List of red-light districts

Red-light districts are associated with the sex industry and sex-oriented businesses (e.g. sex shops and strip clubs). 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 partial list of well known red-light districts around the world, both current and historical.

Prostitution is illegal.

Prostitution is illegal.

Prostitution is illegal, but tolerated.

Prostitution is illegal.

Prostitution itself is not illegal but operating a brothel is illegal.

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

Prostitution is illegal in non-regulated areas. Prostitution is legal in some locations (including pimping and maintaining a brothel).

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

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

Prostitution is illegal.

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

Prostitution is illegal, but widespread and generally tolerated.

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

Prostitution is not strictly illegal in Thailand, though solicitation and public nuisance laws are in effect. In practice it is tolerated and partly regulated.

Prostitution is legal and regulated.

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

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

Prostitution is legal and regulated.

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

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

Prostitution is legal and regulated.

Prostitution is not illegal when performed by a person acting alone in private but public solicitation, brothels and pimping are. 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 offence (clients can be prosecuted even if they didn’t know the prostitute was forced).

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Wikipedia