This is not an official guide. We do not guarantee the accuracy of
any of the information contained herein. Please help me keep this as correct as
possible by sending any corrections that are needed as well as the SOURCE or site where we
can verify the corrections. We derive our information mostly from the published laws
of the various states and governments.
BUT YOU WON'T FIND A MORE ACCURATE GUIDE ON THE WEB.
This table lists the age when people of various sexualities can legally have sex right around the world. Some areas call this the age of sexual consent; others the age of consent; and even others, the age at which one cannot be convicted for "statutory rape" (also age of protection and age of sexual maturity). Read the DEFINITIONS page. Do NOT send us email until you have read the definitions and the documentation pages!
Where two ages are shown it is because sexual activity is legal at the lower age unless the younger person subsequently complains, or we cannot confirm a codified age. In certain countries, persons below the minimum age shown here can participate in sexual acts under certain conditions without either them or their partners necessarily committing a criminal offence. We suggest that you read the accompanying notes to any particular state or country if you are really interested.
STATE OR COUNTRY NAME LINK-HIGHLIGHTED HAS AN EXPLANATION PAGE.
AGES IN RED HAVE BEEN VERIFIED -- DOCUMENTATION ATTACHED
(This chart is left-justified for ease of printing)
Country  |
Male-Female Sex  |
Male-Male Sex  |
Female-Female Sex  |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | 14 | 14 | 14 | ||
| Andorra | 16 | 16 | 16 | ||
| Antiqua (Barbuda) | 21 | ? | |||
| Argentina | 12/15 | 21 | 21 | ||
| Armenia | 16 | ? | ? | ||
| Aruba | 16 | ||||
| Australia | ACT | 16 | 16 | 16 | |
| Australia | NSW | 16 | 18 * | no laws | |
| Australia | NT | 16 | 18 | no laws | |
| Australia | Queensland Rev 08/2000 |
16 | 18 | 16 | |
| Australia | SA | 16/17 | 16/17 | 16/17 | |
| Australia | Tasmania | 17 | 17 (legalised Apr 97 after 9 years battle) | no laws | |
| Australia | Victoria | 16 | 16 | 16 | |
| Australia | WA | 16 | 21 | 16 | |
| Austria | 14 | 18 | 14 | ||
| Bahamas Rev 10/99 | 16 | 18 (read) | 18 (read) | ||
| Bangladesh | illegal | illegal | |||
| Barbados | illegal | ||||
| Belarus | 16 | 16 | 16 | ||
| Belgium | 16/18 | 16/18 | 16/18 | ||
| Belize | ? | ? | |||
| Brazil Rev 10/99 | 14/18 | no laws | 18 | ||
| Brunei | illegal | illegal | |||
| Bulgaria | 14 | 14/18 | 14/18 | ||
| Burma | ? | ? | |||
| Cambodia (Kampuchea) | 15 | ? | ? | ||
| Canada Rev 1/2000 | 14 | 18 | 14 | ||
| Chile | 18 | 18 | 18 | ||
| China Rev 08/2000 | 14 | not defined | not defined | ||
| Colombia | 14 | 14 | 14 | ||
| Costa Rica Rev 1/2000 | 15 | 15- illegal - ? | 15 - illegal - ? | ||
| Croatia | 14 | 18 | 18 | ||
| Cuba (We need Info!) | illegal | ||||
| Cyprus Rev 11/99 | 16 | 18 | 18 | ||
| Cyprus - SARS Rev 07/2000 | 15 | 15 | 16 | ||
| Czech Republic Rev 11/99 | 15 | 15 | 15 | ||
| Denmark | 15 | 15 | 15 | ||
| Dominican Republic | ? | ? | ? | ||
| Dutch Antilles | 16 | ||||
| Equador | ? | ||||
| Egypt | 21 | 21 | ? | ||
| Estonia Rev 08/2000 | 14 | 16 | 16 | ||
| Finland (new laws 1/1/99?) | 16 | 16/18 | 16/18 | ||
| France | 15/18 | 15/18 | 15/18 | ||
| Germany Rev 1/2000 | 14/16 | 14/16 | 14/16 | ||
| Greece | 15 | 17 | 15 | ||
| Grenada | illegal | illegal | |||
| Guam Rev 05/2000 | 16 | ||||
| Guyana | illegal | illegal | |||
| Haiti | legal - age? | ? | |||
| Honduras | 14 | ? | |||
| Hong Kong | 18M/16F | 21 | ? | ||
| Hungary | 14 | 18 | 18 | ||
| Iceland Rev 07/2000 | 18 | 18 | 18 | ||
| India Rev 04/00 | 16 | illegal | illegal | ||
| Indonesia | 17 | no laws | no laws | ||
| Iran Rev 08/2000 | 14F/17M | illegal | illegal | ||
| Iraq | illegal | illegal | |||
| Ireland | 17 | 17 | 17 | ||
| Israel Rev 1/2000 | 16 | 18 | 16 | ||
| Italy | 14/16 | 14/16 | 14/16 | ||
| Jamaica | illegal | illegal | |||
| Japan Rev 10/99 | 13 | 13 | 13 | ||
| Jordan | illegal | illegal | |||
| Kenya | ? | illegal | illegal | ||
| Korea | 18 | 18 | 18 | ||
| Kuwait | illegal | illegal | |||
| Latvia Rev 10/99 | 18 | 18 | 18 | ||
| Lebanon | illegal | illegal | |||
| Liechtenstein | 14 | 14/18 | 14 | ||
| Lithuania | 18? | 18? | 18? | ||
| Luxembourg | 14/16 | 16 | 16 | ||
| Malta | 12/18 | 12/18 | 12/18 | ||
| Malaysia Rev 05/2000 | must be married | illegal | illegal | ||
| México Rev 07/2000 | 12 | 18 | 18 | ||
| Montenegro | 14 | 14 | 14 | ||
| Namibia | 12/16 | ||||
| Nepal | ? | ? | |||
| Netherlands | 12/16 | 12/16 | 12/16 | ||
| New Zealand | 16 | 16 | 16 | ||
| Nicaragua | ? | ||||
| Nigeria Rev 1/2000 | 13 | ? | ? | ||
| (intentionally left blank) | |||||
| Norway Rev 10/99 | 16 | 16 | 16 | ||
| Oman | illegal | illegal | |||
| Pakistan Rev 10/99 | (read comments) | (read comments) | (read comments) | ||
| Panama | ? | ||||
| Paraquay | ? | ||||
| Peru | legal - ages? | ||||
| Poland Rev 01/2000 | 15 | 15 | 15 | ||
| Portugal | 12/14/16 | 12/14/16 | 12/14/16 | ||
| Philippines Rev 10/99 | 12/18 | 18 | 18 | ||
| Puerto Rico Rev 12/99 | ?18 | Illegal | Illegal | ||
| Qatar | illegal | illegal | |||
| Romania | 14/15 | illegal | illegal | ||
| Russia Rev 10/99 | 14 | 14 | 14 | ||
| San Marino | 14/16 | 14/16 | 14/16 | ||
| Saudi Arabia | must be married | illegal | illegal | ||
| Serbia | 14 | 14 | 14 | ||
| Singapore Rev 04/00 | 16 | illegal | illegal | ||
| Slovakia | 15 | 15 | 15 | ||
| Slovenia | 14/15 | 14/15 | 14/15 | ||
| South Africa Rev 10/99 | 16 | 18 | 18 | ||
| Spain Rev 11/99 | 12 | 12 | 12 | ||
| Sri Lanka | 16 | illegal | illegal | ||
| Surinam | 18 | ||||
| Sweden Rev 10/99 | 15 | 15 | 15 | ||
| Switzerland | 16 | 16 | 16 | ||
| Syria | illegal | illegal | |||
| Taiwan | 18 | legal | legal | ||
| Thailand Rev 10/99 | 13/15/18 | legal at all ages? | ? | ||
| Trinidad & Tobago | 21 | illegal | illegal | ||
| Turkey Rev 1/2000 | 18 | 18 | 18 | ||
| Ukraine | 18? | 18? | 18? | ||
| United Arab Emirates | 18 | Illegal? | Illegal? | ||
| Uruguay Rev 05/2000 | none? | ? | |||
| Venezuela Rev 10/99 | 16 | 16 | 16 | ||
| Vietnam | ? | ? | |||
| Zimbabwe Rev 06/00 | 12/16 | illegal | illegal | ||
| United Kingdom | England, Scotland & Wales Rev 12/99 | 16 | 18 | 16? | |
| United Kingdom | Northern Ireland |
17 | 18 | 18 | |
| USA | Alabama | 16 | illegal | illegal | |
| USA | Alaska Rev 10/99 | 16 | 16 | 16 | |
| USA | Arizona Rev 11/99 | 18 | illegal | illegal | |
| USA | Arkansas | 16 | illegal | illegal | |
| USA | California | 18 | 18 | 18 | |
| USA | Colorado Rev 1/00 | 17 | 17 | 17 | |
| USA | Connecticut Rev 07/2000 |
16 | 18? | 18? | |
| USA | D.C. Rev 08/2000 | 16 | Law Repealed | Law Repealed | |
| USA | Delaware Rev 12/99 | 16/18 | Law Repealed | Law Repealed | |
| USA | Florida Rev 05/2000 | 16/18 | Illegal | Illegal | |
| USA | Georgia Rev 07/2000 | 16 | 16 | 16 | |
| USA | Hawaii | 14 | Law Repealed | Law Repealed | |
| USA | Idaho | 16/18 | Illegal | Illegal | |
| USA | Illinois | 17 | 17 | 17 | |
| USA | Indiana | 16 | 16 | 16 | |
| USA | Iowa Rev 08/2000 | 14/16 | Law Repealed | Law Repealed | |
| USA | Kansas | 16 | illegal | illegal | |
| USA | Kentucky | 16 | Law Invalidated | Law Invalidated | |
| USA | Louisiana Rev 07/2000 | 17 | Law Invalidated | Law Invalidated | |
| USA | Maine | 16 | 16 | 16 | |
| USA | Maryland | 16 | Law Invalidated | Law Invalidated | |
| USA | Massachusetts | 16/18 | illegal | illegal | |
| USA | Michigan Rev 10/99 | 16 | Illegal | Illegal | |
| USA | Minnesota Rev04/00 | 16 | Illegal | Illegal | |
| USA | Mississippi | 16 (laws passed June 1, 1998) | Illegal | Illegal | |
| USA | Missouri Rev 10/99 | 17 | Illegal | Illegal | |
| USA | Montana Rev 10/99 | 16/18 | 18 | 18 | |
| USA | Nebraska | 17 | Law Repealed | Law Repealed | |
| USA | Nevada Rev 1/2000 | 16 | 18 | 18 | |
| USA | New
Hampshire Rev 05/2000 |
16 | 18 | 18 | |
| USA | New Jersey | 16 | 16 | 16 | |
| USA | New Mexico | 17 | 13 | 13 | |
| USA | New York | 17 | 17 | 17 | |
| USA | North Carolina | 16 | Illegal | Illegal | |
| USA | North Dakota | 18 | Law Repealed | Law Repealed | |
| USA | Ohio | 16 | Law Repealed | Law Repealed | |
| USA | Oklahoma Rev 12/99 | 16 | 16 -illegal??? | 16 -illegal??? | |
| USA | Oregon | 18 | 18 | 18 | |
| USA | Pennsylvania | 16 | 16 | 16 | |
| USA | Rhode
Island Rev 12/99 |
16 | Law Repealed | Law Repealed | |
| USA | South Carolina Rev 07/2000 |
14/16-bill pending | Illegal | Illegal | |
| USA | South Dakota | 16 | Law Repealed | Law Repealed | |
| USA | Tennessee | 18 | Law Invalidated | Law Invalidated | |
| USA | Texas Rev 07/2000 | 17 | Invalidated/Appeal | Invalidated/Appeal | |
| USA | Utah | 16/18 | Illegal | Illegal | |
| USA | Vermont | 16 | Law Repealed | Law Repealed | |
| USA | Virginia Rev 07/2000 | 18 | illegal | illegal | |
| USA | Washington
Rev 07/2000 |
16/18 | 16/18 | 16/18 | |
| USA | West Virginia | 16 | 18? | 18? | |
| USA | Wisconsin | 18 | 18 | 18 | |
| USA | Wyoming Rev 12/99 | 16 / 18? | Law Repealed | Law Repealed | |
| USA | Military Rev 10/99 | 16 | ? | ? | |
| USA | Traveling Citizens | READ | |||
| Rev 07/2000 | |||||
| Met over the Internet for Sex? Interesting Kansas case. (07-2000) | |||||
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Sodomy Laws updated with help of ACLU -- http://www.aclu.org/issues/gay/sodomy.html
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