Laws in China
How China is classified on 35 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
- Surrogacy
- Banned Surrogacy is forbidden by regulation in China, prohibiting medical professionals from performing procedures.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Banned Cryptocurrency is prohibited.
Daily Life
- Drinking in Public
- Legal Public drinking is widely accepted and there are no laws prohibiting it.
- Driving Age
- 18+ Minimum age to drive a car: 18.
- Homeschooling
- Illegal Homeschooling is prohibited.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Legal Fur farming remains legal in China, with production declining due to market factors rather than prohibition.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- No ban China no longer mandates animal testing for cosmetics.
- Dog Meat
- Varies by region Dog meat is legal nationally but banned in specific cities like Shenzhen.
- 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: 16.
Relationships & Sexuality
- Same-Sex Marriage
- Not recognized Same-sex unions have no legal recognition.
- Same-Sex Activity
- Legal Same-sex sexual activity is legal.
- Age of Consent
- 14–15 The age of consent is 14.
- Sex Work
- Illegal Prostitution is officially illegal in mainland China, despite being widespread in practice.
- Pornography
- Illegal Producing, selling, and distributing pornography is a criminal offense punishable by imprisonment.
- Divorce
- Legal Divorce is legal and generally available by mutual consent without fault.
- Same-Sex Adoption
- Not permitted Same-sex couples cannot adopt.
- Incest Laws
- Legal between adults
- Marriage Age
- 18+ Minimum marriage age: 22.
Speech & Belief
- Holocaust Denial
- No specific law No specific law against Holocaust denial.
- Flag Desecration
- Criminal offense Flag desecration is a crime in China.
- Conversion Therapy
- No ban China has no government ban on conversion therapy, despite isolated court rulings against specific clinics.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Retained / in use Retained in law and used.
- Gun Laws
- Highly restrictive / banned Civilians cannot obtain handguns.
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned Corporal punishment is officially banned in schools under the Compulsory Education Law of 1986.
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
Substances
- Cannabis
- Illegal Cannabis is illegal for all purposes.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- 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.