The age of consent is a rule of thumb and a legal requirement for individuals who are having sexual encounters.
States and nations have set legal ages of consent to protect children from being victimized and trafficked as sex slaves.
Learn more about the age of consent and how this age varies from location.
Contents
Age of Consent by Region
Europe
Europe has some of the most varied ages of consent in the world, ranging from 14 to 18.
The table below shows the specific age of consent for each country across the continent, helping you compare laws quickly and easily.
| Country | Age of Consent |
|---|---|
| Albania | 14 |
| Andorra | 16 |
| Austria | 14 |
| Belarus | 16 |
| Belgium | 16 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 14 |
| Bulgaria | 14 |
| Croatia | 15 |
| Cyprus | 17 |
| Czech Republic | 15 |
| Denmark | 15 |
| Estonia | 16 |
| Finland | 16 |
| France | 15 |
| Germany | 14 |
| Greece | 15 |
| Hungary | 14 |
| Iceland | 15 |
| Ireland | 17 |
| Italy | 14 |
| Kosovo | 14 |
| Latvia | 16 |
| Liechtenstein | 14 |
| Lithuania | 16 |
| Luxembourg | 16 |
| Malta | 18 |
| Moldova | 16 |
| Monaco | 15 |
| Montenegro | 14 |
| Netherlands | 16 |
| North Macedonia | 14 |
| Norway | 16 |
| Poland | 15 |
| Portugal | 14 |
| Romania | 15 |
| Russia | 16 |
| San Marino | 14 |
| Serbia | 14 |
| Slovenia | 15 |
| Spain | 16 |
| Sweden | 15 |
| Switzerland | 16 |
| Ukraine | 16 |
| United Kingdom | 16 |
| Vatican City | 18 |
Africa
Africa has a wide range of legal ages, from as low as 11 to as high as 18.
The table below lists the official age of consent for each country in Africa, giving a clear view of the differences across the continent.
| Country | Age of Consent |
|---|---|
| Algeria | 16 |
| Angola | 12 |
| Benin | 18 |
| Botswana | 16 |
| Burkina Faso | 13 |
| Burundi | 18 |
| Cameroon | 16 |
| Cape Verde | 14 |
| Chad | 14 |
| Comoros | 13 |
| DR Congo | 14 |
| Egypt | 18 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 18 |
| Eritrea | 18 |
| Ethiopia | 18 |
| Gabon | 18 |
| Gambia | 18 |
| Ghana | 16 |
| Ivory Coast | 18 |
| Kenya | 18 |
| Lesotho | 16 |
| Liberia | 18 |
| Madagascar | 14 |
| Malawi | 14 |
| Mali | 18 |
| Mauritania | 16 |
| Mauritius | 14 |
| Morocco | 18 |
| Namibia | 16 |
| Niger | 13 |
| Nigeria | 11 |
| Republic of the Congo | 18 |
| Rwanda | 18 |
| Senegal | 16 |
| Seychelles | 18 |
| Sierra Leone | 18 |
| Somalia | 18 |
| South Africa | 16 |
| South Sudan | 18 |
| Sudan | 18 |
| Tanzania | 18 |
| Togo | 16 |
| Tunisia | 18 |
| Uganda | 18 |
| Zambia | 16 |
| Zimbabwe | 16 |
Asia
Asia shows a diverse range of ages of consent, from 13 to 20, reflecting the continent’s cultural and legal differences.
Check the table below to see the specific laws for each country.
| Country | Age of Consent |
|---|---|
| Armenia | 16 |
| Azerbaijan | 16 |
| Bangladesh | 14 |
| Bhutan | 18 |
| Cambodia | 15 |
| China | 14 |
| Georgia | 16 |
| India | 18 |
| Indonesia | 16 |
| Iran | 18 |
| Iraq | 18 |
| Israel | 16 |
| Japan | 16 |
| Jordan | 16 |
| Kazakhstan | 16 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 16 |
| Laos | 15 |
| Lebanon | 18 |
| Malaysia | 16 |
| Maldives | 15 |
| Mongolia | 16 |
| Myanmar | 14 |
| Nepal | 20 |
| North Korea | 15 |
| Philippines | 16 |
| Singapore | 16 |
| South Korea | 20 |
| Sri Lanka | 16 |
| Syria | 15 |
| Taiwan | 16 |
| Tajikistan | 16 |
| Thailand | 15 |
| Turkmenistan | 16 |
| Uzbekistan | 16 |
| Vietnam | 18 |
Americas
Across the Americas, ages of consent range from 14 to 18.
This table lists all countries in North, Central, and South America so you can see how they differ.
| Country | Age of Consent |
|---|---|
| American Samoa | 16 |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 16 |
| Argentina | 18 |
| Aruba | 15 |
| Bahamas | 16 |
| Barbados | 16 |
| Belize | 16 |
| Bolivia | 14 |
| Brazil | 14 |
| Canada | 16 |
| Chile | 18 |
| Colombia | 14 |
| Costa Rica | 18 |
| Cuba | 16 |
| Dominica | 16 |
| Dominican Republic | 18 |
| Ecuador | 14 |
| El Salvador | 18 |
| Grenada | 16 |
| Guatemala | 18 |
| Guyana | 16 |
| Haiti | 18 |
| Honduras | 15 |
| Jamaica | 16 |
| Mexico | 17 |
| Nicaragua | 18 |
| Panama | 18 |
| Paraguay | 14 |
| Peru | 14 |
| Suriname | 16 |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 16 |
| United States | 16 |
| Uruguay | 15 |
| Venezuela | 16 |
Oceania
Oceania’s countries mostly have ages of consent between 14 and 19.
The table below shows each country in this region.
| Country | Age of Consent |
|---|---|
| Australia | 16 |
| Cook Islands | 16 |
| Fiji | 16 |
| Guam | 16 |
| Kiribati | 15 |
| Marshall Islands | 16 |
| Micronesia | 14 |
| Nauru | 17 |
| New Zealand | 16 |
| Niue | 19 |
| Palau | 16 |
| Papua New Guinea | 16 |
| Samoa | 16 |
| Solomon Islands | 15 |
| Tonga | 16 |
| Vanuatu | 16 |
About the Age of Consent
Around the world, countries have what we call an age of consent.
This is the age when a person is legally allowed to engage in sexual conduct.
At the age of consent, individuals are considered old enough to say yes or no to participating in sexual acts.
It is also the age when a person can mentally, physically, and emotionally respond to having sexual intercourse.
As a result, anyone older than the age of consent is seen as mature enough to be in relationships that involve sexual activities.
What is the Typical Age of Consent
The average age of consent is 14 to 18 years old.
In Japan, the age of consent is younger, with individuals being able to consent at 16 years old.
Serbia, Germany, China, Brazil, and Myanmar share the consent age of 14 years old.
In Sweden, Laos, Cambodia, and Aruba state the age of consent is 15 years old.
In the United States, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Togo, and New Zealand, the national age of consent is 16 years old.
In the US, specifically, individual states have their state-wide age of consent, which may be younger than 16.
Only Cyprus, Mexico, Ireland, and Naura is the age of consent of 17 years old.
Eighteen years is more common for the age of consent, such as in South Sudan, Malta, Iraq, and Egypt.
On the Polynesian island of Niue, the age of consent is 19 years, and this is the only country with that age.
Nepal and South Korea are the only two countries with the age of consent set at 20, while Bahrain is the only place where you must be 21 to legally consent to sex.
Having Sex Under the Age of Consent
If you are younger than the age of consent when you have sexual intercourse, you can be held legally liable and may be charged with a crime.
However, often the case is that one partner is older than the other partner, who is younger than the age of consent.
If the older partner has sex with someone who is under the age of consent, they may be charged with statutory rape or a similar crime.
If someone marries under the age of consent, both partners can be held liable in some countries.
This is also why the age of consent may be lower in some less developed regions and countries–so that people can marry at a younger age.
The benefits include reducing the cost of child-rearing for a partner’s parents.
Yet the age of consent is set to prevent younger partners from being abused and used against their will.
Frequently Asked Questions
In How Many States Is the Age of Consent 16 in the US?
In the United States, the age of consent is 16 in 34 states, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services.
In New York, the age of consent is 17 years of age.
Who Establishes the Age of Consent?
The age of consent for a country is established by the national government presiding over the people.
Everyone who lives under that rule must follow the age of consent either for the nation or their state.
For example, in the United States, the average age of consent for most states is 16 years old.
However, some states, like Arkansas, have a lower age at 15, and other states, including Oregon, set the age of consent to 18 years old.
What Are the Oldest and Youngest Ages of Consent?
Of all the countries in the world, the youngest age of consent is 11 years old.
This is for individuals who are living in the African country of Nigeria.
Nigeria is also the country with the highest murder rate, as of 2018.
The country with the oldest age of consent is the Kingdom of Bahrain. Also called simply Bahrain, this is a conservative island nation in the Middle East.
In Bahrain, the age of consent is 21 years, which is also the legal drinking age in the United States.
The age of consent is a necessary legal requirement to protect minors from being taken advantage of in sexual relationships, and while it may vary between countries, it serves an important purpose in preventing exploitation and abuse.
This comprehensive guide provides a clear understanding of the age of consent across different countries, highlighting its importance in protecting young individuals from potential abuse.
I think that age of consent laws are against the laws of God and nature.
Of all the different species that exist on earth humans are the only species that waits past the time of sexual maturity to start procreating with each other. Is mankind trying to say that God who is perfect and all knowing if everything got it wrong on this issue and that we know better than he? don’t get me wrong, I think that if there is any type of grooming or coercion, or if it’s non-consensual that it is dead wrong and should be addressed accordingly, but I do believe that it is perfectly natural and even instinctual for a man to find young girls that are sexually mature , sexually attractive.
It’s the natural course of nature for such feelings of desire to occur between sexually mature people. if it’s such a bad thing, than why is the going theme on all social media geared towards hyper sexualizing of young children. parents are having professional photographers take very sexually provocative pictures that contain very adult themes, dress, and suggestions. and they make tons of money doing it, and it doesn’t seem like there is much resistance to the whole idea, and that everybody, meaning the majority of the U.S. populace being ok, or tolerant of such happenings.
I myself am 54 years old, and I love sexually mature females and would not have any problem whatsoever with having sexual relations with a 12-13 year old girl that knew what she wanted and liked me. call me what you want, but it really turns me on to see beautiful young girls that are sexually mature and sexually active.
As a matter of fact, it’s my wildest fantasy to marry a 12-13 year old girl & to devirginize her, and have children with her.
Yeah! Well there is a reason a term called “pedophile” has been derived for people like you!
Yeah! Pedophile comes from the Greek pædo, meaning child, and fil, meaning friend. If you are not friends with your child, you are a bad parent.
It’s only in the last 100 years that the word has been sexualized.
Michael Nielsen
Denmark.
look this is the way I see it God told Mary parents that they would have a child a girl and that they would call her Mary and that see would have to stay a virgin and serve him ( God) till the age of 13 OK PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION WHAT IM TELLING YOU. 13 then she would wed Joseph and that she would have conseved at 13 the son of god (Jesus) .ok so can think some men are pervs or Pedo understand that if GOD CAME DOWN AND DEFILED MARY AT 13 TO HAVE HIS SON then why is it ok for us to be cool with that but not to consensually people no matter age not see the word CONSENTUAL play a big part in this whole thing so get your ducks in a row before you start counting them. NOW WHAT SAY SOMETHING AND THIS STUFF IS OVER AND IM NOT PLAYING. WHOOP WHOOP. GOODNIGHT PLANCHETTE OUT I.W.I.D BABY ITS WHAT I DO
So, what’s the story behind Cyprus and Mexico being a kind of middle ground with 17? Did someone put that number into a hat and pull it out?
The very fact that the age of consent defers so much all over the world is just that, a mere self viewed believe of that countries views and believes and not based on Science/Logic or according to Biology/Nature.
If that was the case it would have been 12 (puberty) giving the most evidence based age/ “formula” if a age have to be chosen.
Only a very few number of countries have gone that route , and probably not according to Science/Biology but rather their own preference for this reason or that.
Age of consent is the dumbest kind of law humans have ever created , the US is a perfect example. They have 3 ages, and according to them somehow the teens in 1 State as appose to another got a higher level of Cognitive ability/IQ/Intelligence/Maturity etc. and loses all of that when they cross state lines or the borders of another country.
It is utter BS and pure nonsense that have been perpetuated by Conservatives and Religious persuaders under the misleading facade all in the name of protecting innocent little angels.
And yet that supposedly innocent little angels are banging up a storm ALL OVER THE WORLD (Everyone can see for self ….even in news)
on their own recourse without Grooming, forcing, manipulating , trickery, coercing or any other then her own choice because she can and wants too.
Age of consent does not protect children from exploitation. It makes it profitable for people to exploit children and traffic them for profit. It also encourages child pornography. At one time magazines depicting nude children of all ages we available openly in some areas of Europe. Some even engaging in sexual activities. Kids were not trafficked and sold as commodities. Forcing anyone to do anything against their will should be and mostly is illegal. Age of consent laws only hide the truth and create illegal activity which I believe is worse for children.