Laws in Austria

How Austria is classified on 42 of the 48 laws this site maps, grouped by subject. Each links to the full answer and its source.

Body & Life

Abortion: Legal on request Abortion is available on request, subject to a gestational limit.
Suicide Laws: Not a crime
FGM Laws: Specifically banned FGM is banned by a dedicated law or an explicit criminal provision.
Organ Donor Consent: Opt-out (presumed consent) Austria operates under an opt-out system for organ donation.

Money & Games

Gambling Age: 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
Cryptocurrency: Legal Cryptocurrency is legal to own and trade.

Daily Life

Drinking in Public: Restricted areas/times Public drinking is legal nationwide but restricted in specific areas of certain cities.
Public Smoking Bans: Comprehensive ban Austria bans smoking in all enclosed public spaces, including restaurants and bars, with no exemptions.
Driving Age: 16–17 Minimum age to drive a car: 17.
Homeschooling: Legal with conditions Homeschooling is legal only under conditions such as approval, registration or inspection.

Animals & Environment

Fur Farming: Banned Fur farming is banned.
Cosmetic Animal Testing: Banned Austria is subject to the EU ban on animal-tested cosmetics.
Dog Meat: Slaughter/sale restricted Slaughter of dogs for meat is prohibited nationwide.
Plastic Bag Bans: Banned Lightweight plastic bags are banned nationwide.

Civic & Family

Voting Age: 16–17 The voting age is 16.
Compulsory Voting: Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
Minimum Working Age: 14–15 Minimum working age: 14.

Relationships & Sexuality

Same-Sex Marriage: Marriage legal Same-sex marriage is legally performed and recognized.
Same-Sex Activity: Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
Age of Consent: 14–15 The age of consent is 14.
Sex Work: Legal & regulated Prostitution is legal and regulated in Austria, with specific restrictions on location and age.
Pornography: Restricted Austria criminalizes the production and distribution of obscene materials for profit, imposing imprisonment and fines.
Divorce: Legal Divorce is legal and generally available by mutual consent without fault.
Non-Binary Recognition: Recognized Austria allows non-binary gender recognition in civil registers following a 2025 court ruling.
Same-Sex Adoption: Joint adoption legal Same-sex couples can jointly petition to adopt.
Incest Laws: Criminal offense
Marriage Age: 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.

Speech & Belief

Blasphemy Laws: Criminal offense Blasphemy is a criminal offense punishable by fine or imprisonment.
Holocaust Denial: Criminal offense Holocaust denial is a criminal offence.
Flag Desecration: Criminal offense Desecration of national and international symbols is illegal in Austria.
Conversion Therapy: No ban Austria has proposed a nationwide ban but has not yet enacted legislation to prohibit conversion therapy.

Justice & Weapons

Death Penalty: Fully abolished Fully abolished for all crimes.
Gun Laws: Permissive Handguns are licensed as of right, and personal protection is an accepted reason on its own.
School Corporal Punishment: Banned Corporal punishment in schools has been banned in Austria since 1974.
Military Conscription: Active conscription
Jury Trials: Limited use / mixed courts Austria retains jury elements only for serious criminal cases, indicating a limited application.

Substances

Cannabis: Decriminalized Recreational possession is decriminalized — a fine at most, not a criminal offence.
Drinking Age: 16–17 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 16.
Smoking Age: 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
Psilocybin Mushrooms: Legal Psilocybin possession is legal.
Salvia Divinorum: Legal / unregulated Salvia divinorum is legal or unregulated.
E-Cigarettes: Regulated E-cigarettes are legal but nicotine strength is capped by law.

Nearby countries

A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.