List of red-light districts

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

Prostitution is legal in some locations (including pimping and maintaining a brothel).

Prostitution in Iran is illegal, and incurs various punishments ranging from fines and jail terms to execution for repeat offenders.

Prostitution in most of Malaysia is legal and widespread, though there are laws against prostitution-related activities.

Legislation was introduced in 2011 to allow local governments in Taiwan to set up "special zones" where prostitution is permitted.

[118] Prostitution is illegal in Thailand, and solicitation and public nuisance laws are in effect.

Paying for sex is illegal, as is soliciting in a public place, operating brothels, and other forms of pimping.

A total of 11 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 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 did not know the prostitute was forced).

[288] Prostitution is legal, but related activities such as brothel keeping and solicitation are prohibited.

Prostitution laws vary by state and territory, however it is illegal except for some rural counties of Nevada.

Many massage shops offer "happy endings", which is an illegal form of prostitution.