Age of Consent by Country 2024

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 2024, The lowest age of consent in the world is 12 years, although the legal Age of Consent varies from Country to Country and is from 12 to 21 years old around the world. In some of the countries, especially in Arab region 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 lowest age of consent is 9 years for Maldives and 12 years for Angola, Mexico, Philippines, South Sudan and Sudan, which is the minimum age in the world. The youngest age of consent varies from the ages from 9 to 21, but the most common consent around the world ranges from 14 years to 16 years.

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.

Age of consent around the world

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Lowest age of consent

The lowest age of consent in the world is 9 years for Maldives and 12 years for Angola, Mexico, South Sudan, Philippines and Sudan, which is the minimum age of consent in the world. The age of consent in Africa varies from 11 to 18 years old and the lowest age of consent in europe is 14, applies in countries including Germany, Austria, Italy, Serbia and Portugal, while other some of the european countries set age from 16 to 17 as the age of consent, several others, including Malta and Vatican City, require age of consent to be at least 18. The age of consent in North America varies by jurisdiction, with the lowest being 16 and the highest being 18 years old. It is worth noting the North American countries that in both United States and Canada, engaging in sexual activity with a minor below the age of consent is considered statutory rape and is punishable by law. The age of consent in South America varies by country with the lowest age of consent being 13 and the highest being 18 years old.

Age of Consent in 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. Even eligibility of playing lottery in US is 18 years.

Age of Consent in 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.

Age of Consent in 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.

Age of Consent in Japan

According to the Penal Code of Japan in 1907, The age of consent in Japan sets a national age of 13. As per the general law of 1907, Any sexual activity with a person under 13 is considered to be statutory rape and can result in a prison sentence of up to 20 years. But the age of consent in Japan varies significantly across the country. There are three set of laws like Juvenile Obscene Acts, Civil laws and the penal code. Each of these sets out different guidelines as to when sexual activity is acceptable. Its illegal to marry a person below 20 years without parental permission in the written format. Youth protection law states it is illegal for a adult to have sex who is under 17 years old.

Age of Consent in Mexico

According to the federal law, The minimum age of consent in Mexico is 12 to 15 as per the state laws, while the age at which there are no restrictions for consensual sexual activities is 16 to 18 depends on the state laws, which says sex with someone 12 to 18 is not illegal but local state laws may override the federal law. Mexico States with minimum age of consent of 12 years is Aguascalientes, Baja California Sur, Guerrero, Mexico City, Michoacán, Morelos, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas, and Nuevo León age of consent is 13 years, States with minimum age of consent of 14 years is Baja California, Campeche, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Colima, Durango, Guanajuato, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí and Tlaxcala. Mexico States with minimum age of consent of 15 years are Coahuila, Hidalgo, México and Yucatán.

Age of Consent in 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. Its offense young people to have sex with children younger than 14, but if two children engage in sexual acts with each other, they will not be punished since they have not reached the age of criminal responsibility in Germany. So the young people aged 14 and 15 are allowed to have sex with each other if they are consent to each other. Adults aged 21 and over are not allowed to exploit young people under the age of 16, and 18 or over are to be considered adults in Germany, can therefore have sex with other adults if both people consent.

Age of Consent in 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. South Korea has set one of the oldest ages of consent in the world. Previously, the age of consent in South Korea was 13, one of the lowest in the world. South Korea has a traditional system of counting the age who considers every person 1 year old at birth and adds another year when the calendar hits 1st January, meaning a child born on 31st December turns 2 the next day.

Age of Consent in 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. By Code Amendment Act of 1997, committing an indecent act with anyone under 18 even with the consent of that person, also disallow any sexual contact with prostitutes under the age of 18, are widely interpreted by some local authorities to cover sexual acts classed as obscenity for personal gratification. Under Thailand section 277, Whoever, has sexual intercourse with a girl not yet over fifteen years of age and not being his own wife, whether such girl shall consent or not, shall be punished with imprisonment of at least four to twenty years and fined up to eight thousand to forty thousand Baht. A marriage can only take place when the man and the woman have completed their seventeenth year of age. A child under ten years of age shall not be punished for committing what is provided by the law to be an offence.

Age of Consent in Russia

The age of consent in Russia is 16, it was changed several times in Russian history, where in 1998 it was lowered to 14 years and in 2003 it was returned again to 16 years. For the sexual crimes, only a person over 18 can be charged and the punishment is upto 4 years of prison.

Age of Consent in India

The age of consent in India for sex is 18 under the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013. Person under 18 cannot legally consent to sexual activity, that could lead in prosecution for statutory rape. There are many cases who marry below 18 years in india outside the registered offices, it is considered as illegal and they need till they reach 18 years of age. Below 18 is considered as minor in India. Most of the marriages in today India happens after attaining 21 years of age.

Age of Consent in Italy

The age of consent in Italy is 14 years, Italy constitution allows a close age exception 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 4 years. Also it is illegal to perform sexual acts in the presence of a minor aged less than 14. In Italy if the involved is under the age of 11, the crime can be punished without a complaint.

Age of Consent in United Kingdom

UK national age of consent set as 16. The United Kingdom consists of the jurisdictions of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. United Kingdom do not have stricter restrictions, but persons under the age of consent for engaging in sexual activity will be prosecuted.

Age of Consent in Sweden

The age of consent in Sweden is 15, as specified by the Swedish Penal Code, Chapter 6 On Sexual Crimes. The Swedish age of consent also applies if any act takes place outside Sweden but the elder person later visits Sweden, The elder person doesn't have to be a Swedish resident or citizen, even on a temporary visit. This code applicable regardless of the age of consent in the country or place. A person who has sexual intercourse with a child under fifteen years of age or a child carries out another sexual act, It is comparable to sexual intercourse, and shall be sentenced for rape of a child to imprisonment for a minimum two to six years.

Age of Consent in 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.

Age of Consent in 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.

Age of Consent in Austria

The age of consent in Austria is 14, as specified by Section 206 of the penal code.

Age of Consent in Spain

The age of consent in Spain is 16, under a new law which came into effect on 1 July 2015. According to Article 183, The age of consent in spain by 2024, Whoever performs sexual acts with a minor or under sixteen years of age, shall be punished for sexual abuse of a minor with imprisonment of two to six years.

Netherlands: The age of consent in the Netherlands is 16, as specified by the Dutch Criminal Code. According to Criminal Code, Article 245, A person who is out of wedlock and if he or she engages with a person who has reached the age of twelve but has not reached sixteen years, if they performs indecent acts comprising sexual penetration of the body, they are liable to a term of imprisonment of not more than eight years or a fine according to the category.

Ireland: The age of consent in the Republic of Ireland is 17

Age of Consent in China

The age of consent in China for sexual activity is 14 years, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

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.

Denmark: The age of consent in the Kingdom of Denmark is 15 years as specified by Section 222, Whoever has sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 15, shall be punished by imprisonment for up to 8 years. According to section 223, Any person who has sexual intercourse with any child under 18, who is said person's adopted child, stepchild or foster child, or who is entrusted to said person for education or upbringing, they will be liable to imprisonment for any term not exceeding four years.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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