Overview of the legality and practice of prostitution in the Americas
Legality of prostitution in the Americas varies by country. Most countries only legalized prostitution, with the act of exchanging money for sexual services legal. The level of enforcement varies by country. One country, the United States, is unique as legality of prostitution is not the responsibility of the federal government, but rather state, territorial, and federal district's responsibility.
Legend for maps
Decriminalization - No criminal penalties for prostitution
Legalization - prostitution legal and regulated
Abolitionism - prostitution is legal, but organized activities such as brothels and pimping are illegal; prostitution is not regulated
Neo-abolitionism illegal to buy sex and for 3rd party involvement, legal to sell sex
Prohibitionism - prostitution illegal
Legality varies with local laws
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Legality of prostitutionintheAmericas varies by country. Most countries only legalized prostitution, with the act of exchanging money for sexual services...
Prostitution is illegal inthe vast majority of the United States as a result of state laws rather than federal laws. It is, however, legal in some rural...
Prostitutionin Mexico is legal under Federal Law. Each of the 31 states enacts its own prostitution laws and policies. Thirteen of the states of Mexico...
Prostitutionin Belize is legal, but the buying of sexual services is not. Associated activities such as operating a brothel, loitering for the purposes...
Prostitutionin Jamaica is illegal but widely tolerated, especially in tourist areas. UNAIDS estimate there to be 18,696 prostitutes inthe country. The...
Prostitution is the business or practice of engaging in sexual activity in exchange for payment. The definition of "sexual activity" varies, and is often...
Prostitutioninthe Dutch Caribbean (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten) is legal and regulated. At least 500 foreign women...
Prostitution portal Sex work portal The legal status of prostitutionin Africa varies widely. It is frequently common in practice, partially driven by...
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Prostitutionin Panama is legal and regulated. Prostitutes are required to register and carry identification cards. However, the majority of prostitutes...
Nevada is the only U.S. state where prostitution is legally permitted in some form. Prostitution is legal in 10 of Nevada's 17 counties, although only...
Prostitutionin Ecuador is legal and regulated, as long as the prostitute is over the age of 18, registered, and works from a licensed brothel. Prostitution...
Prostitutionin Cuba is not officially illegal; however, there is legislation against pimps, sexual exploitation of minors, and pornography. Sex tourism...
Prostitutionin Japan has existed throughout the country's history. While theProstitution Prevention Law of 1956 states that "No person may either do...
Prostitutioninthe Netherlands is legal and regulated. Operating a brothel is also legal. De Wallen, the largest and best-known Red-light district in...
Prostitutioninthe Bahamas is legal but related activities such as brothel keeping and solicitation are prohibited. The country is a sex tourism destination...
Prostitutionin Uruguay was legislated in 2002 through the sex work law (17.515). Before that, prostitution was unlegislated but it was not illegal, since...
Prostitutioninthe Dominican Republic is legal, but related activities such as brothel-keeping or pimping are illegal. However, prostitution laws are...
prostitution, temple prostitution, cult prostitution, and religious prostitution are purported rites consisting of paid intercourse performed inthe context...
Prostitutionin Argentina (exchanging sex for money) is legal under Federal law. Article 19 of the constitution states: "The private actions of people...
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Prostitutionin Thailand is not itself illegal, but public solicitation for prostitution is prohibited if it is carried out "openly and shamelessly" or...
administration. Prostitution is legal in Anguilla, but related activities such as brothel keeping, are illegal under sections 171 - 181 of the Criminal Code...
Prostitutionin California is illegal. As of 2022, prostitution is considered a misdemeanor. In November 2012, the Californian government passed Proposition...
Prostitutionin El Salvador is not prohibited by national law, but may be prohibited by local municipal ordinances. Municipal ordinances may also prohibit...