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

128
Equal
128 regions (65%)
Equal
7
Unequal
7 regions (4%)
Unequal
63
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
63 regions (32%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
Europe
96%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Equal
48 regions (96%)
Unequal
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (4%)
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
87%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Equal
20 regions (87%)
Unequal
1 regions (4%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
2 regions (9%)
Africa
35%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Equal
19 regions (35%)
Unequal
5 regions (9%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
30 regions (56%)
Asia
48%
LEGAL EQUALITY
Equal
21 regions (48%)
Unequal
regions (0%)
Varied, unclear, or unknown laws
23 regions (52%)

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

2019

Equal age of consent by Country

Equal

Equal age of consent is equal in 116 regions.

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

Female equal, male N/A

Equal age of consent is female equal, male n/a in 12 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 (3)
  9. Eswatini 1907
  10. Sierra Leone 1861
  11. Zimbabwe 1891
  12. Oceania (3)
  13. Kiribati
  14. Papua New Guinea 1899
  15. Tuvalu
  16. South America (1)
  17. Guyana 1894

Unequal

Equal age of consent is unequal in 7 regions.

  1. North America (1)
  2. Bahamas 1991
  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 63 regions.

  1. Asia (23)
  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. Kyrgyzstan
  10. Laos
  11. Lebanon N/A
  12. Malaysia N/A
  13. Maldives N/A
  14. Myanmar N/A
  15. Oman N/A
  16. Pakistan N/A
  17. Palestine Varies by Region
  18. Qatar N/A
  19. Saudi Arabia N/A
  20. Sri Lanka N/A
  21. Syria N/A
  22. Tajikistan
  23. United Arab Emirates N/A
  24. Yemen N/A
  25. Europe (2)
  26. Latvia
  27. Russia Varies by Region
  28. North America (2)
  29. Saint Lucia N/A
  30. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines N/A
  31. Africa (30)
  32. Algeria N/A
  33. Burkina Faso
  34. Burundi N/A
  35. Cameroon N/A
  36. Central African Republic
  37. Chad N/A
  38. Comoros N/A
  39. Egypt N/A
  40. Eritrea N/A
  41. Ethiopia N/A
  42. Gambia N/A
  43. Ghana N/A
  44. Guinea N/A
  45. Kenya N/A
  46. Liberia N/A
  47. Libya N/A
  48. Malawi N/A
  49. Mali N/A
  50. Mauritania N/A
  51. Morocco N/A
  52. Nigeria N/A
  53. Senegal N/A
  54. Somalia N/A
  55. South Sudan N/A
  56. Sudan N/A
  57. Tanzania N/A
  58. Togo N/A
  59. Tunisia N/A
  60. Uganda N/A
  61. Zambia N/A
  62. Oceania (5)
  63. Nauru
  64. Palau
  65. Samoa
  66. Solomon Islands N/A
  67. Tonga
  68. Antarctica (1)
  69. Antarctica N/A

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