What Is Age of Consent?
Age of consent refers to the legal age at which an individual is considered old enough to legally engage in sexual activities, typically with another person who is also above the age of consent. It is the age at which the law recognizes a person\’s ability to provide informed consent to engage in sexual acts.
The age of consent varies from country to country and sometimes within different jurisdictions of the same country. It is established by laws and regulations to protect minors from sexual exploitation and to maintain the principles of informed consent and age-appropriate relationships.
In many jurisdictions, the age of consent is determined to strike a balance between recognizing the sexual autonomy of young people as they reach an appropriate level of maturity and protecting them from potential sexual exploitation or abuse by older individuals.
READ ALSO: Top 20 Countries Where Prostitution Is Legal
It is important to note that engaging in sexual activities with someone below the age of consent, even if both parties are willing participants, is considered illegal and may result in criminal charges, such as statutory rape or similar offenses.
It is essential to be aware of the age of consent laws in your specific jurisdiction to ensure compliance with the law and to respect the rights and safety of all individuals involved in any sexual activity. If there are any uncertainties or questions about the legality of a relationship, seeking legal advice is advisable.
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Age of Consent By Countries
| Afghanistan | Must Be Married |
| Albania | 14 Years Old |
| Algeria | 16 Years Old |
| Andorra | 16 Years Old |
| Angola | 12 Years Old |
| Antigua and Barbuda | 16 Years Old |
| Argentina | 18 Years Old |
| Armenia | 16 Years Old |
| Aruba | 15 Years Old |
| Australia | 16 Years Old |
| Austria | 14 Years Old |
| Azerbaijan | 16 Years Old |
| Bahrain | 21 Years Old |
| Bangladesh | 14 Years Old |
| Barbados | 16 Years Old |
| Belarus | 16 Years Old |
| Belgium | 16 Years Old |
| Belize | 16 Years Old |
| Benin | 18 Years Old |
| Bhutan | 18 Years Old |
| Bolivia | 14 Years Old |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 14 Years Old |
| Botswana | 16 Years Old |
| Brazil | 14 Years Old |
| Brunei | 16 Years Old |
| Bulgaria | 14 Years Old |
| Burkina Faso | 13 Years Old |
| Burundi | 18 Years Old |
| Cambodia | 15 Years Old |
| Cameroon | 16 Years Old |
| Canada | 16 Years Old |
| Central African Republic | 18 Years Old |
| Chad | 14 Years Old |
| Chile | 18 Years Old |
| Colombia | 14 Years Old |
| Comoros | 13 Years Old |
| Costa Rica | 15 Years Old |
| Croatia | 15 Years Old |
| Cuba | 16 Years Old |
| Cyprus | 17 Years Old |
| Czech Republic | 15 Years Old |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 14 Years Old |
| Denmark | 15 Years Old |
| Djibouti | 18 Years Old |
| Dominica | 16 Years Old |
| Dominican Republic | 18 Years Old |
| East Timor | 14 Years Old |
| Ecuador | 14 Years Old |
| Egypt | 18 Years Old |
| El Salvador | 18 Years Old |
| Equatorial Guinea | 18 Years Old |
| Eritrea | 18 Years Old |
| Estonia | 14 Years Old |
| Eswatini | 16 Years Old |
| Ethiopia | 18 Years Old |
| Federated States of Micronesia | 14 Years Old |
| Fiji | 16 Years Old |
| Finland | 16 Years Old |
| France | 15 Years Old |
| Gabon | 18 Years Old |
| Georgia | 16 Years Old |
| Germany | 14 Years Old |
| Ghana | 16 Years Old |
| Greece | 15 Years Old |
| Grenada | 16 Years Old |
| Guam | 16 Years Old |
| Guatemala | 18 Years Old |
| Guinea | 15 Years Old |
| Guinea-Bissau | 16 Years Old |
| Haiti | 18 Years Old |
| Honduras | 15 Years Old |
| Hungary | 14 Years Old |
| Iceland | 15 Years Old |
| India | 18 Years Old |
| Indonesia | 16 Years Old |
| Iran | Must Be Married |
| Iraq | 18 Years Old |
| Ireland | 17 Years Old |
| Israel | 16 Years Old |
| Italy | 14 Years Old |
| Ivory Coast | 18 Years Old |
| Jamaica | 16 Years Old |
| Japan | 13 Years Old |
| Jordan | 16 Years Old |
| Kazakhstan | 16 Years Old |
| Kenya | 18 Years Old |
| Kuwait | Must Be Married |
| Kyrgyzstan | 16 Years Old |
| Laos | 15 Years Old |
| Latvia | 16 Years Old |
| Lebanon | 18 Years Old |
| Lesotho | 16 Years Old |
| Liberia | 18 Years Old |
| Libya | Must Be Married |
| Liechtenstein | 14 Years Old |
| Lithuania | 16 Years Old |
| Luxembourg | 16 Years Old |
| Madagascar | 14 Years Old |
| Malawi | 14 Years Old |
| Malaysia | 16 Years Old |
| Maldives | Must Be Married |
| Mali | 18 Years Old |
| Malta | 18 Years Old |
| Marshall Islands | 16 Years Old |
| Mauritania | 16 Years Old |
| Mauritius | 14 Years Old |
| Mexico | 17 Years Old |
| Moldova | 16 Years Old |
| Monaco | 15 Years Old |
| Mongolia | 16 Years Old |
| Montenegro | 14 Years Old |
| Myanmar | 14 Years Old |
| Namibia | 16 Years Old |
| Nauru | 17 Years Old |
| Nepal | 16 Years Old |
| Netherlands | 16 Years Old |
| New Zealand | 16 Years Old |
| Nicaragua | 18 Years Old |
| Niger | 13 Years Old |
| Nigeria | 11 Years Old |
| North Korea | 15 Years Old |
| Northern Mariana Islands | 18 Years Old |
| Norway | 16 Years Old |
| Oman | Must Be Married |
| Pakistan | Must Be Married |
| Palau | 16 Years Old |
| Palestine | Must Be Married |
| Panama | 18 Years Old |
| Papua New Guinea | 16 Years Old |
| Paraguay | 14 Years Old |
| People\’s Republic of China | 14 Years Old |
| Peru | 14 Years Old |
| Philippines | 12 Years Old |
| Poland | 15 Years Old |
| Portugal | 14 Years Old |
| Qatar | Must Be Married |
| Republic of the Congo | 18 Years Old |
| Romania | 15 Years Old |
| Russia | 16 Years Old |
| Rwanda | 18 Years Old |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | 16 Years Old |
| Saint Lucia | 16 Years Old |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 15 Years Old |
| San Marino | 14 Years Old |
| Saudi Arabia | Must Be Married |
| Senegal | 16 Years Old |
| Serbia | 14 Years Old |
| Seychelles | 18 Years Old |
| Sierra Leone | 18 Years Old |
| Singapore | 16 Years Old |
| Slovenia | 15 Years Old |
| Solomon Islands | 15 Years Old |
| Somalia | 18 Years Old |
| South Africa | 16 Years Old |
| South Korea | 20 Years Old |
| South Sudan | 18 Years Old |
| Spain | 16 Years Old |
| Sri Lanka | 16 Years Old |
| Sudan | Must Be Married |
| Suriname | 16 Years Old |
| Sweden | 15 Years Old |
| Switzerland | 16 Years Old |
| Syria | 15 Years Old |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | 14 Years Old |
| Taiwan | 16 Years Old |
| Tajikistan | 16 Years Old |
| Tanzania | 18 Years Old |
| Thailand | 15 Years Old |
| The Bahamas | 16 Years Old |
| The Gambia | 18 Years Old |
| Togo | 16 Years Old |
| Trinidad and Tobago | 16 Years Old |
| Tunisia | 18 Years Old |
| Turkey | 18 Years Old |
| Turkmenistan | 16 Years Old |
| Uganda | 18 Years Old |
| Ukraine | 16 Years Old |
| United Arab Emirates | Must Be Married |
| United Kingdom | 16 Years Old |
| United States of America | 16 Years Old |
| Uruguay | 15 Years Old |
| Uzbekistan | 16 Years Old |
| Vanuatu | 16 Years Old |
| Vatican City | 18 Years Old |
| Venezuela | 16 Years Old |
| Vietnam | 18 Years Old |
