Number of prostitutes:

6000

Of which migrant:

2000

De Jure

Prostitution:

Legal

Trafficking:

Age of (heterosexual) consent:

15

In March 1999, Denmark's Parliament legalised prostitution. The new law, which has been in force since 1 July 1999, makes it illegal to purchase sex from anyone under the age of 18, with a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment.

De Facto

It is illegal to make a living from prostitution (immoral earnings), though in practice this is only enforced in cases of living off another person's earnings

Danish authorities have stepped up measures to prevent prostitution by minors, help women get out of the sex trade, and combat the import of women from eastern Europe for prostitution.  

The police are registering an increase in the number of prostitutes from eastern Europe.

According to the Minister of Justice, the Government plans to crack down on the growing problem of criminals bringing women from poor countries to Denmark and forcing them to work as effective sex slaves. In the opinion of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women, more efforts should be made to combat trafficking and to determine whether trafficking in women and exploitation of prostitution are taking place.