The age of consent in Africa for sexual activity varies by jurisdiction across the continent, codified in laws which may also stipulate the specific activities that are permitted or the gender of participants for different ages. Other variables may exist, such as close-in-age exemptions.
Six nations in Africa (Benin, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Niger and Madagascar) have a higher age of consent for same-sex sexual relations than opposite-sex ones; every other African country either has an equal age of consent for both acts or bans homosexual acts altogether regardless of age.
The highlighted age refers to an age at or above which an individual can engage in unfettered sexual relations with another person who is also at or above that age. Other variables are stated when relevant.
Summary
All jurisdictions per list of sovereign states and dependent territories in Africa.
Definitions
Algeria The age of consent in Algeria is 16 for vaginal intercourse, as specified in Article 334 of the penal code.
"Heterosexual Sodomy" is illegal, Article 338 of the Penal Code. As well as all same-sex sexual conduct, Article 338, and "outrages to public decency", Article 333. The punishment for both the first two activities with those under 19 years of age is more severe for the older participant.Routledge International Encyclopedia of Queer Culture edited by David A. Gerstner page 648
Angola The age of consent in Angola is 14 but sexual activity with a person under 16 is prohibited if an adult "takes advantage of their inexperience or a situation of particular need".
These laws are covered under articles 192 and 193 of the penal code—sexual abuse of a minor under 14, and sexual abuse of a minor under 16.
Some online sources incorrectly list the age of consent as 12, but article 192 criminalizes all sexual acts with persons under 14 (penalties are aggravated if there is penetration or if the victim is under 12).
A new penal code which came into effect in February 2021 adds protections for sexual orientation and removes criminalizing “vices against nature”, which had been used to criminalize same-sex sexual activity.
Benin The age of consent in Benin is 16 for females, per Article 3 of The Law on the Prevention and Punishment of Violence against Women.
The age of consent for homosexual acts ("indecent acts or acts against nature") is 16 since 2018.
Botswana The age of consent is 18, as of the Penal Code Amendment Bill 2018. Same-sex relationships have been legal since 2019.
Burkina Faso The age of consent is equally set at 18.
Section 533-4 of the penal code criminalizes "indecent assaults" against minors at least 15 but less than 18.
Section 533-19 makes it illegal to incite to debauchery or promote the corruption of minors.
Since 2025, homosexual acts were criminalized.
Burundi Under the new Penal Code of 2009 (in French), the age of consent in Burundi for heterosexuals (both men and women) is 18 years. However, under Article 567, homosexual acts (both men and women) carry a fine of up to 100,000 Burundian francs and up to 3 years' imprisonment.
Cameroon The minimum age of consent in Cameroon is 16, as specified in article 346 of the 2016 penal code.
However, article 344 of the same code states; "Whoever, in order to satisfy the desires of another person, habitually excites, encourages or facilitates the debauch or corruption of any person under (?) years of age...".
This appears subjective as to what acts, in what situations, may be considered to encourage debauchery or corruption (when involving minors aged 16 or above). An additional concern—and the reason for the question mark above—is that the original French version of the text lists the age of persons who may not be corrupted as those "under 21" (the age of majority in Cameroon), but the English version lists the age as "under 18".
Cape Verde The age of consent in Cape Verde is 14 regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender, with partial protections for those under age 16.
Sexual relations with a child under age 14 are considered a public crime and invoke mandatory reporting from anyone who becomes aware of the crime.
Article 144 of the penal code makes it illegal to engage in sexual acts with persons younger than 14.
Article 145 makes it illegal to engage in sexual acts with a 14- to 15-year-old if, being an adult, the offender takes advantage of their superiority (power or control) in the relationship, or if the victim is entrusted to them for education or assistance.
Central African Republic The minimum age of sexual consent is 18 years of age regardless of gender. This is established in the Penal Code under chapter 5, Article 86 (any indecent assault or attempt without violence).
Article 87 specifies that any indecent assault against a person younger than 15 is considered rape, and the punishment is more severe than in the previous article.
Chad The age of consent in Chad appears to be 16.
Article 359 of the 2017 penal code penalizes sexual relations with persons younger than 13 years with 2–10 years in prison.
Article 361 penalizes anyone who commits an indecent act in the presence of a person under 16 years of age. Penalties are aggravated if the act is committed with violence. The French wording of the article ("un outrage a la pudeur") can also be translated to indecent exposure, so it is not entirely clear from the text alone whether this applies to consensual acts committed with persons aged 13–15, or simply to acts committed in their presence without their involvement.
Article 354 proscribes 3 months to 2 years' imprisonment for sexual relations with a member of the same sex, thus making homosexuality illegal. Penalties are aggravated if a person involved is under 18 (Article 360).
Finally, Article 363 criminalizes anyone who excites, promotes, or facilitates the "debauchery" of anyone below the age of civil majority, which is 21 years in Chad.
Congo (republic of the) In the Republic of the Congo, the age of consent for heterosexual acts is 18 years old.
For homosexual acts it is 21 years old, put in place by the 1947 penal code.
Comoros The age of consent in the Comoros is 18.
Article 301 of the penal code punishes any indecent assault (or attempt) irrefutably presumed as without consent against the person of a child of either sex under age 18.
Homosexuality is illegal (Article 300 of the penal code).
Côte d'Ivoire The minimum age of consent in Côte d'Ivoire for heterosexual sex is 15, regardless of gender.
This is specified in article 356 of the Penal Code, which states that an indecent act against a person under 15—without violence or coercion—will be penalized with 1–3 years' imprisonment.
However, there is also a law (article 337) that forbids "facilitating the corruption or debauchery of youth of either sex below the age of 18 years". What specific acts would run afoul of this law, and under what circumstances, are unclear. It is included in a section of violations against public morality alongside pimping, solicitation, and prostitution offenses.
The age of consent for homosexual activities is higher, being set at 18 by article 358 of the penal code.
Democratic Republic of the Congo The age of consent in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is 18, regardless of gender. This was established by the Law Relative to Sexual Violence (2006) and the Child Protection Act (2009).
Djibouti The age of consent is 15, but charges can also be applied to those aged 15–17 if the act "corrupts" or "incites the minor to debauchery".
There are 3 sections in the 1995 penal code that appear relevant.
Article 464 deals with sexual assault on a person under age 15 without violence or coercion, which sets a strict minimum age of 15.
Article 466 pertains to sexual assault on a minor over 15. However, this section only applies to guardians, people in a position of authority over the victim, or a person who abuses the authority conferred on him by his functions.
Article 162 refers to inciting to debauchery or promoting the corruption of a minor in organizing meetings involving sexual exhibitions or relations in which the minor participates or attends. This charge could be applied to those who engage in sexual activity with minors aged 15–17, though the requirements for "organizing meetings" are not specified.
A new penal code was published in 2011, but the age of consent was unchanged from 15.
Egypt The age of consent in Egypt is 18 years, for heterosexual males and females. This is outlined in article 269 of the penal code.>
Sex work is illegal and the sex work law has been used against male and female homosexuals.
Equatorial Guinea The age of consent is 18 regardless of sexual orientation and/or gender.
Eritrea The age of consent in Eritrea appears to be 18, as stipulated by Article 305 of the 2015 penal code, "Sexual outrage on minors between 15 and 18 years of age". This article states that sexual acts with minors of this age is a petty offense punishable by 6–12 months' imprisonment.
Article 311 Consent to Sexual Conduct (1) states that when an accused is charged with an offense under the chapter (chapter 3: sexual offenses, which spans articles 303–311) pertaining to a victim under 15 years, it shall not be a defense that the victim consented, unless the accused is also under age 15 and no more than 1 year older than that person.
Article 311 (3) goes on to state that consent shall not be a defense to charges under articles 309 (homosexuality) or 310 (incest).
Charges pertaining to Article 305 are not mentioned, so it is unclear whether consent may be an affirmative defense to a charge pertaining to minors aged 15–17.
Eswatini The age of consent is 18, updated as of the SODV (sexual offenses and domestic violence) Act of 2018.
Part II General Sexual Offenses
Under the offense of rape, 3(c) states that an unlawful sexual act includes that which is committed against "a person who is incapable in law of appreciating the nature of the act"
6(e) lists one of the conditions that would render a person incapable as; "a person below the age of 18 years"
Ethiopia The minimum age for consensual sex is 18 years, as specified in Article 626 of the 2004 Criminal Code—sexual outrages on minor's between 13 and 18 years. Sexual intercourse is punishable with "rigorous imprisonment" for 3–15 years.
The law, however, is not effectively enforced; nearly 20% of girls are married by the age of 15. Early childhood marriage is especially common in rural areas, where some girls are married as young as 7 years old.
French territories
The age of consent in Mayotte, Reunion and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands is 15 as they are under French sovereignty.
Gabon The minimum age of consent in Gabon is 15 for heterosexual activity and 21 for homosexual activity.
Charges can still apply in certain heterosexual situations involving minors aged 15–17.
Article 258 of the Penal Code (most recently amended in 1969) states that indecent assault without violence on a person under 15 years will be punished with 3–6 years' imprisonment. Whoever commits an indecent act or act against nature on a person of the same sex and under 21 years shall be imprisoned for 1–3 years.
Article 263 prescribes 1–5 years' imprisonment for anyone who "habitually" incites, promotes, or facilitates debauchery or corruption of persons of either sex below age 18. The wording of this article requires multiple acts for a crime to have taken place.
Punishments for other offenses (assault, rape, etc) are aggravated if the victim is younger than 15.
Gambia The age of consent is 18 for females.
Sexual Offenses Act of 2013, section 5: Defilement of a girl between the ages 16 and 18;
A person who unlawfully has carnal knowledge of a girl between the ages of 16 and 18 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment not exceeding 7 years.