Age of consent refers to the legal age at which a person can engage and consent to any form of sexual activity. Engaging in sexual acts before the age of consent is considered a criminal offense in various parts of the world. The legal age varies from country to country.
In Canada, for example, the age of consent is 16 years old. However, in other regions such as Nayarit and Bolivia, individuals can engage in sexual intercourse and other related acts as soon as they reach puberty. In Europe, the age of consent varies between 13 and 18 years old while the age of consent in all U.S. states lies between 16 and 18 years. The age of consent in the United States varies from state to state.
There are some exceptions to the laws. Marriage, for example, can exempt a 16 year old couple from the law in a country where the age of consent is 18 years.
