Age of consent in South America

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Age of consent in South America" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The age of consent for sexual activity refers to an age at or above which an individual can engage in unfettered sexual relations with another who is of the same age or older. This age varies by jurisdiction across South America, 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.

In South America, the only country where male same-sex sexual conduct is illegal is Guyana. The only countries with a higher age of consent for same-sex sexual relations than opposite-sex ones are Paraguay and Suriname.

Scope: all jurisdictions per list of sovereign states and dependent territories in South America, with discussion of applicable laws.