Authorities in Vorarlberg recorded 27 reports related to illegal prostitution last year, according to figures from Austria’s Interior Ministry. Although this represents a slight decrease of two cases compared with the previous year, officials say the numbers should not be interpreted as evidence of a significant decline.
The true extent of illegal prostitution is difficult to determine, as authorities assume that a considerable number of cases remain undetected. Administrative penalties therefore provide only a limited picture of the actual scale of the activity.
Vorarlberg Stands Out in Comparison
The western Austrian state is notable when compared with other regions of the country. Over the longer term, Vorarlberg has recorded comparatively high numbers of reports. According to the figures, the state has seen almost twice as many reports as Lower Austria.
One possible explanation is the intensity of enforcement and inspections in Vorarlberg. Differences between regions do not necessarily mean that illegal prostitution itself is more widespread. In Lower Austria, for example, some activity may shift across national borders or towards Vienna.
Authorities also investigated more serious cases connected with sexual exploitation. Two investigations into human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation were conducted in Vorarlberg last year.
Commercial Prostitution Is Almost Impossible to Practice Legally
Vorarlberg has an unusual position within Austria when it comes to prostitution. Prostitution itself is not completely prohibited. However, commercial prostitution may legally take place only in licensed brothels — while in practice, no brothels are approved in the state.
The situation results from Vorarlberg’s Sittenpolizeigesetz, or morality police law, whose requirements make obtaining approval for a brothel practically impossible. There is, however, an important legal distinction. The law prohibits prostitution when it is carried out commercially as a means of earning a living. Occasional prostitution, by contrast, remains legal in Vorarlberg.
This creates a regulatory situation very different from that found in several other Austrian states.
No Registered Sex Workers in Vorarlberg
Perhaps the most striking statistic is that Vorarlberg currently has no registered sex workers at all. It is the only Austrian federal state without a single registered prostitute, while approximately 5,400 sex workers are registered across Austria as a whole.
The combination of zero registered workers and continued reports of illegal prostitution highlights the unusual reality of the sex industry in Vorarlberg. While official statistics recorded 27 reports in the latest year covered by the Interior Ministry’s data, the authorities acknowledge that the real number of illegal activities may be considerably higher.