Countries Where Prostitution is Legal 2023

Map

Table

Table of Contents

Interactive Map Introduction Prostitution Legality by Country Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominican Republic East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Fiji Finland France Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guatemala Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Maldives Mali Malta Mexico Moldova Monaco Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea Norway Oman Pakistan Palestine Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay People's Republic of China Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Qatar Republic of Macedonia Romania Russia Rwanda Saudi Arabia Senegal Sierra Leone Singapore Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand The Bahamas The Gambia Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States of America Uruguay Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

Introduction

Prostitution is legal in a number of countries around the world, though the regulations surrounding it vary considerably. There are a number of factors that contribute to these differences, including cultural attitudes, economic conditions, and historical precedent. In some cultures, prostitution is seen as a form of exploitation of women, while in others it is seen as empowering them. In some places, prostitution is treated as a business and taxed as such, while in others it is illegal and heavily penalized. The historical relationship between a country and prostitution also plays a role; in countries where prostitution has been present for many years, it is generally more accepted than in places where it is relatively new. The economic conditions in a given country also play a role in determining its stance on prostitution. In countries with high levels of poverty and unemployment, prostitution may be seen as a way to make ends meet; in many parts of the world, prostitution is seen as a necessary evil that provides an income for women who may not have any other means of support.

Country	Prostitution Legality	Notes Prostitution Legality
Afghanistan	Illegal	Sex Outside of Marriage Is Punishable by Death.
Albania	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Angola	Illegal	Lax Enforcement.
Armenia	Illegal	Still Exists, but Not Prevalent.
Azerbaijan	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Bahrain	Illegal	Still Exists, but Not Prevalent.
Barbados	Illegal	Still Exists, but Not Prevalent.
Belarus	Illegal	Still Widespread. Minor Offense.
Belize	Illegal	Selling Is Legal, but Buying, Organizing, Solicitation Illegal. Still Widespread.
Bhutan	Illegal	Still Exists, but Not Prevalent.
Brunei	Illegal
Burundi	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Cambodia	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Cameroon	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Canada	Illegal	Selling Is Legal, but Buying, Organizing, Solicitation Illegal.
Chad	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Croatia	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Djibouti	Illegal	Illegal but Tolerated.
Egypt	Illegal	Still Exists, but Not Prevalent.
El Salvador	Illegal	Legal Some Places, Illegal in Others.
France	Illegal	Selling Is Legal, but Buying, Organizing, Solicitation Illegal. Loopholes Exist.
Georgia	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Ghana	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Guyana	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Haiti	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Iceland	Illegal	Selling Is Legal, but Buying, Organizing, Solicitation Illegal. Still Widespread.
Iran	Illegal	Repeat Offenders May Be Executed.
Iraq	Illegal	Buyer, Seller, and Organizer All Liable. Steep Penalties.
Ireland	Illegal	Selling Is Legal, but Buying, Organizing, Solicitation Illegal.
Israel	Illegal	Selling Is Legal, but Buying, Organizing, Solicitation Illegal.
Jamaica	Illegal	Illegal but Tolerated.
Jordan	Illegal	Illegal but Tolerated.
Kuwait	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Laos	Illegal
Libya	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Lithuania	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Maldives	Illegal	Still Exists, but Not Prevalent.
Moldova	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Mongolia	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Morocco	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Myanmar	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Nepal	Illegal
Niger	Illegal	Still Widespread.
North Korea	Illegal	Prevalence Unclear
Norway	Illegal	Selling and Brothels Are Legal, but Purchasing Illegal. Loopholes Exist.
Oman	Illegal
Pakistan	Illegal	Still Common Despite Steep Penalties.
Palestine	Illegal	Reportedly Still Legal in City of Ramallah
Papua New Guinea	Illegal	Illegal but Tolerated.
People's Republic of China	Illegal	Frequent Legal Exception: Happy Ending Massages.
Philippines	Illegal	Illegal but Tolerated.
Qatar	Illegal	Steep Penalties.
Russia	Illegal
Rwanda	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Saudi Arabia	Illegal	Steep Penalties.
Somalia	Illegal
South Africa	Illegal	Still Widespread.
South Korea	Illegal	Illegal but Tolerated.
Sri Lanka	Illegal
Suriname	Illegal	Still Widespread. Lax Enforcement.
Sweden	Illegal	Selling and Brothels Are Legal, but Purchasing Illegal. Loopholes Exist.
Syria	Illegal	Lax Enforcement.
Taiwan	Illegal	Technically Legal in Special Zones... None of Which Exist.
Tanzania	Illegal	Still Widespread.
The Gambia	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Tunisia	Illegal	Legal in Two Small Areas of Country Only.
Turkmenistan	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Uganda	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Ukraine	Illegal	Illegal but Tolerated.
United Arab Emirates	Illegal	Steep Penalties.
United States of America	Illegal	Illegal in 49 of 50 States, but Still Prevalent.
Uzbekistan	Illegal	Lax Enforcement.
Vietnam	Illegal
Yemen	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Zimbabwe	Illegal	Still Widespread.
Eswatini	Illegal	Illegal but Tolerated.
Algeria	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Antigua and Barbuda	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Argentina	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Austria	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Belgium	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Benin	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Botswana	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Brazil	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Bulgaria	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Burkina Faso	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Central African Republic	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Chile	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Costa Rica	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Cuba	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels, Solicitation, and Pornography Illegal.
Cyprus	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Czech Republic	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Democratic Republic of the Congo	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Denmark	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Dominican Republic	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
East Timor	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Estonia	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Ethiopia	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Fiji	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Finland	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Guatemala	Partially Legal	Prostitution and Brothels Legal, Pimping Illegal.
Honduras	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Hong Kong	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
India	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Italy	Partially Legal	Prostitution Prohibited, but Many Loopholes Exist.
Ivory Coast	Partially Legal	Prostitution Prohibited, but Many Loopholes Exist.
Japan	Partially Legal	Prostitution Prohibited, but Many Loopholes Exist.
Kazakhstan	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Kenya	Partially Legal	Regulated by Local Laws in Some Places.
Kyrgyzstan	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Latvia	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Luxembourg	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Macau	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels, Solicitation, and Street Prostitution Illegal.
Madagascar	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Malawi	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Mali	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Malta	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Mexico	Partially Legal	Varies by State and Territory.
Monaco	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Namibia	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Nicaragua	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Nigeria	Partially Legal	Varies by State and Territory.
Paraguay	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Poland	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Portugal	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Republic of Macedonia	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Romania	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Senegal	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Singapore	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal. Lax Enforcement.
Solomon Islands	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal. Lax Enforcement.
South Sudan	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal. Lax Enforcement.
Spain	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels Are Gray Area, Solicitation Illegal.
Tajikistan	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Thailand	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels Are Gray Area, Solicitation Illegal.
The Bahamas	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Togo	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
Trinidad and Tobago	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.
United Kingdom	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal. Lax Enforcement.
Zambia	Partially Legal	Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal. Lax Enforcement.
Australia	Legal	Varies by State or Territory.
Bangladesh	Legal	Solicitation Still Illegal.
Bolivia	Legal	Organized and Regulated.
Colombia	Legal	Organized and Regulated. Inconsistent Enforcement.
Ecuador	Legal	Organized and Regulated. Inconsistent Enforcement.
Eritrea	Legal
Germany	Legal	Organized and Regulated.
Greece	Legal	Organized and Regulated. Illegal Prostitution Also Common.
Hungary	Legal	Organized and Regulated.
Indonesia	Legal	Frowned Upon, but Widely Tolerated.
Lebanon	Legal	Lightly Regulated.
Mozambique	Legal
Netherlands	Legal	Organized and Regulated.
New Zealand	Legal
Panama	Legal	Organized and Regulated.
Peru	Legal	Organized and Regulated.
Sierra Leone	Legal
Switzerland	Legal	Organized and Regulated. Pimping and Forced Prostitution Still Illegal.
Turkey	Legal	Organized and Regulated.
Uruguay	Legal	Organized and Regulated.
Venezuela	Legal	Organized and Regulated.

Prostitution Legality by Country

Afghanistan

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Sex Outside of Marriage Is Punishable by Death.

Albania

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Algeria

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Angola

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Lax Enforcement.

Antigua and Barbuda

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Argentina

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Armenia

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Exists, but Not Prevalent.

Australia

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Varies by State or Territory.

Austria

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Azerbaijan

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Bahrain

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Exists, but Not Prevalent.

Bangladesh

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Solicitation Still Illegal.

Barbados

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Exists, but Not Prevalent.

Belarus

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread. Minor Offense.

Belgium

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Belize

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Selling Is Legal, but Buying, Organizing, Solicitation Illegal. Still Widespread.

Benin

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Bhutan

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Exists, but Not Prevalent.

Bolivia

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Organized and Regulated.

Botswana

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Brazil

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Brunei

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Bulgaria

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Burkina Faso

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Burundi

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Cambodia

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Cameroon

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Canada

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Selling Is Legal, but Buying, Organizing, Solicitation Illegal.

Central African Republic

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Chad

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Chile

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Colombia

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Organized and Regulated. Inconsistent Enforcement.

Costa Rica

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Croatia

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Cuba

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels, Solicitation, and Pornography Illegal.

Cyprus

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Czech Republic

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Denmark

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Djibouti

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Illegal but Tolerated.

Dominican Republic

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

East Timor

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Ecuador

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Organized and Regulated. Inconsistent Enforcement.

Egypt

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Exists, but Not Prevalent.

El Salvador

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Legal Some Places, Illegal in Others.

Eritrea

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Estonia

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Eswatini

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Illegal but Tolerated.

Ethiopia

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Fiji

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Finland

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

France

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Selling Is Legal, but Buying, Organizing, Solicitation Illegal. Loopholes Exist.

Georgia

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Germany

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Organized and Regulated.

Ghana

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Greece

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Organized and Regulated. Illegal Prostitution Also Common.

Guatemala

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution and Brothels Legal, Pimping Illegal.

Guyana

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Haiti

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Honduras

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Hong Kong

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Hungary

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Organized and Regulated.

Iceland

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Selling Is Legal, but Buying, Organizing, Solicitation Illegal. Still Widespread.

India

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Indonesia

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Frowned Upon, but Widely Tolerated.

Iran

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Repeat Offenders May Be Executed.

Iraq

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Buyer, Seller, and Organizer All Liable. Steep Penalties.

Ireland

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Selling Is Legal, but Buying, Organizing, Solicitation Illegal.

Israel

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Selling Is Legal, but Buying, Organizing, Solicitation Illegal.

Italy

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Prohibited, but Many Loopholes Exist.

Ivory Coast

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Prohibited, but Many Loopholes Exist.

Jamaica

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Illegal but Tolerated.

Japan

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Prohibited, but Many Loopholes Exist.

Jordan

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Illegal but Tolerated.

Kazakhstan

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Kenya

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Regulated by Local Laws in Some Places.

Kuwait

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Kyrgyzstan

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Laos

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Latvia

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Lebanon

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Lightly Regulated.

Libya

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Lithuania

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Luxembourg

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Macau

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels, Solicitation, and Street Prostitution Illegal.

Madagascar

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Malawi

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Maldives

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Exists, but Not Prevalent.

Mali

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Malta

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Mexico

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Varies by State and Territory.

Moldova

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Monaco

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Mongolia

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Morocco

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Mozambique

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Myanmar

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Namibia

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Nepal

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Netherlands

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Organized and Regulated.

New Zealand

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Nicaragua

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Niger

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Nigeria

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Varies by State and Territory.

North Korea

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prevalence Unclear

Norway

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Selling and Brothels Are Legal, but Purchasing Illegal. Loopholes Exist.

Oman

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Pakistan

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Common Despite Steep Penalties.

Palestine

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Reportedly Still Legal in City of Ramallah

Panama

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Organized and Regulated.

Papua New Guinea

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Illegal but Tolerated.

Paraguay

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

People's Republic of China

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Frequent Legal Exception: Happy Ending Massages.

Peru

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Organized and Regulated.

Philippines

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Illegal but Tolerated.

Poland

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Portugal

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Qatar

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Steep Penalties.

Republic of Macedonia

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Romania

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Russia

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Illegal

Rwanda

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Saudi Arabia

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Steep Penalties.

Senegal

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Sierra Leone

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Singapore

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal. Lax Enforcement.

Solomon Islands

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal. Lax Enforcement.

Somalia

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Illegal

South Africa

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

South Korea

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Illegal but Tolerated.

South Sudan

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal. Lax Enforcement.

Spain

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels Are Gray Area, Solicitation Illegal.

Sri Lanka

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Suriname

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread. Lax Enforcement.

Sweden

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Selling and Brothels Are Legal, but Purchasing Illegal. Loopholes Exist.

Switzerland

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Organized and Regulated. Pimping and Forced Prostitution Still Illegal.

Syria

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Lax Enforcement.

Taiwan

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Technically Legal in Special Zones... None of Which Exist.

Tajikistan

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Tanzania

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Thailand

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels Are Gray Area, Solicitation Illegal.

The Bahamas

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

The Gambia

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Togo

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Trinidad and Tobago

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal.

Tunisia

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Legal in Two Small Areas of Country Only.

Turkey

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Organized and Regulated.

Turkmenistan

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Uganda

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Ukraine

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Illegal but Tolerated.

United Arab Emirates

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Steep Penalties.

United Kingdom

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal. Lax Enforcement.

United States of America

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Illegal in 49 of 50 States, but Still Prevalent.

Uruguay

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Organized and Regulated.

Uzbekistan

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Lax Enforcement.

Venezuela

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Prostitution Legality

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Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Organized and Regulated.

Vietnam

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Yemen

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.

Zambia

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Prostitution Legality

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Partially Legal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Prostitution Is Legal, Brothels and Solicitation Illegal. Lax Enforcement.

Zimbabwe

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Prostitution Legality

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Illegal

Notes Prostitution Legality

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Still Widespread.