Equal age of consent

In 6 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

139
Equal
139 regions (70%)
Equal
6
Unequal
6 regions (3%)
Unequal
53
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
53 regions (27%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
98%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Equal
49 regions (98%)
Unequal
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (2%)
Oceania
93%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Equal
13 regions (93%)
Unequal
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (7%)
South America
92%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Equal
11 regions (92%)
Unequal
1 regions (8%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
regions (0%)
North America
91%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Equal
21 regions (91%)
Unequal
1 regions (4%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
1 regions (4%)
Africa
39%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Equal
21 regions (39%)
Unequal
4 regions (7%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
29 regions (54%)
Asia
55%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Equal
24 regions (55%)
Unequal
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
20 regions (46%)

Timeline of equal age of consent

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

Recent Changes

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

Equal age of consent by Country

Equal

Equal age of consent is equal in 124 regions.

  1. Asia (22)
  2. Bahrain 1976
  3. Bhutan 2021
  4. Cambodia
  5. China 1997
  6. India 2018
  7. Israel 1948
  8. Japan 1947
  9. Jordan
  10. Kazakhstan 1997
  11. Kyrgyzstan 1997
  12. Laos
  13. Mongolia 2002
  14. Nepal 2007
  15. North Korea 2009
  16. Philippines
  17. Singapore 2023
  18. South Korea
  19. Taiwan 1947
  20. Tajikistan 1998
  21. Thailand 1957
  22. Timor-Leste 2002
  23. Vietnam 1999
  24. Europe (49)
  25. Albania 2001
  26. Andorra 1791
  27. Armenia
  28. Austria 2002
  29. Azerbaijan
  30. Belarus 1994
  31. Belgium 1985
  32. Bosnia and Herzegovina
  33. Bulgaria 1968
  34. Croatia 1998
  35. Cyprus 2002
  36. Czechia 1990
  37. Denmark
  38. Estonia 2022
  39. Finland 1999
  40. France 1982
  41. Georgia 2000
  42. Germany 1988
  43. Greece 2015
  44. Hungary 2002
  45. Iceland
  46. Ireland 1993
  47. Italy
  48. Kosovo 2004
  49. Latvia 1999
  50. Liechtenstein 2001
  51. Lithuania 2004
  52. Luxembourg 1992
  53. Malta 1998
  54. Moldova 2003
  55. Monaco
  56. Montenegro 1977
  57. Netherlands 1978
  58. North Macedonia 1996
  59. Norway 1972
  60. Poland 1932
  61. Portugal 2005
  62. Romania
  63. San Marino 1865
  64. Serbia 2006
  65. Slovakia
  66. Slovenia 1977
  67. Spain 1995
  68. Sweden 1978
  69. Switzerland 1992
  70. Turkey 1858
  71. Ukraine 2001
  72. United Kingdom 2001
  73. Vatican City 1890
  74. North America (18)
  75. Antigua and Barbuda 2022
  76. Barbados 2022
  77. Belize 2016
  78. Canada 2019
  79. Costa Rica 1971
  80. Cuba 1979
  81. Dominica 2024
  82. Dominican Republic 1822
  83. El Salvador 1822
  84. Guatemala 1871
  85. Haiti 1791
  86. Honduras 1899
  87. Mexico 1872
  88. Nicaragua 2008
  89. Panama 2008
  90. Saint Kitts and Nevis 2022
  91. Saint Lucia 2025
  92. United States 2013
  93. Africa (17)
  94. Angola 2019
  95. Benin 2018
  96. Botswana 2019
  97. Cape Verde 2004
  98. Central African Republic 2010
  99. Democratic Republic of the Congo
  100. Djibouti
  101. Equatorial Guinea 1931
  102. Guinea-Bissau
  103. Lesotho 2012
  104. Mauritius 2023
  105. Mozambique 2015
  106. Namibia 2024
  107. Rwanda
  108. Sao Tome and Principe 2012
  109. Seychelles 2016
  110. South Africa 2007
  111. Oceania (8)
  112. Australia 2016
  113. Federated States of Micronesia
  114. Fiji 2010
  115. Marshall Islands 2005
  116. Nauru
  117. New Zealand 1986
  118. Palau 2014
  119. Vanuatu 2007
  120. South America (10)
  121. Argentina 1903
  122. Bolivia 1831
  123. Brazil 1830
  124. Chile 2022
  125. Colombia 1980
  126. Ecuador 1997
  127. Peru 2012
  128. Suriname 2015
  129. Uruguay 1933
  130. Venezuela

Female equal, male N/A

Equal age of consent is female equal, male n/a in 15 regions.

  1. Asia (2)
  2. Turkmenistan 2014
  3. Uzbekistan
  4. North America (3)
  5. Grenada 1987
  6. Jamaica 1864
  7. Trinidad and Tobago 2025
  8. Africa (4)
  9. Eswatini 1907
  10. Ghana
  11. Sierra Leone 1861
  12. Zimbabwe 1891
  13. Oceania (5)
  14. Kiribati
  15. Papua New Guinea 1899
  16. Samoa 1961
  17. Tonga
  18. Tuvalu
  19. South America (1)
  20. Guyana 1894

Unequal

Equal age of consent is unequal in 6 regions.

  1. North America (1)
  2. Bahamas 1991
  3. Africa (4)
  4. Côte d’Ivoire
  5. Gabon 2020
  6. Madagascar 1972
  7. Republic of the Congo 1947
  8. South America (1)
  9. Paraguay 1990

Varied, unclear, or unknown laws

Data on equal age of consent is unclear, not applicable, or missing in 53 regions.

  1. Asia (20)
  2. Afghanistan N/A
  3. Bangladesh N/A
  4. Brunei N/A
  5. Indonesia Varies by Region
  6. Iran N/A
  7. Iraq N/A
  8. Kuwait N/A
  9. Lebanon N/A
  10. Malaysia N/A
  11. Maldives N/A
  12. Myanmar N/A
  13. Oman N/A
  14. Pakistan N/A
  15. Palestine Varies by Region
  16. Qatar N/A
  17. Saudi Arabia N/A
  18. Sri Lanka N/A
  19. Syria N/A
  20. United Arab Emirates N/A
  21. Yemen N/A
  22. Europe (1)
  23. Russia Varies by Region
  24. North America (1)
  25. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines N/A
  26. Africa (29)
  27. Algeria N/A
  28. Burkina Faso N/A
  29. Burundi N/A
  30. Cameroon N/A
  31. Chad N/A
  32. Comoros N/A
  33. Egypt N/A
  34. Eritrea N/A
  35. Ethiopia N/A
  36. Gambia N/A
  37. Guinea N/A
  38. Kenya N/A
  39. Liberia N/A
  40. Libya N/A
  41. Malawi N/A
  42. Mali N/A
  43. Mauritania N/A
  44. Morocco N/A
  45. Niger N/A
  46. Nigeria N/A
  47. Senegal N/A
  48. Somalia N/A
  49. South Sudan N/A
  50. Sudan N/A
  51. Tanzania N/A
  52. Togo N/A
  53. Tunisia N/A
  54. Uganda N/A
  55. Zambia N/A
  56. Oceania (1)
  57. Solomon Islands N/A
  58. Antarctica (1)
  59. Antarctica N/A

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