The Oldest Profession - Shocking Facts and Statistics About Prostitution

Prostitution is referred to as the world's oldest profession - although it is a risky industry filled with a façade of women and men being paid to please the opposite sex sexually there are a vast amount of men and women who would be considered prostitutes currently in the profession in the United States.

Male and female sex workers can be found in every city, in every country of the world. From prostitution on the street to high paid escorts - the profession is not getting smaller. It is growing with less of a stigma - a scary thought for the future. Some think it should be legalized, and I agree - for the reason that it would make the sex industry a safer place to work.

I was shocked that nearly 50% of men have been with a prostitute, I am a man - and I have never had the experience. Serial customers refer to themselves as "hobbyists". Shocked - I will never think of my hobbies the same.

70% of female inmates in American prisons were initially arrested for prostitution

Prostitutes report being "horribly beaten" by their pimps an average of 58 times a year

Over 1 million people in the US have worked as prostitutes

77.8% of arrests are women, 22.2% men

Prostitutes account for 90% of the arrests, their clients for only 10%

85-90% of those arrested are street prostitutes, who account for 20% of prostitutes

Only 3-5% of STDs are prostitution-related

80% of prostitutes have been sexually assaulted, some raped as many as 8-10 time annually

97% of house-prostitutes like themselves more after than before becoming prostitutes

59% of prostitutes have thought of committing suicide, compared to 61% of non-prostitutes

All arrests of prostitutes involve entrapment, invasion of privacy, and/or the use of discriminatory laws/tactics

There is no statistical indication in the U.S. that prostitutes are vectors of HIV

In a study in London, England 50% of clients were married, or cohabiting

70% of adult men have engaged in prostitution at least once

Call girls and brothel workers had higher self esteem than before they became prostitutes