The Legal Status of Prostitution by Country

The legal status of prostitution varies from country to country, from being legal and considered a profession to being punishable by death. In some jurisdictions prostitution is illegal. In other places prostitution itself (exchanging sex for money) 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 engage in prostitution without breaking any law. In a few jurisdictions prostitution is legal and regulated.