |
| Sweden | No data | 2,500 (2009) [17] | 9,837,533 | 3 |
| Switzerland | 20,000 (2011) | 8,401,739 | 24 | |
| Syria | 25,000 (2011) | 18,430,453 | 14 | |
| Taiwan | No data | 100,000 (2011) [27] | 23,556,706 | 43 |
| Tajikistan | 14,000 (2016) | 8,734,951 | 16 | |
| Tanzania | 160,000 (2016) | 55,572,201 | 29 | |
| Thailand | 144,000 (2016) | 68,863,514 | 20 | |
| Togo | 10,000 (2016) | 7,606,374 | 13 | |
| Tonga | 1,000 (2016) | 107,122 | 93 | |
| Tunisia | 25,000 (2011) | 11,403,248 | 22 | |
| Turkey | No data | 100,000+ (2016) [28] | 79,512,426 | 13+ |
| Turkmenistan | No data | 5,663 (2006) [16] | 5,662,544 | 10 |
| Tuvalu | 10 (2016) | 11,097 | 9 | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 1000 (2016) | 1,353,895 | 7.3 | |
| Uganda | 130,000 (2019) | 41,487,965 | - | |
| Ukraine | 86,600 (2016) | 44,438,625 | 18 | |
| United Arab Emirates | No data | 30,000 (unknown) [15] | 9,269,612 | 32 |
| United Kingdom | No data | 72,800 (2016) [29] | 65,788,574 | 11 |
| United States | No data | 1,000,000-2,000,000 [30] (2010) [31] | 322,179,605 | 31 |
| Uruguay | 8,200 (2016) | 3,444,006 | 24 | |
| Uzbekistan | 22,000 (2016) | 31,446,795 | 7 | |
| Vanuatu | 2,000 (2016) | 270,402 | 74 | |
| Venezuela | No data | 473,523 (2006) [16] | 31,568,179 | 150 |
| Vietnam | 86,000 (2019) | 94,569,072 | 7 | |
| Yemen | 54,000 (2016) | 27,584,213 | 20 | |
| Zambia | 9,300 (2016) | 16,591,390 | 6 | |
| Zimbabwe | No data | 12,383 (2013) [32] | 16,150,362 | 8 |
Prostitution in Thailand is not illegal. Section 5 of the relevant Act makes that very clear. What is forbidden is openly and shamelessly offering sexual services or causing a public nuisance. However, due to police corruption and an economic reliance on prostitution dating back to the Vietnam War, it remains a significant presence in the country. It results from poverty, low levels of education and a lack of employment in rural areas. Prostitutes mostly come from the northeastern (Isan) region of Thailand, from ethnic minorities or from neighbouring countries, especially Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos. In 2019, UNAIDS estimated the total population of sex workers in Thailand to be 43,000.
Prostitution in Myanmar is illegal, but widespread. Prostitution is a major social issue that particularly affects women and children. UNAIDS estimate there to be 66,000 prostitutes in the country.
Prostitution in Senegal is legal and regulated. Senegal has the distinction of being one of the few countries in Africa to legalize prostitution, and the only one to legally regulate it. The only condition that it is done discreetly. Prostitution was first legalised in 1966. UNAIDS estimate that there are over 20,000 prostitutes in the country. The average age for a sex worker in Senegal is 28 years old and female.
Prostitution in Ecuador is legal and regulated, as long as the prostitute is over the age of 18, registered, and works from a licensed brothel. Prostitution is widespread throughout the country. Many brothels and prostitutes operate outside the regulatory system and the regulations have been less strictly enforced in recent years. 25,000 prostitutes were registered in the year 2000. In 2007 it was estimated that 70% of the prostitutes in the country were from Colombia. The country attracts Colombian prostitutes as the currency is the US$ rather than the unstable Colombian peso. UNAIDS estimate there to be 35,000 prostitutes in the country.
Prostitution in Georgia is illegal but widespread, particularly in the capital, Tbilisi. Many NGO's attribute this to the harsh economic conditions according to the US State Department. Prostitution occurs on the streets, in bars, nightclubs, hotels and brothels. UNAIDS estimate there are 6,525 prostitutes in Georgia.
Prostitution in El Salvador is not prohibited by national law, but may be prohibited by local municipal ordinances. Municipal ordinances may also prohibit the purchase of sexual services. Related activities such as facilitating, promoting or giving incentives to a person to work as a prostitute (pimping) are illegal. The prostitution of children is also illegal. Brothel ownership, however, is legal. There are no specific laws against human trafficking, but any criminal offence that includes ‘commerce in women or children’ requires sentencing to be increased by 30%.
Prostitution in Zambia is legal and common. Related activities such as soliciting and procuring are prohibited. UNAIDS estimate there are 9,285 prostitutes in the capital, Lusaka. Many women turn to prostitution due to poverty. Sex workers report law enforcement is corrupt, inconsistent and often abusive.
Prostitution in Haiti, although illegal, continues to be a widespread problem for the country, particularly in the form of street prostitution, as well as in bars, hotels and brothels. UNAIDS estimate there to be 70,000 prostitutes in the country. Law enforcement is generally lax.
Prostitution in Cameroon is illegal but tolerated, especially in urban and tourist areas. In the capital, Yaoundé the main area of prostitution is the neighbourhood of Mini Ferme. UNAIDS estimate there are 112,000 sex workers in the country.
Prostitution in Guyana is illegal but widespread. Prostitution law is antiquated and dates from the colonial era. Law enforcement is inconsistent and sex workers report violence and abuse by the police. Many turn to prostitution for economic reasons and the lack of other job opportunities. Prostitution continues to receive greater public attention due to the high incidence of HIV/AIDS among prostitutes. Prostitution in the country is separated into three types: "uptown", servicing affluent clients, "downtown", servicing the working classes, and mining sites. UNAIDS estimate there to be 6,000 prostitutes in the country.
Prostitution in Burkina Faso is not specifically prohibited by the law, but soliciting and pimping are illegal. Burkinabe society only accepts sexual intercourse within marriage. In 2009, Voice of America reported that the number of prostitutes in Burkina Faso had increased as a result of the country's poverty. The increase in prostitution has given rise to fears of an increase in the number of Burkinabés infected with HIV and AIDS. UNAIDS estimate there to be 31,000 prostitutes in the country.
Prostitution in Tanzania is illegal but widespread. UNAIDS estimate there to be 155,450 prostitutes in the country. Many women and young girls are forced into prostitution due to poverty, lack of job opportunities, culture, and the disintegration of the family unit. Many university students have to turn to prostitution for economic reasons.
The legal status of prostitution in Africa varies widely. It is frequently common in practice, partially driven by the widespread poverty in many sub-Saharan African countries, and is one of the drivers for the prevalence of AIDS in Africa. Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire permit the operations of brothels. In other countries, prostitution may be legal, but brothels are not allowed to operate. In some countries where prostitution is illegal, the law is rarely enforced.
Prostitution in Eswatini is illegal, the anti-prostitution laws dating back to 1889, when the country Eswatini was a protectorate of South Africa. Law enforcement is inconsistent, particularly near industrial sites and military bases. Police tend to turn a blind eye to prostitution in clubs. There are periodic clamp-downs by the police.
Prostitution in Uzbekistan is illegal, but prostitution has increased within the country since the collapse of the Soviet Union. UNAIDS estimated there to be 22,000 sex workers in the country in 2019. Many of the women have turned to prostitution in Uzbekistan because of poverty.
Prostitution in Togo is legal and commonplace. Related activities such as solicitation, living off the earnings of prostitution or procuring are prohibited. Punishment is up to 10 years imprisonment if minors or violence is involved.
Prostitution in Botswana is not illegal, but laws such as public disorder, vagrancy, loitering and state recognised religious provisions are used to prosecute prostitutes. Related activities such as soliciting and brothel keeping are illegal. Botswana has made proposals to make prostitution legal to prevent the spread of AIDS. However, there has been mass opposition to it by the Catholic Church. Prostitution is widespread and takes place on the street, bars, hotels, brothels and the cabs of long-distance trucks.
Prostitution in Angola is illegal and prevalent since the 1990s. Prostitution increased further at the end of the civil war in 2001. Prohibition is not consistently enforced. Many women engage in prostitution due to poverty. It was estimated in 2013 that there were about 33,000 sex workers in the country. Many Namibian women enter the country illegally, often via the border municipality of Curoca, and travel to towns such as Ondjiva, Lubango and Luanda to work as prostitutes.
Prostitution in Guinea-Bissau is common and there are no prostitution laws. In 2016 it was estimated there were 3,138 prostitutes in the country. Often it is associated with other crimes: Many pimps are also reported to be drug dealers. Poverty leads many women to be tempted into prostitution and cocaine addiction.
Prostitution in Burundi is illegal but is commonplace and on the rise. Prostitution is prevalent in all areas of the country, and especially in the largest city, Bujumbura, and prior to the security crisis in 2015, the tourist areas around Lake Tanganyika. UNAIDS estimate there are 51,000 prostitutes in Burundi. Many women have turned to prostitution due to poverty.
