The age of consent for the person in this world is the age at which a person is considered to be legally competent to consent to sexual acts in any country and is thus the minimum age of a person with whom another person is legally permitted to engage in sexual activity. As on 2022, The legal Age of Consent varies from Country to Country and is from 11 to 21 years old around the world. In some of the Arab Countries, there is no legal age of consent but all sexual relations are forbidden outside of marriage. The laws were designed to prosecute people older than the victims rather than teenagers close in age.
The age of consent in the United States varies from 16 to 18. Some of the Asian and African countries require individuals to be married before they can legally have sex, all of which are highly conservative on issues of gender and sexuality. Europe's lowest age of consent is 14, which applies in countries including Austria, Germany, Serbia, Italy and Portugal, while Some of the European countries set 16 to 17 as the age of consent, several others, including Malta and Vatican City, require to be at least 18.
Asia: The legal age of consent in Asia for sexual activity varies by jurisdiction, ranging from age 9 in Yemen to age 21 in Hong Kong.
Europe: The age of consent in Europe vary by jurisdiction, They are currently set between the ages of 14 and 18. The vast majority of countries set their ages in the range of 14 to 16, and only other three countries, Cyprus (17), Ireland (17), Turkey (18) has their own pattern.
Africa: The legal age of consent in Africa for sexual activity varies from 12 to 21, ranging from age 12 in Sudan to age 21 in Cameroon and Niger.
North America: The legal age of consent in North America relating to sexual activity varies by jurisdiction. Each U.S. state has set its age of consent at either age 16, age 17, or age 18. The age of consent in Canada is 16.
South America: The age of consent in South America varies by jurisdiction, codified in laws which may also stipulate the specific activities that are permitted or the gender of participants for different ages. Across South America it varies from 14 to 18.
| Country | Region | Age Of Consent |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Asia | 16 |
| Albania | Europe | 14 |
| Algeria | Africa | 16 |
| American Samoa | Oceania | 16 |
| Andorra | Europe | 16 |
| Angola | Africa | 12 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | North America | 16 |
| Argentina | South America | 18 |
| Armenia | Europe | 16 |
| Aruba | North America | 15 |
| Australia | Oceania | 16 |
| Austria | Europe | 14 |
| Azerbaijan | Europe | 16 |
| Bahamas | North America | 16 |
| Bahrain | Asia | 21 |
| Bangladesh | Asia | 14 |
| Barbados | North America | 16 |
| Belarus | Europe | 16 |
| Belgium | Europe | 16 |
| Belize | North America | 16 |
| Benin | Africa | 18 |
| Bhutan | Asia | 18 |
| Bolivia | South America | 14 |
| Bosnia and Heregovina | Europe | 14 |
| Botswana | Africa | 16 |
| Brazil | South America | 14 |
| Brunei | Asia | 16 |
| Bulgaria | Europe | 14 |
| Burkina Faso | Africa | 13 |
| Burundi | Africa | 18 |
| Cambodia | Asia | 15 |
| Cameroon | Africa | 16 |
| Canada | North America | 16 |
| Cape Verde | Africa | 14 |
| Caribbean Netherlands | North America | 16 |
| Central African Verde | Africa | 18 |
| Chad | Africa | 14 |
| Chile | South America | 18 |
| China | Asia | 14 |
| Colombia | South America | 14 |
| Comoros | Africa | 13 |
| Cook Islands | Oceania | 16 |
| Costa Rica | North America | 15 |
| Croatia | Europe | 15 |
| Cuba | North America | 16 |
| Cyprus | Europe | 17 |
| Czech Republic | Europe | 15 |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Africa | 14 |
| Denmark | Europe | 15 |
| Djibouti | Africa | 18 |
| Dominica | North America | 16 |
| Dominican Republic | North America | 18 |
| East Timor | Asia | 14 |
| Ecuador | South America | 14 |
| Egypt | Africa | 18 |
| El Salvador | North America | 18 |
| Equatorial Guinea | Africa | 18 |
| Eritrea | Africa | 18 |
| Estonia | Europe | 14 |
| Ethiopia | Africa | 18 |
| Federated States of Micronesia | Oceania | 14 |
| Fiji | Oceania | 16 |
| Finland | Europe | 16 |
| France | Europe | 15 |
| Gabon | Africa | 18 |
| Gambia | Africa | 18 |
| Georgia | Europe | 16 |
| Germany | Europe | 14 |
| Ghana | Africa | 16 |
| Greece | Europe | 15 |
| Grenada | North America | 16 |
| Guam | Oceania | 16 |
| Guatemala | North America | 18 |
| Guinea | Africa | 15 |
| Guinea Bissau | Africa | 16 |
| Haiti | North America | 18 |
| Honduras | North America | 15 |
| Hungary | Europe | 14 |
| Iceland | Europe | 15 |
| India | Asia | 18 |
| Indonesia | Asia | 16 |
| Iran | Asia | Must be married |
| Iraq | Asia | 18 |
| Ireland | Europe | 17 |
| Israel | Asia | 16 |
| Italy | Europe | 14 |
| Ivory Coast | Africa | 18 |
| Jamaica | North America | 16 |
| Japan | Asia | 13 |
| Jordan | Asia | 16 |
| Kazakhstan | Europe | 16 |
| Kenya | Africa | 18 |
| Kiribati | Oceania | 15 |
| Kuwait | Asia | 15 |
| Kyrgyzstan | Asia | 16 |
| Laos | Asia | 15 |
| Latvia | Europe | 16 |
| Lebanon | Asia | 18 |
| Lesotho | Africa | 16 |
| Liberia | Africa | 18 |
| Libya | Africa | 16 |
| Liechtenstein | Europe | 14 |
| Lithuania | Europe | 16 |
| Luxembourg | Europe | 16 |
| Macedonia | Europe | 14 |
| Madagascar | Africa | 14 |
| Malawi | Africa | 14 |
| Malaysia | Asia | 16 |
| Maldives | Asia | 9 |
| Mali | Africa | 18 |
| Malta | Europe | 18 |
| Marshall Islands | Oceania | 16 |
| Mauritania | Africa | 16 |
| Mauritius | Africa | 14 |
| Mexico | North America | 12 |
| Moldova | Europe | 16 |
| Monaco | Europe | 15 |
| Mongolia | Asia | 16 |
| Montenegro | Europe | 14 |
| Myanmar | Asia | 14 |
| Namibia | Africa | 16 |
| Nauru | Oceania | 17 |
| Nepal | Asia | 16 |
| Netherlands | Europe | 16 |
| New Zealand | Oceania | 16 |
| Nicaragua | North America | 18 |
| Niger | Africa | 13 |
| Nigeria | Africa | 18 |
| Niue | Oceania | 19 |
| North Korea | Asia | 15 |
| Northern Mariana Islands | Oceania | 18 |
| Norway | Europe | 16 |
| Oman | Asia | 18 |
| Pakistan | Asia | 18 |
| Palau | Oceania | 16 |
| Palestine Gaza Strip | Asia | Must be married |
| Panama | North America | 18 |
| Papua New Guinea | Oceania | 16 |
| Paraguay | South America | 14 |
| Peru | South America | 14 |
| Philippines | Asia | 12 |
| Poland | Europe | 15 |
| Portugal | Europe | 14 |
| Qatar | Asia | 16 |
| Republic of the Congo | Africa | 18 |
| Romania | Europe | 16 |
| Russia | Europe | 16 |
| Rwanda | Africa | 18 |
| Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic | Africa | 13 |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | North America | 16 |
| Saint Lucia | North America | 16 |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | North America | 15 |
| Samoa | Oceania | 16 |
| San Marino | Europe | 14 |
| Sao Tome and Principe | Africa | 14 |
| Saudi Arabia | Asia | 15 |
| Senegal | Africa | 16 |
| Serbia | Europe | 14 |
| Seychelles | Africa | 18 |
| Sierra Leone | Africa | 18 |
| Singapore | Asia | 16 |
| Slovak Republic | Europe | 15 |
| Slovenia | Europe | 15 |
| Solomon Islands | Oceania | 15 |
| Somalia | Africa | 18 |
| South Africa | Africa | 16 |
| South Korea | Asia | 16 |
| South Sudan | Africa | 12 |
| Spain | Europe | 16 |
| Sri Lanka | Asia | 16 |
| Sudan | Africa | 12 |
| Suriname | South America | 16 |
| Swaziland | Africa | 16 |
| Sweden | Europe | 15 |
| Switzerland | Europe | 16 |
| Syria | Asia | 15 |
| Taiwan | Asia | 16 |
| Tajikistan | Asia | 16 |
| Tanzania | Africa | 18 |
| Thailand | Asia | 15 |
| Togo | Africa | 16 |
| Tonga | Oceania | 16 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | North America | 16 |
| Tunisia | Africa | 18 |
| Turkey | Europe | 18 |
| Turkmenistan | Asia | 16 |
| Uganda | Africa | 18 |
| Ukraine | Europe | 16 |
| United Arab Emirates | Asia | 18 |
| United Kingdom | Europe | 16 |
| United States | North America | 16 |
| Uruguay | South America | 15 |
| Uzbekistan | Asia | 16 |
| Vanuatu | Oceania | 16 |
| Vatican City | Europe | 18 |
| Venezuela | South America | 16 |
| Vietnam | Asia | 18 |
| Yemen | Asia | Must be married |
| Zambia | Africa | 16 |
| Zimbabwe | Africa | 16 |
United States: The age of consent in the United States varies from 16 to 18 years old depending on the state. In some jurisdictions, Sexual activity between all-underaged participants can also be regarded as statutory rape. Out of fifty States, Thirty-one states set the age of consent as 16, eight set it as 17, and eleven set it as 18 as age of consent.
Nigeria: Age of consent in Nigeria is 18 years, According to Section 31 (3) (a) of the Child's Rights Act 2003 states that, Where a person is charged with an offence (of unlawful sexual relations with a child) under this section (31 of the same act), it is immaterial that the offender believed the person to be of or above the age of eighteen years.
Canada: According to the The Tackling Violent Crime Act took effect on 1 May 2008, raising the age of consent in Canada from 14 to 16. The close-in-age exemptions are depending on the age, A youth of twelve or thirteen can consent to sexual activity with a person less than two years older or a fourteen or fifteen year old can consent to sexual activity with a partner who is less than five years older.
China: The age of consent in China for sexual activity is 14 years, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
France: The age of consent in France is 15, as specified by Article 227-25 of the Penal Code. The act of sexual assault on a minor under the age of fifteen for an adult is punishable by seven years imprisonment and a fine of 100,000.
Japan: According to the Penal Code of Japan in 1907, The age of consent in Japan sets a national age of 13.
Mexico: The minimum age of consent in Mexico is 12 according to the federal law, while the age at which there are no restrictions for consensual sexual activities is 18 which says sex with someone 12-18 is not illegal but local state laws may override the federal law.
Germany: The age of consent in Germany is 14, as long as a person over the age of 21 does not exploit a 14 to 15 year old person due to lack of capacity for sexual self determination.
South Korea: The age of consent in South Korea, sexual activity with a person under the age of 16 in international age, not Korean age, is considered statutory rape, unless the other party is under 19.
Thailand: The age of consent in Thailand is 15 regardless of gender or sexual orientation, as specified by article 279 of the Thai Criminal Code.
Russia: The age of consent in Russia is 16.
India: The age of consent in India for sex is 18 under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013.
Italy: The age of consent in Italy is 14 years, with a close-in-age exception that allows those aged 13 to engage in sexual activity with partners who are under the age of 18, provided that the age gap between them is less than 3 years.
United Kingdom: UK national age of consent set as 16. The United Kingdom consists of the jurisdictions of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Sweden: The age of consent in Sweden is 15, as specified by the Swedish Penal Code, Chapter 6 On Sexual Crimes.
Philippines: The legal age of consent in Philippines is 12, Sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 12 is defined as rape, under Chapter 3, Article 266 of the Anti-Rape Law of 1997.
Australia: Australia is a federation of States and Territories, with each State and Territory having the primary jurisdiction over age of consent, South Australia and Tasmania State has 17 as minimum age of consent and all other states set as 16.
Austria: The age of consent in Austria is 14, as specified by Section 206 of the penal code.
Spain: The age of consent in Spain is 16, under a new law which came into effect on 1 July 2015.
Netherlands: The age of consent in the Netherlands is 16, as specified by the Dutch Criminal Code.
Ireland: The age of consent in the Republic of Ireland is 17.
Denmark: The age of consent in the Kingdom of Denmark is 15 as specified by Section 222.
Belgium: The age of consent in Belgium is 16, as specified by Article 372 of the Criminal Code.
Bulgaria: The age of consent in Bulgaria is 14, as specified by Articles 149 and 151.
Czech Republic: The age of sexual consent in the Czech Republic is 15.
Greece: As specified by Article 339, as well as Articles 337, 348B of the Greek Penal Code, The age of consent in Greece is 15.
Romania: The age of consent in Romania is 16, according to the Romanian Criminal Code.
Norway: The age of consent in Norway is 16, as specified by the 2005 Penal Code.
Georgia: The age of consent in Georgia is 16 as per the Georgian Penal Code.
Hungary: The age of consent in Hungary is 14. A close-in-age exemption allows sexual acts from age 12 if the older party is under 18.
Croatia: The age of consent in Croatia for all sexual conduct under the Criminal Code and regulated by Article 158 as on January 2013 is 15.
Peru: According to the Constitutional Court of Peru the age of consent was fixed at 14, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
Jamaica: The age of consent in Jamaica is 16. According to Article 50, Above twelve and under sixteen are Offenses against the person.
Iceland: The age of consent in Iceland is 15, as specified by Section 202 of the Icelandic Penal Code.
Argentina: The age of Consent in Argentina is 18, Sexual acts with children younger than 13 are illegal and Sexual relations with teens 13 to 18 are addressed by several laws.
Israel: The age of consent in Israel is 16 regardless of gender or sexual orientation according to the Israeli Penal Code of 1977.
New Zealand: The age of consent in New Zealand is 16, It is an offense in New Zealand to have a sexual connection with a person under the age of 16.
Poland: The age of consent in Poland is 15, as specified by the Polish Penal Code, Article 200.
Switzerland: The age of consent in Switzerland is 16, as specified by the Swiss Federal Criminal Code, Article 187.
Hong Kong: The age of consent in Hong Kong for sexual activity is 16 regardless of gender or sexual orientation. However, the age of consent for a female receiving anal sex is 21.
Thailand: As specified by article 279 of the Thai Criminal Code, The age of consent in Thailand is 15 regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
Brazil: The age of consent in Brazil is 14, regardless of gender or sexual orientation, there is judicial precedent allowing a close-in-age exception for those aged between 12 to 13 to engage in sexual activity with partners who are as much as 5 years older.
Venezuela: Sexual acts with children are punished under Art. 375, 379 of the penal code. The age of consent in Venezuela is 16, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.
Finland: The age of consent in Finland is 16, as specified by Section 6. A person who has sexual intercourse with a child younger to sixteen years of age shall be sentenced for sexual abuse of a child to imprisonment for up to four years.
© 2019-2022 populationU, Research papers on Population dynamics and Social affairs