Is prostitution legal in Moldova?

Illegal

Prostitution is illegal in Moldova but widespread and socially acceptable.

Moldova is one of 105 countries classified “Illegal” for sex work — 48% of the 219 with data. (Also searched as prostitution.)

Source

Taken from
Wikipedia: Prostitution in Europe
Last checked
7 July 2026
How it was classified
Classified by a language model from the source text, then checked against hand-verified reference countries.

Nearby countries

Ukraine
Illegal Prostitution is illegal but widespread and largely ignored by government, with laws having little effect due to lack of prison sentences for traffickers.
Romania
Decriminalized / unregulated Prostitution is not criminalized, but related activities like procuring are illegal, and solicitation is a fineable administrative offense.
Bulgaria
Legal & regulated Prostitution itself is legal in Bulgaria, but organized forms like brothels are prohibited.
Serbia
Illegal Prostitution is illegal in Kosovo with penalties up to sixty days imprisonment, and is linked to human trafficking.
Hungary
Legal & regulated Prostitution is legal and regulated in Hungary since 1999, with sex workers required to pay taxes.
Belarus
Illegal Prostitution is illegal in Belarus but commonplace, classified as an administrative offense.

Other laws in Moldova

Same-Sex Marriage
Not recognized
Same-Sex Activity
Legal
Age of Consent
16–17
Pornography
Illegal
Same-Sex Adoption
Not permitted
Incest Laws
Criminal offense
Marriage Age
18+

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A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.