List of red-light districts

Red-light districts are associated with the sex industry and sex oriented business (sex shops, strip clubs etc). In some of these places prostitution may legally take place. Other red light districts are known for their illegal prostitution scene (in countries where prostitution is illegal). In red light districts where prostitution is illegal prostitutes or clients may be arrested or fined if caught by the police (the enforcement of anti-prostitution laws varies by country or place).

Following is a list of well-known red-light districts around the world, both current and historical.

Contents

Africa

Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire)

Prostitution is legal, but soliciting and pandering are illegal.[1] There are reports that police demand bribes or sexual favors for allowing prostitution.[2]

See also: Prostitution in Côte d'Ivoire

Kenya

Prostitution is illegal. [3]

See also: Prostitution in Kenya

South Africa

Prostitution is illegal. [5]

See also: Prostitution in South Africa

Uganda

Prostitution is illegal.

See also: Prostitution in Uganda

Asia

Cambodia

Prostitution is illegal, but tolerated.

See also: Prostitution in Cambodia

China

Prostitution is illegal[8]

See also: Prostitution in China

Hong Kong

Prostitution is legal, though brothels, pimping and soliciting are illegal[11]

See also: Prostitution in Hong Kong

India

Operating a brothel, pimping and soliciting in a public place are illegal (however in practice prostitution is tolerated and regulated).

See also: Prostitution in India

Iran

Prostitution is illegal

See also: Prostitution in Iran

Japan

Prostitution is illegal but narrowly defined. Many sexual acts for pay that would be considered to be prostitution in other countries are legal.[3]

See also: Prostitution in Japan

South Korea

Prostitution is illegal, but in practice it is tolerated and regulated.

See also: Prostitution in South Korea

Malaysia

Prostitution is illegal.

See also: Prostitution in Malaysia

Pakistan

Prostitution is illegal, but in practice it is somewhat tolerated but not regulated.

See also: Prostitution in Pakistan

Philippines

Prostitution is illegal, but widespread and generally tolerated.[26]

See also: Prostitution in Philippines

Singapore

Prostitution itself is not illegal; however, public solicitation, living on the earnings of a prostitute, and maintaining a brothel are illegal.[4]

See also: Prostitution in Singapore

Thailand

Prostitution is illegal, but in practice it is tolerated and regulated.

See also: Prostitution in Thailand

Vietnam

See also: Prostitution in Vietnam

Europe

Austria

Prostitution is legal and regulated.

See also: Prostitution in Austria

Belgium

Prostitution is legal, though brothels are not. [5] Enforcement of the law can be lax.

See also: Prostitution in Belgium

Denmark

Prostitution is legal, but running brothels and pimping are illegal.

See also: Prostitution in Denmark

France

Prostitution is legal, but public solicitation, brothels and pimping are illegal.

See also: Prostitution in France

Germany

Prostitution is legal and regulated.

See also: Prostitution in Germany

Ireland

See also: Prostitution in Ireland

Netherlands

Prostitution and associated activities are legal and common. A total of 12 cities in the Netherlands have red light districts with window prostitution.

See also: Prostitution in the Netherlands

Spain

Brothels are illegal (since 1956), but "clubs" and "wiskerias" are fronts for prostitution and are tolerated.

See also: Prostitution in Spain

Switzerland

Prostitution is legal and regulated.

See also: Prostitution in Switzerland

United Kingdom

See also: Prostitution in the United Kingdom

England

Prostitution is legal, but public solicitation, brothels and pimping are not. The Policing and Crime Act 2009 makes it illegal to pay for sex with a prostitute who has been “subjected to force” and this is a strict liability offense (clients can be prosecuted even if they didn’t know the prostitute was forced).[50][51]

Northern Ireland

Scotland

Wales

North America

Canada

Prostitution is legal, though many associated activities (brothels, advertising, street walking) are not.

See also: Prostitution in Canada

Mexico

Prostitution is legal and regulated.

See also: Prostitution in Mexico

United States

Prostitution is illegal except for some rural counties of Nevada.

See also: Prostitution in the United States

Oceania

Australia

Prostitution laws vary by state, either being legal or decriminalized.

See also: Prostitution in Australia

New Zealand

Prostitution and associated activities are legal.

See also: Prostitution in New Zealand

South America

Argentina

Prostitution is legal, but running brothels and pimping are illegal.

See also: Prostitution in Argentina

Brazil

Prostitution is legal, running brothels and pimping is illegal.

See also: Prostitution in Brazil

See also

References

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