Is prostitution legal in Timor-Leste?
Legal & regulated
Prostitution is legal in Timor-Leste, though soliciting and third-party involvement for profit is forbidden with weak law enforcement.
Timor-Leste is one of 73 countries classified “Legal & regulated” for sex work — 33% of the 219 with data. (Also searched as prostitution.)
Source
- Taken from
- Wikipedia: Prostitution in Asia
- 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
- Indonesia
- Decriminalized / unregulated Prostitution is legally considered a crime against decency in Indonesia but is widely practiced, tolerated, and regulated in some areas.
- Malaysia
- Legal & regulated Prostitution is legal and widespread in Malaysia except in Kelantan, where related activities are illegal.
- Australia
- Varies by region Prostitution laws vary by state and territory, with some jurisdictions legalizing and regulating sex work while others prohibit related activities.
- Brunei
- Illegal Prostitution is illegal in Brunei, punishable by imprisonment and fines, with notable scandals involving foreign nationals.
- Palau
- Illegal Prostitution and related activities are illegal in Palau under the Anti-Prostitution Act.
- Papua New Guinea
- Illegal Prostitution is generally illegal but rarely enforced, with laws criminalizing brothel keeping and living off earnings.
Other laws in Timor-Leste
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not recognized
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal
- Age of Consent
- 14–15
- Divorce
- Legal
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Not permitted
- Incest Laws
- Legal between adults
- Marriage Age
- 16–17
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.