Key Takeaways
- 85% of US sex workers are female, per national surveys
- The average age of entry into sex work in the US is 16-17 years old
- 49% of sex workers in a San Francisco study were Caucasian, 27% Latina, 17% African American, 4% Asian, 3% other
- HIV prevalence among US sex workers is 17% in some high-risk groups
- Sex workers have 10-20 times higher gonorrhea rates than general population
- 45% of female sex workers test positive for chlamydia in prevalence studies
- Prostitution arrests number 60,000-80,000 annually in the US
- 90% of prostitution arrests are of sex workers, not buyers
- Only Nevada allows legal brothels in 6 rural counties
- In 2014, the estimated annual revenue of the US indoor prostitution market (including brothels, massage parlors, and escort services) across eight major cities was approximately $1 billion
- The US outdoor prostitution market in eight cities generated about $243 million annually in 2014 according to Urban Institute estimates
- Escort services in the US contributed roughly 47% of indoor sex economy revenue in studied cities, equating to about $470 million yearly in 2014
- 82% of US sex workers have been raped at least once
- Pimps use violence against sex workers in 68% of cases
- 49% of sex workers experience weekly physical violence from clients
US sex work is largely driven by youth entry, widespread trauma, and high health risks alongside heavy policing.
Demographics of Sex Workers
Demographics of Sex Workers Interpretation
Health and Safety Issues
Health and Safety Issues Interpretation
Legal and Policy Aspects
Legal and Policy Aspects Interpretation
Prevalence and Market Size
Prevalence and Market Size Interpretation
Violence and Exploitation
Violence and Exploitation Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Marcus Engström. (2026, February 13). United States Prostitution Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/united-states-prostitution-statistics
Marcus Engström. "United States Prostitution Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/united-states-prostitution-statistics.
Marcus Engström. 2026. "United States Prostitution Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/united-states-prostitution-statistics.
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