World Ages of Consent
Last Updated: Summer 2007
Asia
| Country / State |
Last Data |
Legal Age of |
Special Cases |
ETL |
Source |
* |
| Maj |
Cons |
Mar |
Prost |
| M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
M |
F |
D |
C |
A |
Specific date signifies the date of the source material cited. Quarterly date signifies date last updated on this site.
|
If one age appears, it means that the age is same for both sexes or is unspecified by sex. Marriage ages are for marriage without parental approval. Age may be lower with parental or court approval.
MO = Marriage Only |
D = [Use of] Deception / Seduction
C = Corruption / Inexperience
A = [Position of] Authority
X = Forbidden at any age |
Hold mouse over note field for brief explanation. Check source material for additional information about extra-territorial legislation (ETL) and details of notes. |
| Afghanistan |
7/07 |
|
|
18 |
14 |
|
|
|
Wiki |
|
| Armenia |
4/06 |
18 |
16 |
18 |
17 |
|
|
|
Interpol (FR) |
|
| Azerbaijan |
4/06 |
18 |
16 |
18 |
18 |
|
|
Interpol |
Y- Intercourse with minors below sixteen punishable
- Other sex acts punishable with minors under the age of fourteen
|
| Bangladesh |
7/07 |
|
|
21 |
18 |
|
|
|
Wiki |
|
| Bhutan |
4/06 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
Interpol |
|
| Cambodia |
3Q 06 |
18 |
16 |
20 |
18 |
|
|
|
Interpol (FR) |
|
| China, People’s Republic of |
3Q 06 |
18 |
14 |
22 |
20 |
24 |
|
|
Interpol |
Y- China has laws against ‘inducing minors to promiscuity’ and ‘whoring girls under twenty-four’ in its child prostitution statute. These are however not defined, so their meaning is unclear
|
| China, Republic of (Taiwan) |
Q3 06 |
|
16 |
20 |
|
|
|
Avert Wiki |
Y- Marriage at 18 for males and 16 for females with parental permission
|
| Georgia |
3Q 06 |
|
14 |
18 |
|
|
|
Interpol |
Y- Marriage permissible at sixteen with court approval
- Homosexual activity with persons under sixteen illegal
|
| Hong Kong, SAR (China) |
4/06 |
18 |
16 |
21 |
16 |
|
|
Interpol |
Y- Sodomy illegal with person under the age of twenty-one
|
| India |
4/06 |
18 |
18 |
21 |
18 |
18 |
|
|
Interpol |
Y- Homosexual acts illegal
- Although the age of consent is eighteen, it appears that it is not considered statutory rape unless the girl is under fifteen
- Illegal to bring girls under twenty-one to India for prostitution
|
| Indonesia |
3Q 06 |
18 |
18 |
19 |
16 |
18 |
15 |
|
|
|
Interpol |
|
| Japan |
4/06 |
20 |
13 |
20 |
18 |
|
|
Interpol Avert Wiki |
Y- Marriage at 18 for males and 16 for females with parental consent
|
| Kazachstan |
4/06 |
|
18 |
18 |
|
|
|
Interpol |
|
| Kyrgyzstan |
3Q 06 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
|
|
|
Interpol |
|
| Laos |
4/06 |
18 |
15 |
|
15 |
|
|
Interpol |
|
| Macao (China) |
3Q 06 |
18 |
16 |
18 |
18 |
|
16 |
16 |
|
Interpol |
Y- Possible to marry at sixteen with parental approval, younger under special circumstances and with court approval
- Whilst the official age of consent is sixteen, it appears the law makes sex with children betweeen fourteen and sixteen punishable only in cases where the older party took advantage of the younger party’s lack of experience
- It is illegal for somebody in a position of power (teacher, guardian, etc.) with a child between fourteen and sixteen, and illegal with persons under eighteen if the position of power is used for unfair advantage
|
| Malaysia |
4/06 |
10* |
16 |
18 |
|
|
|
Interpol |
Y- This is the age of criminal responsibility
- Possible to marry earlier with the permission of civil authorities or religious authorities in the case of Muslims
|
| Mongolia |
3Q 06 |
|
16 |
18 |
16 |
|
|
Interpol |
|
| Myanmar (Burma) |
4/06 |
18 |
14 |
20 |
18 |
|
|
Interpol |
Y |
| Nepal |
4/06 |
16 |
16 |
21 |
|
|
|
Interpol |
Y- Marriage possible at eighteen with parental approval
|
| Singapore |
4/06 |
21 |
16 |
21 |
16 |
|
Y |
Interpol Wiki |
Y- Sodomy is illegal
- Marriage at 18 with parental consent; lower with special marriage licence
|
| South Korea |
3Q 06 |
|
13 |
18 |
16 |
|
|
|
Avert Wiki |
|
| Sri Lanka |
4/06 |
18 |
16 |
18 |
18 |
|
|
Interpol Wiki |
Y- Marriage possible at 12 for Muslim girls
|
| Tajikistan |
3Q 06 |
17 |
17 |
17 |
|
|
|
Interpol |
|
| Thailand |
3Q 06 |
18 |
13 |
17 |
18 |
|
|
Interpol |
|
| Turkmenistan |
4/06 |
16 |
16 |
16 |
|
|
|
Interpol |
|
| Uzbekistan |
3Q 06 |
16 |
16 |
17 |
16 |
|
|
Interpol |
|
| Vietnam |
3Q 06 |
|
18 |
|
|
|
|
Avert |
|
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