Laws in Brazil
How Brazil 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
- Illegal (with exceptions) Abortion is prohibited except to save the pregnant person's life.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- Surrogacy
- Altruistic only Commercial surrogacy is banned in Brazil, but altruistic surrogacy is legally allowed.
- Organ Donor Consent
- Opt-in (explicit consent) Brazilian law grants the family ultimate authority over organ donation decisions.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Legal Cryptocurrency is legal to own and trade.
Daily Life
- Jaywalking
- Offense / fined Jaywalking is illegal near zebra crossings, though enforcement is rare.
- Drinking in Public
- Legal Public drinking is legal and socially accepted, though DUI laws are strictly enforced.
- Public Smoking Bans
- Comprehensive ban Brazil bans smoking in all indoor private and public places, including restaurants and bars.
- Driving Age
- 18+ Minimum age to drive a car: 18.
- Homeschooling
- Legal Homeschooling is legal.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Legal No ban on fur farming.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- No ban No ban on testing cosmetics on animals.
- Dog Meat
- Varies by region Dog meat is legal nationally but slaughter and sale are illegal with stricter state laws.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Partial measures Plastic-bag bans or charges apply in some regions only.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 16–17 The voting age is 16.
- Compulsory Voting
- Compulsory (enforced) Brazil enforces compulsory voting with fines and restrictions on civil documents.
- Minimum Working Age
- 16+ Minimum working age: 16.
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
- Decriminalized / unregulated Selling sex is not criminal in Brazil, but operating brothels or employing sex workers is illegal.
- Divorce
- Legal Divorce is legal and generally available, including unilaterally without fault.
- Non-Binary Recognition
- Limited recognition Recognition is limited to court orders and specific documents, not a nationwide statutory right.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Joint adoption legal Same-sex couples can jointly petition to adopt.
- Incest Laws
- Legal between adults
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 18.
Speech & Belief
- Blasphemy Laws
- Criminal offense Publicly vilifying religious worship is a crime punishable by prison or fine.
- Holocaust Denial
- No specific law Holocaust denial is not explicitly prohibited by law, though pending bills exist and precedents lead to conviction.
- Flag Desecration
- Criminal offense Desecrating the national flag is a criminal offense punishable by fines or imprisonment.
- Conversion Therapy
- Partial ban Brazil bans conversion therapy for psychologists via professional council norms, though no nationwide criminal ban exists.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Abolished for ordinary crimes Abolished for ordinary crimes; retained for exceptional crimes such as those under military law.
- Gun Laws
- Licensed / moderate Handguns can be licensed for sport, hunting or collecting, but personal protection alone is not a sufficient reason.
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned Corporal punishment in schools is prohibited nationwide under the 2014 amendment to the Code on Children and Adolescents.
- Military Conscription
- Active conscription
- Jury Trials
- Limited use / mixed courts Jury trials in Brazil are restricted to intentional crimes against life.
Substances
- Cannabis
- Decriminalized Recreational possession is decriminalized — a fine at most, not a criminal offence.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Legal Psilocybin possession is legal.
- Salvia Divinorum
- Illegal Possession of salvia divinorum is a criminal offence.
- E-Cigarettes
- Sales banned The import, sale, and distribution of e-cigarettes are currently prohibited in Brazil.
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.