Equal age of consent

In 7 countries, the age of consent is not equalized for same-sex relationships.

DATE

Equal age of consent

The difference between legal age of consent for homosexual sex and heterosexual sex.

Summary

120
Equal
120 regions (61%)
Equal
7
Unequal
7 regions (4%)
Unequal
71
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
71 regions (36%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
94%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Equal
47 regions (94%)
Unequal
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
3 regions (6%)
Oceania
64%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Equal
9 regions (64%)
Unequal
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
5 regions (36%)
South America
92%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Equal
11 regions (92%)
Unequal
1 regions (8%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
North America
78%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Equal
18 regions (78%)
Unequal
1 regions (4%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
4 regions (17%)
Africa
24%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Equal
13 regions (24%)
Unequal
5 regions (9%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
36 regions (67%)
Asia
50%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Equal
22 regions (50%)
Unequal
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
22 regions (50%)

Timeline of equal age of consent

Number of countries to equalize age of consent over the past 61 years.

Recent Changes

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

Equal age of consent by Country

Equal

Equal age of consent is equal in 109 regions.

  1. Asia (20)
  2. Bahrain 1976
  3. Bhutan 2021
  4. Cambodia
  5. China 1997
  6. India 2018
  7. Indonesia 2019
  8. Israel 1948
  9. Japan 1947
  10. Jordan
  11. Kazakhstan 1997
  12. Mongolia 1992
  13. Nepal
  14. North Korea 2009
  15. Philippines
  16. Singapore 2023
  17. South Korea
  18. Taiwan 1947
  19. Thailand 1997
  20. Timor-Leste
  21. Vietnam 1999
  22. Europe (47)
  23. Albania 2001
  24. Andorra 1791
  25. Armenia
  26. Austria 2002
  27. Azerbaijan
  28. Belarus 1994
  29. Belgium 1985
  30. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  31. Bulgaria 1968
  32. Croatia 1998
  33. Cyprus 2002
  34. Czechia 1990
  35. Denmark
  36. Estonia 2022
  37. Finland 1999
  38. France 1982
  39. Georgia 2000
  40. Germany 1988
  41. Greece 2015
  42. Hungary 2002
  43. Iceland
  44. Ireland 1993
  45. Italy
  46. Kosovo 2004
  47. Liechtenstein 2001
  48. Lithuania 2004
  49. Luxembourg 1992
  50. Malta 1998
  51. Moldova 2003
  52. Monaco
  53. Montenegro 1977
  54. Netherlands 1978
  55. North Macedonia 1996
  56. Norway 1972
  57. Poland 1932
  58. Portugal 2005
  59. Romania
  60. San Marino 1865
  61. Serbia 2006
  62. Slovakia
  63. Slovenia 1977
  64. Spain 1995
  65. Sweden 1978
  66. Switzerland 1992
  67. Turkey 1858
  68. Ukraine 2001
  69. United Kingdom 2001
  70. North America (16)
  71. Antigua and Barbuda 2022
  72. Barbados 2022
  73. Belize 2016
  74. Canada 2019
  75. Costa Rica
  76. Cuba 1979
  77. Dominica 2024
  78. Dominican Republic
  79. Haiti 1791
  80. Honduras
  81. Mexico 1872
  82. Nicaragua 2008
  83. Panama 2008
  84. Saint Kitts and Nevis 2022
  85. Trinidad and Tobago 2018
  86. United States
  87. Africa (10)
  88. Angola
  89. Benin 2018
  90. Cape Verde 2004
  91. Djibouti
  92. Equatorial Guinea 1931
  93. Guinea-Bissau
  94. Mozambique
  95. Namibia 2024
  96. Rwanda
  97. South Africa 2007
  98. Oceania (6)
  99. Australia 2016
  100. Federated States of Micronesia
  101. Fiji 2010
  102. Marshall Islands 2005
  103. New Zealand 1986
  104. Vanuatu 2007
  105. South America (10)
  106. Argentina 2001
  107. Bolivia 1999
  108. Brazil 1940
  109. Chile 2022
  110. Colombia 1997
  111. Ecuador 1997
  112. Peru 2012
  113. Suriname 2015
  114. Uruguay 1933
  115. Venezuela

Female equal, male N/A

Equal age of consent is female equal, male n/a in 11 regions.

  1. Asia (2)
  2. Turkmenistan 2014
  3. Uzbekistan
  4. North America (2)
  5. Jamaica
  6. Saint Lucia
  7. Africa (3)
  8. Eswatini 1907
  9. Sierra Leone 1861
  10. Zimbabwe 1891
  11. Oceania (3)
  12. Kiribati
  13. Papua New Guinea
  14. Tuvalu
  15. South America (1)
  16. Guyana 1894

Unequal

Equal age of consent is unequal in 7 regions.

  1. North America (1)
  2. Bahamas
  3. Africa (5)
  4. Côte d’Ivoire
  5. Gabon 2020
  6. Madagascar 1972
  7. Niger 2016
  8. Republic of the Congo 1947
  9. South America (1)
  10. Paraguay 1990

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on equal age of consent is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 71 regions.

  1. Asia (22)
  2. Afghanistan N/A
  3. Bangladesh N/A
  4. Brunei N/A
  5. Iran N/A
  6. Iraq N/A
  7. Kuwait N/A
  8. Kyrgyzstan
  9. Laos
  10. Lebanon N/A
  11. Malaysia N/A
  12. Maldives N/A
  13. Myanmar N/A
  14. Oman N/A
  15. Pakistan N/A
  16. Palestine Varies by Region
  17. Qatar N/A
  18. Saudi Arabia N/A
  19. Sri Lanka N/A
  20. Syria N/A
  21. Tajikistan
  22. United Arab Emirates N/A
  23. Yemen N/A
  24. Europe (3)
  25. Latvia
  26. Russia Varies by Region
  27. Vatican City
  28. North America (4)
  29. El Salvador
  30. Grenada
  31. Guatemala
  32. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines N/A
  33. Africa (36)
  34. Algeria N/A
  35. Botswana
  36. Burkina Faso
  37. Burundi N/A
  38. Cameroon N/A
  39. Central African Republic
  40. Chad N/A
  41. Comoros N/A
  42. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  43. Egypt N/A
  44. Eritrea N/A
  45. Ethiopia N/A
  46. Gambia N/A
  47. Ghana N/A
  48. Guinea N/A
  49. Kenya N/A
  50. Lesotho
  51. Liberia N/A
  52. Libya N/A
  53. Malawi N/A
  54. Mali N/A
  55. Mauritania N/A
  56. Mauritius
  57. Morocco N/A
  58. Nigeria N/A
  59. Sao Tome and Principe
  60. Senegal N/A
  61. Seychelles
  62. Somalia N/A
  63. South Sudan N/A
  64. Sudan N/A
  65. Tanzania N/A
  66. Togo N/A
  67. Tunisia N/A
  68. Uganda N/A
  69. Zambia N/A
  70. Oceania (5)
  71. Nauru
  72. Palau
  73. Samoa
  74. Solomon Islands N/A
  75. Tonga
  76. Antarctica (1)
  77. Antarctica N/A

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