Legal age of consent, country by country
This reference lists the legal age of sexual consent in countries around the world, with notes on close-in-age defences, recent reforms, and variation within federal states. It is intended as a neutral, factual orientation to how different legal systems set this threshold.
How the law sets this threshold
The age of consent is fixed by each country’s criminal law. Below it, the law treats a minor as unable to give valid consent, so sexual activity is an offence — commonly called statutory rape — even where the minor appeared willing. Many jurisdictions soften the edge with close-in-age provisions so that two teenagers near the same age are not criminalised, while still prohibiting adults. The age can also depend on the nature of the act, the gender of those involved historically, and whether one party holds a position of authority (a teacher, guardian, or employer), which often raises the protected age. In federal countries the threshold is frequently set by state or provincial law, producing variation inside a single nation.
The global spread
Most countries fall into a few clusters:
- Age 14–15 — a common baseline across much of continental Europe (Germany, Italy, Portugal, and others) and parts of Latin America. Close-in-age provisions typically apply.
- Age 16 — the standard in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and many US states, as well as much of Northern and Eastern Europe.
- Age 17–18 — used by a number of countries, including Ireland (17), several US states (17 or 18), and some nations in the Middle East and Asia.
The actual legal landscape is more complex than a single number because positions of authority, gender, marriage, and the specific nature of the act can all modify the applicable age within the same country.
Recent legislative reforms
Several countries raised their thresholds noticeably in recent years. Japan historically had a nationally applicable age of 13 under its Penal Code — though prefectural obscenity ordinances effectively raised it — and enacted a national reform in 2023 raising it to 16. South Korea similarly raised its threshold from 13 to 16 in 2020. Spain raised its threshold from 13 to 16 in 2015, and the Philippines moved from 12 to 16 in 2022. The notes column in the reference flags recent changes so you can see where the law has recently moved and may still be unsettled in practice.
Close-in-age provisions
A close-in-age (or “Romeo and Juliet”) provision exempts consensual activity between two young people whose ages are close — typically within 2 to 5 years — even if one falls below the general threshold. This is not universal: some countries apply their threshold absolutely, and the size of the permitted gap varies widely where it exists. The reference notes where such provisions exist and, where that information is reliably available, the permitted age difference.
Using this reference responsibly
This is a simplified general orientation. Real laws are complex, frequently updated, and applied with fact-specific nuance. Sort by age to see the spread, use the notes column for material exceptions and reforms, and always consult current statutes or a qualified lawyer for any actual legal question. This tool is general information only, not legal advice.