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Estimating the prostitution population using online data: a single-registration approach for the Netherlands and Belgium

Author

Listed:
  • Anahita Azam

    (KU Leuven)

  • Jef Hendrickx

    (KU Leuven)

  • Stef Adriaenssens

    (KU Leuven)

Abstract

Evidence-based risk-prevention policies for people involved in prostitution require, amongst others, reliable population estimates. This study proposes a methodological framework and novel data source for measuring their population in regions where the internet plays a predominant role in the industry. We use online data that documents activities in prostitution markets in the Netherlands and Belgium. We derive population estimates using the single-registration Zelterman approach—a variant of single-source capture-recapture techniques—which models unobserved sex workers based on the counts of observed sex workers. The combination of this novel data source and method allows us to estimate the number of sex workers active between February 2019 and 2020 in the Netherlands and Belgium. These resulting estimates for the Netherlands and Belgium are lower than previously published estimates. We find that, relative to the overall population of the two countries, the proportion of sex workers is roughly identical despite differing legal environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Anahita Azam & Jef Hendrickx & Stef Adriaenssens, 2025. "Estimating the prostitution population using online data: a single-registration approach for the Netherlands and Belgium," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 59(1), pages 369-387, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:qualqt:v:59:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s11135-024-01966-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11135-024-01966-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lisa Cameron & Jennifer Seager & Manisha Shah, 2021. "Crimes Against Morality: Unintended Consequences of Criminalizing Sex Work," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 136(1), pages 427-469.
    2. Scott Cunningham & Gregory DeAngelo & John Tripp, 2024. "Did Craigslist’s Erotic Services Reduce Female Homicide and Rape?," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 59(1), pages 280-315.
    3. Cunningham, Scott & Shah, Manisha (ed.), 2016. "The Oxford Handbook of the Economics of Prostitution," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199915248, Decembrie.
    4. Nikita Viswasam & Carrie E Lyons & Jack MacAllister & Greg Millett & Jennifer Sherwood & Amrita Rao & Stefan D Baral & on behalf of the Global.HIV Research Group, 2020. "The uptake of population size estimation studies for key populations in guiding HIV responses on the African continent," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(2), pages 1-16, February.
    5. Keith Sabin & Jinkou Zhao & Jesus Maria Garcia Calleja & Yaou Sheng & Sonia Arias Garcia & Annette Reinisch & Ryuichi Komatsu, 2016. "Availability and Quality of Size Estimations of Female Sex Workers, Men Who Have Sex with Men, People Who Inject Drugs and Transgender Women in Low- and Middle-Income Countries," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(5), pages 1-11, May.
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