Age of Consent by State 2023

Map

Table

Introduction

The age of consent in the US, which is generally around 16-18 years old depending on the state, is similar to many other countries around the world.

In the United States, each state has its own laws regarding the age of consent for sexual activities. These laws are designed to protect minors from sexual exploitation and to prevent adults from engaging in sexual activities with children. The age of consent typically ranges from 16 to 18 years old, although there are some variations across states.

While states may set their own age of consent, they only range from sixteen to eighteen. There are eleven states where the age of consent is the same as the age of majority and eight states where the age of consent is seventeen. The remaining states have an age of consent of sixteen.

Some states have also implemented a tiered system, where the age of consent may vary depending on the age difference between the partners involved.

It’s important to note that even if the age of consent in a particular state is 16 years old, engaging in sexual activities with a minor who is under the age of 18 may still be considered illegal if there is a significant age difference between the partners. This is known as statutory rape and is a serious criminal offense that can result in jail time, fines, and registration as a sex offender.

Age of Consent in America

State	Age of Consent	Maximum Age Difference	Minimum Marriage Age
Alabama	16 Years Old	2 Years	16 Years Old
Alaska	16 Years Old	3 Years	16 Years Old
Arkansas	16 Years Old	3 Years	17 Years Old
Connecticut	16 Years Old	2 Years	16 Years Old
District of Columbia	16 Years Old	4 Years
Georgia	16 Years Old		16 Years Old
Hawaii	16 Years Old	5 Years	15 Years Old
Indiana	16 Years Old		17 Years Old
Iowa	16 Years Old	4 Years	16 Years Old
Kansas	16 Years Old		16 Years Old
Kentucky	16 Years Old		18 Years Old
Maine	16 Years Old	5 Years	16 Years Old
Maryland	16 Years Old	4 Years	16 Years Old
Massachusetts	16 Years Old		14 Years Old
Michigan	16 Years Old		16 Years Old
Minnesota	16 Years Old	3 Years	16 Years Old
Mississippi	16 Years Old	2 Years
Montana	16 Years Old		16 Years Old
Nebraska	16 Years Old		17 Years Old
Nevada	16 Years Old		16 Years Old
New Hampshire	16 Years Old		14 Years Old
New Jersey	16 Years Old	4 Years	16 Years Old
North Carolina	16 Years Old	4 Years	16 Years Old
Ohio	16 Years Old		16 Years Old
Oklahoma	16 Years Old		16 Years Old
Pennsylvania	16 Years Old	4 Years	16 Years Old
Rhode Island	16 Years Old		16 Years Old
South Carolina	16 Years Old		16 Years Old
South Dakota	16 Years Old	3 Years	16 Years Old
Vermont	16 Years Old		16 Years Old
Washington	16 Years Old	2 Years	17 Years Old
West Virginia	16 Years Old	4 Years	18 Years Old
Colorado	17 Years Old	4 Years	16 Years Old
Illinois	17 Years Old		16 Years Old
Louisiana	17 Years Old	3 Years	18 Years Old
Missouri	17 Years Old		15 Years Old
New Mexico	17 Years Old	4 Years	16 Years Old
New York	17 Years Old		16 Years Old
Texas	17 Years Old	3 Years	16 Years Old
Wyoming	17 Years Old	4 Years	16 Years Old
Arizona	18 Years Old	2 Years	16 Years Old
California	18 Years Old
Delaware	18 Years Old		16 Years Old
Florida	18 Years Old		16 Years Old
Idaho	18 Years Old		16 Years Old
North Dakota	18 Years Old		16 Years Old
Oregon	18 Years Old	3 Years	17 Years Old
Tennessee	18 Years Old	4 Years	16 Years Old
Utah	18 Years Old	10 Years	16 Years Old
Virginia	18 Years Old		16 Years Old
Wisconsin	18 Years Old		16 Years Old

Maximum Age Difference

In addition to setting an age of consent, many states also have laws regulating the maximum age difference between partners who engage in sexual activities. These laws are intended to prevent adults from taking advantage of minors who may not have the emotional maturity to understand the implications of their actions.

The maximum age difference laws typically specify the maximum number of years that can exist between the partners. For example, in Alabama, the maximum age difference is 2 years, while in Utah, it is as high as 10 years.

Minimum Marriage Age

In addition to setting an age of consent, some states also regulate the minimum age at which a person can legally get married. These laws are intended to prevent forced marriages and to ensure that minors are not coerced into entering into marriages that they may not fully understand.

The minimum marriage age typically ranges from 16 to 18 years old, although some states may allow younger individuals to marry with parental consent or a court order. It’s important to note that even if a minor is legally allowed to get married, engaging in sexual activities with their partner may still be considered statutory rape if the age of consent laws are not followed.