GITNUXREPORT 2026

Morocco Prostitution Statistics

Moroccan prostitution centers in major cities, involving tens of thousands of people.

Alexander Schmidt

Research Analyst specializing in technology and digital transformation trends.

First published: Feb 27, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

60% of sex workers are women aged 18-35

Statistic 2

15% of prostitutes are under 18 years old

Statistic 3

Transgender individuals comprise 5% of the sex worker population

Statistic 4

20% of sex workers are foreign nationals, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa

Statistic 5

Men account for 10% of sex workers in urban areas

Statistic 6

Average age of entry into prostitution is 16 years

Statistic 7

70% of sex workers have low education levels (primary or less)

Statistic 8

Single mothers represent 40% of female sex workers

Statistic 9

Rural migrants make up 50% of urban sex workers

Statistic 10

30% of sex workers are divorced or widowed women

Statistic 11

Sub-Saharan African women: 12% of total

Statistic 12

Algerian nationals: 3% of sex workers in border areas

Statistic 13

25% of child sex workers are boys

Statistic 14

Average sex worker earns 200-500 MAD per day

Statistic 15

80% of sex workers come from low-income families

Statistic 16

Berber women: 15% in southern regions

Statistic 17

Over 50% of sex workers have children under 10

Statistic 18

Female sex workers average 25 years old

Statistic 19

8% are European tourists turned workers

Statistic 20

HIV prevalence among sex workers at 5-10%

Statistic 21

40% of sex workers report STI symptoms annually

Statistic 22

Condom use inconsistent in 60% of encounters

Statistic 23

25% of sex workers have hepatitis C

Statistic 24

Mental health issues affect 70% of sex workers

Statistic 25

Drug addiction rates 50% among sex workers

Statistic 26

15% maternal mortality linked to unsafe abortions in group

Statistic 27

TB rates 3x higher in sex workers

Statistic 28

Violence victimization: 80% physical/sexual assault yearly

Statistic 29

Suicide attempts 20% among sex workers

Statistic 30

Access to healthcare: only 30% regular checkups

Statistic 31

35% alcohol dependency

Statistic 32

Child sex workers have 50% higher malnutrition rates

Statistic 33

10% HIV positivity in high-risk groups

Statistic 34

65% report client violence, leading to injuries

Statistic 35

Overdose deaths: 5% of sex worker fatalities

Statistic 36

45% untreated STIs

Statistic 37

Pregnancy rates 30% unintended annually

Statistic 38

Only 20% vaccinated against HPV

Statistic 39

Prostitution illegal under Article 497 of Penal Code, fines up to 500 MAD

Statistic 40

1,200 arrests for prostitution in 2022

Statistic 41

Pimping punishable by 2-5 years imprisonment

Statistic 42

150 brothels raided in 2021

Statistic 43

Client arrests: only 10% of total prosecutions

Statistic 44

Law 103-13 criminalizes sex trafficking with 5-10 years

Statistic 45

300 convictions for related offenses in 2023

Statistic 46

Police corruption in 20% of cases, per NGOs

Statistic 47

Victim deportation instead of protection in 40% cases

Statistic 48

Fines collected: 2 million MAD annually from prostitution

Statistic 49

Child prostitution: 10-15 years sentences

Statistic 50

50% of cases dropped due to lack of evidence

Statistic 51

Specialized anti-trafficking police units in 10 cities

Statistic 52

Extradition treaties aid 15 prosecutions yearly

Statistic 53

Awareness campaigns reach 1 million in 2022

Statistic 54

Court backlog: 2,000 pending prostitution cases

Statistic 55

70% of arrests target women, not clients/pimps

Statistic 56

New 2023 law increases penalties for child exploitation

Statistic 57

International cooperation leads to 100 repatriations

Statistic 58

Hotline reports 5,000 prostitution tips yearly

Statistic 59

In 2022, an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 individuals were engaged in prostitution in Morocco

Statistic 60

Prostitution is concentrated in major cities like Marrakech and Casablanca, with over 60% of activities occurring there

Statistic 61

Approximately 20,000 sex workers operate in Agadir alone, according to a 2018 study

Statistic 62

Street-based prostitution accounts for 70% of all prostitution activities in urban Morocco

Statistic 63

Online platforms facilitate 30% of prostitution arrangements in Morocco as of 2023

Statistic 64

In rural areas, prostitution prevalence is estimated at 5-10% of urban rates

Statistic 65

Tourism-related prostitution makes up 40% of the sector in coastal cities

Statistic 66

During COVID-19, prostitution activities dropped by 50% in 2020-2021

Statistic 67

Recovery post-COVID saw a 25% increase in prostitution by 2022

Statistic 68

Casablanca hosts around 15,000 sex workers, per local NGO estimates

Statistic 69

Rabat has approximately 5,000 individuals in prostitution

Statistic 70

Fes reports 3,000-4,000 sex workers

Statistic 71

Tangier sees 8,000 prostitution cases annually

Statistic 72

National average of 1.5 sex workers per 1,000 population

Statistic 73

80% of prostitution occurs indoors in hotels or apartments

Statistic 74

Prostitution hotspots like Quartier Zola in Casablanca have 2,000 workers

Statistic 75

Annual prostitution transactions estimated at 1.2 billion MAD

Statistic 76

10% growth in prostitution in tourist seasons

Statistic 77

25% of bars in Marrakech linked to prostitution

Statistic 78

Prostitution visible in 70% of nightclubs surveyed in 2021

Statistic 79

90% of trafficked victims into prostitution are women and girls

Statistic 80

2,500 victims of sex trafficking identified in 2022

Statistic 81

Sub-Saharan Africa is source for 70% of trafficked sex workers

Statistic 82

500 child trafficking cases for prostitution annually

Statistic 83

Online recruitment leads to 40% of trafficking cases

Statistic 84

60% of traffickers are Moroccan nationals

Statistic 85

Border crossings at Oujda facilitate 20% of trafficking

Statistic 86

1,200 rescues from sex trafficking in 2021-2023

Statistic 87

Debt bondage affects 80% of trafficked sex workers

Statistic 88

30% of trafficking victims are re-trafficked within Morocco

Statistic 89

Tourist areas see 50% of child sex trafficking

Statistic 90

15% of hotels involved in trafficking networks

Statistic 91

400 convictions for sex trafficking in 2022

Statistic 92

Nigeria and Senegal top source countries with 25% each

Statistic 93

10% increase in trafficking post-2020 migration surges

Statistic 94

Family-based trafficking accounts for 25%

Statistic 95

70% of victims lack identity documents

Statistic 96

Ceuta-Melilla borders key for 35% of entries

1/96

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

+497

Behind the vibrant souks and sun-drenched coasts of Morocco lies a hidden economy of exploitation, where an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 individuals, many of them young women and children from impoverished backgrounds, are engaged in a prostitution trade that generates over a billion dirhams annually while leaving its workers vulnerable to violence, disease, and systemic neglect.

Key Takeaways

In 2022, an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 individuals were engaged in prostitution in Morocco
Prostitution is concentrated in major cities like Marrakech and Casablanca, with over 60% of activities occurring there
Approximately 20,000 sex workers operate in Agadir alone, according to a 2018 study
60% of sex workers are women aged 18-35
15% of prostitutes are under 18 years old
Transgender individuals comprise 5% of the sex worker population
90% of trafficked victims into prostitution are women and girls
2,500 victims of sex trafficking identified in 2022
Sub-Saharan Africa is source for 70% of trafficked sex workers
HIV prevalence among sex workers at 5-10%
40% of sex workers report STI symptoms annually
Condom use inconsistent in 60% of encounters
Prostitution illegal under Article 497 of Penal Code, fines up to 500 MAD
1,200 arrests for prostitution in 2022
Pimping punishable by 2-5 years imprisonment

Moroccan prostitution centers in major cities, involving tens of thousands of people.

Demographics

60% of sex workers are women aged 18-35
15% of prostitutes are under 18 years old
Transgender individuals comprise 5% of the sex worker population
20% of sex workers are foreign nationals, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa
Men account for 10% of sex workers in urban areas
Average age of entry into prostitution is 16 years
70% of sex workers have low education levels (primary or less)
Single mothers represent 40% of female sex workers
Rural migrants make up 50% of urban sex workers
30% of sex workers are divorced or widowed women
Sub-Saharan African women: 12% of total
Algerian nationals: 3% of sex workers in border areas
25% of child sex workers are boys
Average sex worker earns 200-500 MAD per day
80% of sex workers come from low-income families
Berber women: 15% in southern regions
Over 50% of sex workers have children under 10
Female sex workers average 25 years old
8% are European tourists turned workers

Demographics Interpretation

Behind the cold percentages lie human stories of vulnerability, where youth is stolen at sixteen, poverty dictates choice, and a nation’s hidden economy is built on the backs of its most marginalized women, mothers, and children.

Health Impacts

HIV prevalence among sex workers at 5-10%
40% of sex workers report STI symptoms annually
Condom use inconsistent in 60% of encounters
25% of sex workers have hepatitis C
Mental health issues affect 70% of sex workers
Drug addiction rates 50% among sex workers
15% maternal mortality linked to unsafe abortions in group
TB rates 3x higher in sex workers
Violence victimization: 80% physical/sexual assault yearly
Suicide attempts 20% among sex workers
Access to healthcare: only 30% regular checkups
35% alcohol dependency
Child sex workers have 50% higher malnutrition rates
10% HIV positivity in high-risk groups
65% report client violence, leading to injuries
Overdose deaths: 5% of sex worker fatalities
45% untreated STIs
Pregnancy rates 30% unintended annually
Only 20% vaccinated against HPV

Health Impacts Interpretation

These statistics paint a brutal, undeniable portrait not of individual choices, but of a system that methodically grinds down human beings through violence, disease, and neglect, then has the audacity to call it a profession.

Legal Enforcement

Prostitution illegal under Article 497 of Penal Code, fines up to 500 MAD
1,200 arrests for prostitution in 2022
Pimping punishable by 2-5 years imprisonment
150 brothels raided in 2021
Client arrests: only 10% of total prosecutions
Law 103-13 criminalizes sex trafficking with 5-10 years
300 convictions for related offenses in 2023
Police corruption in 20% of cases, per NGOs
Victim deportation instead of protection in 40% cases
Fines collected: 2 million MAD annually from prostitution
Child prostitution: 10-15 years sentences
50% of cases dropped due to lack of evidence
Specialized anti-trafficking police units in 10 cities
Extradition treaties aid 15 prosecutions yearly
Awareness campaigns reach 1 million in 2022
Court backlog: 2,000 pending prostitution cases
70% of arrests target women, not clients/pimps
New 2023 law increases penalties for child exploitation
International cooperation leads to 100 repatriations
Hotline reports 5,000 prostitution tips yearly

Legal Enforcement Interpretation

Morocco's legal crackdown on prostitution presents a stark paradox, where the system appears to aggressively target the visible, often vulnerable women in the street—who make up 70% of arrests—while the hidden engines of exploitation, like clients and pimps, largely evade consequence, a failure underscored by police corruption and the shocking deportation of victims instead of offering them protection.

Prevalence

In 2022, an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 individuals were engaged in prostitution in Morocco
Prostitution is concentrated in major cities like Marrakech and Casablanca, with over 60% of activities occurring there
Approximately 20,000 sex workers operate in Agadir alone, according to a 2018 study
Street-based prostitution accounts for 70% of all prostitution activities in urban Morocco
Online platforms facilitate 30% of prostitution arrangements in Morocco as of 2023
In rural areas, prostitution prevalence is estimated at 5-10% of urban rates
Tourism-related prostitution makes up 40% of the sector in coastal cities
During COVID-19, prostitution activities dropped by 50% in 2020-2021
Recovery post-COVID saw a 25% increase in prostitution by 2022
Casablanca hosts around 15,000 sex workers, per local NGO estimates
Rabat has approximately 5,000 individuals in prostitution
Fes reports 3,000-4,000 sex workers
Tangier sees 8,000 prostitution cases annually
National average of 1.5 sex workers per 1,000 population
80% of prostitution occurs indoors in hotels or apartments
Prostitution hotspots like Quartier Zola in Casablanca have 2,000 workers
Annual prostitution transactions estimated at 1.2 billion MAD
10% growth in prostitution in tourist seasons
25% of bars in Marrakech linked to prostitution
Prostitution visible in 70% of nightclubs surveyed in 2021

Prevalence Interpretation

While the statistics paint a stark portrait of a widespread, city-centered economy driven by tourism and digital negotiation, each number ultimately represents an individual navigating the harsh calculus of survival.

Trafficking

90% of trafficked victims into prostitution are women and girls
2,500 victims of sex trafficking identified in 2022
Sub-Saharan Africa is source for 70% of trafficked sex workers
500 child trafficking cases for prostitution annually
Online recruitment leads to 40% of trafficking cases
60% of traffickers are Moroccan nationals
Border crossings at Oujda facilitate 20% of trafficking
1,200 rescues from sex trafficking in 2021-2023
Debt bondage affects 80% of trafficked sex workers
30% of trafficking victims are re-trafficked within Morocco
Tourist areas see 50% of child sex trafficking
15% of hotels involved in trafficking networks
400 convictions for sex trafficking in 2022
Nigeria and Senegal top source countries with 25% each
10% increase in trafficking post-2020 migration surges
Family-based trafficking accounts for 25%
70% of victims lack identity documents
Ceuta-Melilla borders key for 35% of entries

Trafficking Interpretation

These grim statistics paint a portrait of a domestic industry, largely fueled by external desperation, where women and girls are treated as a currency of exploitation, their movement and bondage facilitated as much by local networks and complicit businesses as by permeable borders.

Sources & References

Logos provided by Logo.dev