Sex Workers Per Country
Collecting accurate and reliable statistics on prostitution poses numerous challenges. For instance, certain forms of prostitution, like street prostitution, are more visible and therefore easier to track statistically. However, in some countries, street prostitution constitutes a smaller portion of the overall sex industry compared to indoor prostitution. Additionally, sex workers who require health, addiction, or other support services are more likely to come into contact with authorities, making them more accessible to researchers. However, this subgroup may not fully represent the entire spectrum of prostitution. National Ugly Mugs, a support organization for sex workers in the United Kingdom, has identified several obstacles to gathering sex industry statistics, including low response rates, limited research scale relative to the industry's size, and the industry's diversity. Consequently, published statistics often vary and are subject to dispute.
In countries where prostitution is illegal, relying on arrest data to generate general prostitution statistics can be misleading. The majority of prostitutes are never arrested, and those who are may face charges for different offenses. The statistics can be influenced by class bias, as law enforcement officers may be more inclined to arrest street prostitutes rather than high-end escorts. When comparing different regions, variations in the definition of criminal activities, the enforcement practices of police, and the potential manipulation of arrest figures or underreporting of crimes can further complicate the accuracy of the data.
Given the unregulated and often illicit nature of the profession, only estimates are available for the number of prostitutes in a country. These estimates can vary significantly depending on the source. Some countries may have flawed methodologies for determining these figures, while others may be influenced by the stance of the organization producing the statistics. When available, figures are sourced from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 2016 report titled "Sex Workers: Size Estimates."
| Country | Number of prostitutes Source: 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 | 3,000,000 (2006)[27] | 143,964,513 | 208 |
| 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)[28] | 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)[29] | 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)[30] | 65,788,574 | 11 |
| United States | No data | 1,000,000-2,000,000[31] (2010)[32] | 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)[33] | 16,150,362 | 8 |