United States

—Age of Consent

Age of Consent

		Alabama	16
		Alaska	16
		Arizona	18
		Arkansas	16
		California	18
		Colorado	17
		Connecticut	16
		Delaware	18
		District of Columbia	16
		Florida	18
		Georgia	16
		Hawaii	16
		Idaho	18
		Illinois	17
		Indiana	16
		Iowa	16
		Kansas	16
		Kentucky	16
		Louisiana	17
		Maine	16
		Maryland	16
		Massachusetts	16
		Michigan	16
		Minnesota	16
		Mississippi	16
		Missouri	17
		Montana	16
		Nebraska	16
		Nevada	16
		New Hampshire	16
		New Jersey	16
		New Mexico	17
		New York	17
		North Carolina	16
		North Dakota	18
		Ohio	16
		Oklahoma	16
		Oregon	18
		Pennsylvania	16
		Rhode Island	16
		South Carolina	16
		South Dakota	16
		Tennessee	18
		Texas	17
		Utah	18
		Vermont	16
		Virginia	18
		Washington	16
		West Virginia	16
		Wisconsin	18
		Wyoming	17

Table of Contents↑

Interactive Map
Introduction
Source

Last updated May 24, 2025

Introduction

In the United States, the laws surrounding the age of consent are as diverse as the landscape itself. Each state, with its unique blend of cultural and societal norms, sets its age of consent, with a legal threshold ranging from 16 to 18 years old. Certain states additionally utilize such provisions as close-in-age exemptions, often termed as "Romeo and Juliet laws," and other authority-related restrictions to ensure a comprehensive and responsible approach to sexual consent issues, safeguarding minors from sexual predators.

Across the country, the most prevalent age of consent is 16, a standard shared by the majority of states.
A handful of states choose a higher minimum threshold, setting their age of consent at 18. These states include California, Florida, Idaho, Oregon, and others.
Some states opt for a middle ground, placing their age at 17. These include Texas, Illinois, Louisiana, New York, and others.
Legislative changes continually affect these figures, as evidenced by the increase in the age of consent from 16 to 17 in Wyoming and New Mexico between 2018 and 2019.