Laws in Chile
How Chile is classified on 38 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.
- Euthanasia
- Passive only Active euthanasia and assisted suicide remain illegal, though passive euthanasia is legal and a bill is pending.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- Organ Donor Consent
- Opt-out (presumed consent) Chile implemented an opt-out policy in 2010 making all adults presumed donors.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Legal Cryptocurrency is legal to own and trade.
Daily Life
- Drinking in Public
- Illegal Public drinking is generally prohibited by law, with an exception for New Year's Eve.
- Public Smoking Bans
- Comprehensive ban Chile bans smoking in all enclosed public spaces including restaurants and clubs.
- Driving Age
- 18+ Minimum age to drive a car: 20.
- Homeschooling
- Legal with conditions Homeschooling is legal only under conditions such as approval, registration or inspection.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Legal No ban on fur farming.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- No ban No ban on testing cosmetics on animals.
- Dog Meat
- Slaughter/sale restricted Dog meat consumption is legal but commercial sale is prohibited.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Banned Lightweight plastic bags are banned nationwide.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 18 The voting age is 18.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- 16+ Minimum working age: 18.
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 Adult prostitution is legal and regulated in Chile, while brothels and pimping are prohibited.
- Divorce
- Heavily restricted Divorce is legal but requires a long period of separation.
- Non-Binary Recognition
- Limited recognition Chile recognizes non-binary gender only through specific court orders, not as a general legal option.
- 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
- Holocaust Denial
- No specific law No specific law against Holocaust denial.
- Flag Desecration
- Criminal offense Public desecration of the national flag is a crime in Chile.
- Conversion Therapy
- Partial ban Chile prohibits conversion therapy for health providers via a 2023 Ministry of Health circular, but no criminal ban is enacted.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Abolished for ordinary crimes Abolished for ordinary crimes; retained for exceptional crimes such as those under military law.
- Gun Laws
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
- Military Conscription
- Active conscription
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
- Illegal Psilocybin is a controlled substance; possession is a criminal offence.
- Salvia Divinorum
- Legal / unregulated Salvia divinorum is legal or unregulated.
- E-Cigarettes
- Sales banned E-cigarette sales are prohibited.
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.