Age of consent |
---|
Age of consent by country |
Details by location |
Reform |
The age of consent is the age at which a person is considered to be legally competent to consent to sexual acts and is thus the minimum age of a person with whom another person is legally permitted to engage in sexual activity. The distinguishing aspect of the age of consent laws is that the person below the minimum age is regarded as the victim, and their sex partner is regarded as the offender, unless both are underage.
The data below reflects what each jurisdiction's legislation actually means, rather than what it states on the surface.
State/territory | By age | By authority | Unrestricted | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 10 | 16 | 18 | [2] [3] |
![]() | 14 | 16 | 17 | [4] [5] [6] |
![]() | — | 16 | 18 | [7] |
![]() | — | — | 16 | [8] |
![]() | 16 | 17 | 18 | [9] [10] |
![]() | 12 | 17 | 18 | [11] [12] |
![]() | 12 | 16 | 18 | [13] [14] [15] [16] |
![]() | 13 | 16 | 18 | [17] |
Area | By age | By authority | Unrestricted | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 12 | — | 16 | 120 118 |
![]() | 14 | — | 18 | 177, 182 |
![]() | 12 | — | 18 | 286 290 |
![]() | 12 | — | 18 | 162 164 |
![]() | 12 | — | 18 | 235 239 |
![]() | 14 | — | 18 | 172 177 |
![]() | 12 | — | 16 | 229 235 |
![]() | 14 | — | 18 | 146 148 |
![]() | 12 | — | 18 | 181 bis 180 |
![]() | 14 | — | 18 | 177 181 |
![]() | 12 | — | 16 | 181 185 |
![]() | 12 | — | 18 | 179 187 |
![]() | 12 | — | 18 | 180, 185 |
![]() | 12 | — | 18 | 142-L, 142-M |
![]() | 15 | — | 18 | 273 271 |
![]() | 12 | — | 16 | 240 170 |
![]() | 12 | — | 18 | 154 159 |
![]() | Puberty | — | 18 | 289, 291 |
![]() | 14 | — | 18 | 267 262 |
![]() | 12 | — | 18 | 247, 243 |
![]() | 12 | — | 18 | 272 264, 265 |
![]() | 12 | — | 18 | 161 167 |
![]() | 12 | — | 18 | 127 130 |
![]() | 12 | — | 16 | 173 179 |
![]() | 12 | — | 18 | 180 184 |
![]() | 12 | — | 18 | 219 215 |
![]() | 12 | — | 17 | 150 153 |
![]() | 12 | — | 18 | 275 270 |
![]() | 14 | — | 18 | 289 291 |
![]() | 14 | — | 16 | 190 Quater 189 |
![]() | 13 | — | 16 | 315 311 |
![]() | 13 | — | 18 | 237.1 237.4 |
Column headings explained (hover for details): "By age": Restricted by age difference. "By authority": Restricted by authority between partners. "Unrestricted": No restrictions after this age.
Countries and states | Region | Must be married | By age | By authority | Unrestricted | Ref. | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hetero | Homo | Hetero | Homo | Hetero | Homo | ||||||||||
M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | ||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 14 | [116] [117] [118] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | 13 | 16 | 18 | [119] [120] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 14 | 18 | [121] [122] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 16 | 18 | [124] [125] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 15 | 18 | [126] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 18 | [127] [128] [129] [130] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | 13 | 14 | 16 | [131] | |||||||||
![]() | South America | No | — | — | 14 | [132] | |||||||||
![]() | North America | No | 12-15 | 16 | 18 | [133] [134] [135] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | 13 | — | 16 | [136] [137] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 16 | [138] [139] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 16 | 18 | [140] [141] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | 15 | 18 | ||||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 16 | 18 | [142] [143] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 18 | [144] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 16 | [145] [146] [147] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | Yes | — | — | 18 | — | [148] [149] | ||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 15 | 18 | [150] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | — | [151] | ||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 15 | [152] [153] | |||||||||
![]() | South America | No | — | 13 | 18 | [154] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | 14 | — | 16 | [155] [156] [157] | |||||||||
![]() | South America | No | — | — | 16 | [158] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 16 | [159] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | 13 | 14 | 18 | [160] [161] [162] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | Yes | — | — | 18 | 15 | — | [163] [164] [165] [166] [167] | |||||||
![]() | Asia | No | 14 | 15 | 18 | [168] [169] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 18 | — | [170] | ||||||||
![]() | South America | No | — | — | 14 | [171] [172] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | 12 | — | 16 | [173] [174] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 15 | 18 | [175] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | 16 | — | 18 | — | [176] [177] | |||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | 16 | 18 | [178] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | 14 | — | 16 | ||||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | 16 | 18 | [179] [180] [181] [182] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | — | [183] [184] | ||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 16 | 21 | 16 | [185] [186] [187] [188] [189] [190] | |||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 16 | 18 | [191] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | South America | No | — | 14 | 18 | [192] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | Yes | — | — | 18 | — | [193] [194] | ||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 17 | [195] [196] [197] [198] [199] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 15 | 18 | [200] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 14 | 18 | [201] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 18 | [202] [203] [204] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 16 | [205] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 16 | — | [206] [207] | ||||||||
![]() | Asia | Yes | — | — | 18 | 16 | — | [208] | |||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 15 | 18 | [209] [210] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | South America | No | — | 14 | 18 | [211] [212] [213] [214] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | 14 | 16 | 18 | [215] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Oceania | No | — | — | 16 | [216] [217] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 16 | [218] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 16 | 16 | — | [219] | |||||||
![]() | Asia | Yes | — | — | 17 | 15 | — | [220] [221] | |||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | 14 | 16 | [222] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | 12 | — | 14 | [223] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 16 | [224] [225] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | Yes | — | — | 18 | — | [226] [227] [228] | ||||||||
![]() | South America | No | — | — | 14 | [229] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 15 | [230] | |||||||||
![]() | Insular America | No | — | — | 16 | [231] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | Yes | — | — | 13 | 12 | — | [232] | |||||||
![]() | Asia | Yes | — | — | 18 | — | [233] | ||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 16 | [234] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 16 | [235] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 16 | [236] [237] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 16 | [238] [239] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 16 | [240] | |||||||||
![]() | Insular America | No | — | — | 18 | [241] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 16 | — | 16 | [242] [243] [244] | |||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | — | [245] | ||||||||
![]() | Central America | No | — | — | 18 | [246] | |||||||||
![]() | South America | No | 12 | 15 | 18 | [247] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 15 | [248] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 14 | [249] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 14 | [250] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | — | [251] [252] | ||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 18 | [253] | |||||||||
![]() | Central America | No | — | 15 | 18 | [254] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 15 | [255] | |||||||||
![]() | Central America | No | — | 14 | 18 | [256] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 16 | 18 | [257] [258] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | — | [259] | ||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 16 | [260] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | — | [261] [262] | ||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 14 | 18 | [263] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | Yes | — | — | 18 | 16 | — | [264] | |||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 16 | [265] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | Yes | — | — | — | [266] [267] [268] [269] [270] [271] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | [272] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 18 | [273] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 15 | — | 18 | ||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | 16 (married) | 21 (unmarried) | [274] [275] | |||||||||
![]() | South America | No | 14 | — | 18 | [276] [277] [278] [279] [280] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 16 | — | 21 | — | |||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 16 | [281] [282] | |||||||||
![]() | South America | No | — | — | 14 | 16 | [283] | ||||||||
![]() | Insular America | No | — | 12 | 18 | [284] [285] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | [286] [287] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 16 | [288] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 16 | 18 | [289] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Central America | No | — | 15 | 18 | [290] [291] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 17 | [292] [293] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | Yes | — | — | Puberty | — | [294] | ||||||||
![]() | Central America | No | — | 14–17 | 18 | [295] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 18 | [296] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 14 | 18 | [297] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | 15 | — | — | 18 | 21 | [298] | |||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 15 | [299] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | Yes | — | — | 16 | — | [300] [301] | ||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | [302] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | 14 | 15 | 18 | [303] [304] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 15 | [305] [306] [307] [308] [309] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | [310] | |||||||||
![]() | Oceania | No | 12 | 14 | — | — | 16 | 17 | — | [311] | |||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 16 | [312] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | [313] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 16 | — | [314] | ||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 16 | — | [315] | ||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | — | [316] | ||||||||
![]() | Insular America | No | — | — | 16 | [317] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 16 | — | 16 | [318] | |||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 14 | 18 | [319] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 16 | — | [320] | ||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | 15 | — | — | 18 | [321] | ||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 16 | [322] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 16 | [323] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 15 | [324] | |||||||||
![]() | Central America | No | — | 16 | 18 | [325] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 15 | [326] [327] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 16 | 18 | [328] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | [329] [330] [331] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 16 | [249] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 14 | 21 | [332] | ||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 16 | [333] [334] [335] [336] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 16 | 21 | [337] | ||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 16 | [338] | |||||||||
![]() | Insular America | No | — | — | 15 | [339] | |||||||||
![]() | Insular America | No | — | — | 16 | 18 | [340] | ||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 13 | 21 | [341] | ||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 16 | [249] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | [184] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 16 | [342] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 16 | [343] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 15 | [344] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 15 | [345] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | 12 | 14 | 16 | [346] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 16 | [347] | |||||||||
![]() | Insular America | No | — | — | 16 | [348] | |||||||||
![]() | South America | No | — | — | 16 | [349] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | — | [350] | ||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 14 | [351] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | [352] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 14 | 18 | [353] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 15 | [354] | |||||||||
![]() | Oceania | No | — | — | 16 | ||||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | — | [355] | ||||||||
![]() | Insular America | No | — | — | 16 | [356] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | [357] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 14 | 18 | [358] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | South America | No | — | — | 15 | [359] | |||||||||
![]() | South America | No | — | — | 16 | [360] [361] [362] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | Yes | — | — | 18 | — | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | — | [363] [364] | ||||||||
![]() | South America | No | — | — | 15 | [365] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | — | [366] [367] [368] | ||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | [369] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 18 | [370] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | 14 | — | 16 | [371] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | 14 | 18 | [372] [373] [123] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | [374] | |||||||||
![]() | Central America | No | — | — | 16 | [375] [376] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | 15 | — | — | 18 | — | [377] [350] | |||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 15 | [378] | |||||||||
![]() | South America | No | — | — | 16 | [379] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 18 | — | [380] [381] | ||||||||
![]() | South America | No | — | — | 16 | [382] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 16 | [383] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 16 | 18 | [384] | ||||||||
![]() | Oceania | No | — | — | 16 | [385] | |||||||||
![]() | Oceania | No | — | 15 | 18 | [386] [387] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 15 | — | [388] | ||||||||
![]() | South America | No | — | — | 16 | — | [389] [390] | ||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | 14 | — | 16 | [391] | ||||||||
![]() | Oceania | No | — | — | 15 | 18 | — | [392] | |||||||
![]() | Oceania | No | — | 15 | 18 | [393] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 15 | [394] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 16 | [395] | |||||||||
![]() | Europe | No | — | — | 18 | [396] [397] [398] | |||||||||
![]() | Asia | Yes | — | — | 18 | 18 | — | [399] | |||||||
![]() | Asia | No | — | — | 18 | [400] | |||||||||
![]() | Africa | No | — | — | 13 | [401] |
Pennsylvania law sets the age of consent for sex at 16, although prosecutors in some counties have brought child endangerment and corruption-of-minors charges against teachers who have had relationships with 16- and 17-year-old students.
Although the title of the law specifically refers to performances, the detailed language of the law clearly criminalizes sexual conduct itself, regardless of whether that is related to ... a performance.
The Texas crime of Sexual Performance by a Child makes it illegal to allow or encourage a child ... [to] engage in "sexual conduct.
76-5-401.2 Unlawful sexual conduct with a 16- or 17-year-old
[Signatory] to the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse, which criminalises "engaging in sexual activities with a child where… abuse is made of a recognised position of trust, authority or influence over the child" (Ch Vi, Art 18), where "child" is defined as "any person under the age of 18 years" (Ch I, Art 3)
Minimum age is 14 with a maximum difference in age of 2 years
While the age of consent in South Sudan is 18,...
The legal age of consent in South Sudan in [sic] 18...
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)