Prostitution in Asia

The legality of prostitution in Asia varies by country. In Asia, the main characteristic of the region is the significant discrepancy between the prostitution laws which exist on the books and what occurs in practice. In 2011, the Asian Commission on AIDS estimated there were 10 million sex workers in Asia and 75 million male customers. Child prostitution is a serious problem in this region. Past surveys indicate that 30 to 35 percent of all prostitutes in the Mekong sub-region of Southeast Asia are between 12 and 17 years of age. This page uses the UN system of subregions.

Prostitution in Asia

The legality of prostitution in Asia varies by country. In Asia, the main characteristic of the region is the significant discrepancy between the prostitution laws which exist on the books and what occurs in practice. In 2011, the Asian Commission on AIDS estimated there were 10 million sex workers in Asia and 75 million male customers. Child prostitution is a serious problem in this region. Past surveys indicate that 30 to 35 percent of all prostitutes in the Mekong sub-region of Southeast Asia are between 12 and 17 years of age. This page uses the UN system of subregions.