Age of Consent by Country

The age of consent in Afghanistan is not defined, and the law only allows sexual activity between individuals who are married. This law effectively sets the age of consent at marriage, which is usually around 16 years old for girls and 18 years old for boys.

The age of consent in Albania is 14 years old, regardless of the gender of the individuals involved. However, if one of the individuals is in a position of authority or trust (such as a teacher, parent, or guardian), the age of consent is raised to 18.

The age of consent in Algeria is 16 years old for both heterosexual and homosexual sexual activity.

The age of consent in Andorra is set at 16 years old, regardless of the gender of the individuals involved.

The age of consent in Angola is 12 years old, which is among the lowest age of consent in the world. However, if one of the individuals is in a position of authority or trust, such as a teacher, the age of consent is raised to 16.

The age of consent in Antigua and Barbuda is 16 years old, regardless of the gender of the individuals involved.

The age of consent in Argentina is 18 years old, and sexual activity with individuals under this age is considered statutory rape. However, if the sexual activity involves an individual aged 13 to 16, and the other individual is within 2 years of age, it may not be considered statutory rape.

The age of consent in Armenia is 16 years old for both heterosexual and homosexual sexual activity.

The age of consent in Aruba is 15 years old, regardless of the gender of the individuals involved.

The age of consent in Australia is 16 years old, but some states have "close in age" exemptions that allow sexual activity between individuals who are close in age.

The age of consent in Austria is 14 years old, regardless of the gender of the individuals involved.

The age of consent in Azerbaijan is 16 years old, regardless of the gender of the individuals involved.

The age of consent in Bahrain is 21 years old, which is one of the highest ages of consent in the world. Sexual activity with individuals under this age is considered statutory rape.

The age of consent in Bangladesh is 14 years old, regardless of the gender of the individuals involved.

The age of consent in Barbados is 16 years old, regardless of the gender of the individuals involved.

The age of consent in Belarus is 16 years old, regardless of the gender of the individuals involved.

The age of consent in Belgium is 16 years old, regardless of the gender of the individuals involved.

The age of consent in Belize is 16 years old, regardless of the gender of the individuals involved.

The age of consent in Benin is 18 years old, regardless of the gender of the individuals involved.

The age of consent in Brazil is 14 years old. Engaging in sexual activity with a minor under 14 is considered statutory rape, while sexual activity with a minor between the ages of 14 and 18 is considered a criminal offense. Brazil has implemented measures to combat child sexual abuse, including a national registry of sex offenders and increased penalties for those who engage in child pornography.

The age of consent in Canada is 16 years old. This means that individuals who are 16 years old or older can legally engage in sexual activities with each other.

The age of consent in Costa Rica is 15 years old. This means that individuals who are 15 years old or older can legally engage in sexual activities with each other.

The age of consent in Denmark is 15 years old. The Danish government has taken steps to combat child sexual abuse, including the establishment of a national hotline for reporting cases of child abuse and the launch of a national campaign to raise awareness about child sexual exploitation.

The age of consent in the Dominican Republic is 18 years old. This means that individuals who are 18 years old or older can legally engage in sexual activities with each other.

The age of consent in France is 15 years old. This means that individuals who are 15 years old or older can legally engage in sexual activities with each other.

The age of consent in Germany is 14 years old. However, engaging in sexual activity with a minor under 16 is illegal and can result in prosecution. The law in Germany also prohibits adults from having sexual relationships with minors who are entrusted to their care, such as their students or foster children.

The age of consent in India is 18 years old. This means that individuals who are 18 years old or older can legally engage in sexual activities with each other.

The age of consent in Italy is 14 years old. However, engaging in sexual activity with a minor under 16 is considered a criminal offense. The Italian government has taken steps to combat child sexual abuse, including the establishment of a special unit within the police force dedicated to investigating crimes against children.

The age of consent in Japan is 13 years old, although there are some prefectures that have raised the age to 16 or 18 for certain activities. However, any sexual activity with a minor under 18 is considered illegal under Japanese law, and there are strict penalties for individuals who engage in such behavior. Japan has also been criticized for not doing enough to combat child prostitution and pornography.

In the Maldives, individuals must be married before engaging in sexual activities.

The age of consent in Mexico is 17 years old. This means that individuals who are 17 years old or older can legally engage in sexual activities with each other.

The age of consent in Nigeria is 11 years old. This is the lowest age of consent in the world and means that individuals who are 11 years old or older can legally engage in sexual activities with each other.

The age of consent in Norway is 16 years old and sexual activity with a minor under 16 is considered a criminal offense. The Norwegian government has implemented measures to combat child sexual abuse, including the establishment of a national center for victims of sexual abuse and the creation of a task force to investigate cases of child sexual exploitation.

The age of consent in China is 14 years old. However, the country also has laws that criminalize sexual activities with minors under 18. The Chinese government has recently stepped up efforts to crack down on child sexual abuse, including the launch of a national campaign to combat online child pornography and exploitation.

The age of consent in the Philippines is 12 years old, which is among the lowest age of consent in the world. This means that individuals who are 12 years old or older can legally engage in sexual activities with each other.

The age of consent in Russia is 16 years old. However, engaging in sexual activity with a minor under 18 is considered a criminal offense. The Russian government has been criticized for not doing enough to combat child sexual abuse, including the lack of resources and support for victims.

In Saudi Arabia, individuals must be married before engaging in sexual activities.

The age of consent in Serbia is 14 years old. This means that individuals who are 14 years old or older can legally engage in sexual activities with each other.

The age of consent in South Korea is 20 years old. Sexual activity with a minor under 18 is considered a criminal offense. The South Korean government has taken steps to combat child sexual abuse, including the establishment of a special police unit to investigate crimes against children and the launch of a national campaign to raise awareness about child sexual exploitation.

The age of consent in Spain is 16 years old. However, the law also criminalizes sexual activities with minors under 18. The Spanish government has taken steps to combat child sexual abuse, including the establishment of a national registry of sex offenders and the creation of a special unit within the police force to investigate crimes against children.

The age of consent in Sweden is 15 years old. This means that individuals who are 15 years old or older can legally engage in sexual activities with each other.

The age of consent in Switzerland is 16 years old. This means that individuals who are 16 years old or older can legally engage in sexual activities with each other.

The age of consent in Thailand is 15 years old. However, the country has laws that criminalize sexual activities with minors under 18. The Thai government has taken steps to combat child sexual abuse, including the establishment of a national hotline for reporting cases of child abuse and the creation of a task force to investigate child sexual exploitation.

The age of consent in Turkey is 18 years old. This means that individuals who are 18 years old or older can legally engage in sexual activities with each other.

The age of consent in the United Kingdom is 16 years old. This means that individuals who are 16 years old or older can legally engage in sexual activities with each other.

The age of consent in the United States varies by state, with some states setting the age at 16, while others set it at 17 or 18. There are also some states that have different ages of consent depending on the age difference between the two individuals involved in the sexual activity. Additionally, there are some states that have "Romeo and Juliet" laws that provide an exception to the age of consent if the individuals involved are close in age.

In Yemen, individuals must be married before engaging in sexual activities.