The number of registered sex workers in Germany rose to about 32,300 last year, an increase of 5.3 percent, according to the Federal Statistical Office. However, the totals remain below the pre-pandemic level: at the end of 2019 there were 40,400 registered sex workers nationwide.
Seventeen percent of the registered sex workers held German citizenship. The three most common foreign nationalities were Romanian at 36 percent, Bulgarian at 11 percent, and Spanish at 8 percent.
Three quarters of sex workers were between 21 and 44 years old, with 22 percent older. Three percent were aged 18 to 20. No gender information is collected at registration, so there are no figures on gender.
More Brothels than Before the Pandemic
Under the law, sex workers are required to register, and sex-work businesses, such as brothels, must obtain a permit. Last year’s number of licenses for a sex-work business fell from 2,310 to 2,250 compared with the previous year. Despite the decline, the total remained higher than before the pandemic: in 2019 the Federal Office recorded 2,170 licenses.
93 percent of the sex-work businesses reported by the end of 2024 were sex-work facilities, such as brothels. The remaining licenses covered sex-work brokerages, as well as sex-work vehicles and events.
The statistics reflect only administrative processes under the Prostitution Protection Act, as the Federal Office notes. Data on unlicensed businesses and unregistered sex workers could not be provided.
Study: The Basic Law Protects Sex Work
Just last week the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs presented the evaluation of the Prostitution Protection Act (ProstSchG) conducted by the Criminological Research Institute Niedersachsen. On the basis of a legal opinion, the researchers confirmed first that prostitution is a constitutionally protected activity and that the state has a duty to protect those who engage in it voluntarily. Legally speaking, prostitution is by no means a violation of human dignity.
The interviewed sex workers largely view themselves as autonomous: more than 90 percent report that they decide for themselves about their services, and nearly 90 percent say they can interrupt an ongoing meeting with clients.
