The Age of Consent

The age of consent for sex outside of marriage varies by jurisdiction across Europe. The age of consent – by which we mean the age from which one is deemed able to consent to having sex with anyone else of consenting age or above – varies between 14 and 18. Most of the countries set their ages in the range of 14 to 16; only four countries set an unrestricted age of consent higher than 16: Cyprus (17), the Republic of Ireland (17), Turkey (18), and the Vatican City (18). Some countries have close-in-age exceptions, enabling partners close in age, one or both of whom may be below the standard unrestricted age of consent, to legally consent to engage in sexual acts with each other. The highlighted age is that from which a young person can lawfully engage in a non-commercial sexual act with an older person, regardless of their age difference. If a participant in a sexual act is under 18 but above the age of consent then sexual acts with another person who is at or over the age of consent may still be illegal if the older participant is in a position of authority over the younger, as in the case of a teacher and their student or a police officer and a civilian. Sexual acts may not be legal if those engaging are blood relatives, regardless of age, though the legality of incest varies between European countries.