Decline in prostitutes in Saxony-Anhalt: What's behind it?

Decline in prostitutes in Saxony-Anhalt: What's behind it?

The world of prostitution in Germany is showing remarkable changes that are noticeable both regionally and nationwide. In the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt, the number of reported prostitutes fell to 377 in 2024, which corresponds to a decrease of around 2.7 percent compared to 2023. It becomes clear that the majority of these women do not come from Germany; A full 87 percent are from abroad. They come particularly often from Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria, as [Zeit] reports.

While the number of registered prostitutes in Saxony-Anhalt is decreasing, the situation across the country is different. Nationwide, the number of prostitutes rose by more than five percent to 32,254 in the same period. This represents a notable increase compared to last year, where this number was around 30,600, according to [Destatis]. Nevertheless, the total number remains well below the level at the end of 2019, when 40,400 prostitutes were still registered.

Who are the prostitutes?

The data shows a complex picture of prostitutes working in Germany. Around 36 percent of registered prostitutes are Romanian citizens, followed by Bulgarian (11 percent) and Spanish (8 percent) citizens. Of the total 32,300 prostitutes, 24,100 were between 21 and 44 years old, which corresponds to over 75 percent. In contrast, only 17 percent of reported prostitutes were German.

Business licenses in decline

In addition to the decline in registered prostitutes, the number of licenses for prostitution businesses has also fallen. This fell from 2,310 in the previous year to 2,250. A closer look shows that 93 percent of the reported businesses are classified as prostitution sites, such as brothels. The remaining permits are for special forms of mediation and event formats.

A future-oriented topic could be the safety and legal framework for prostitutes. Despite the regulatory laws, there are still uncertainties, especially when it comes to unauthorized businesses for which no statistics are available. A good reason to keep the conversation going about the challenges in this industry and discuss appropriate measures to improve working conditions.

The latest statistics not only highlight the dynamic development in the field of prostitution, but also raise questions about the social and legal support for these professional structures. It remains to be seen how the trends will develop in Saxony-Anhalt and the rest of Germany.