Laws in France
How France is classified on 44 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.
- Euthanasia
- Passive only Active euthanasia is illegal, but sedation until death is permitted for terminal patients.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- FGM Laws
- No specific ban There is no FGM-specific law; only general criminal provisions could apply.
- Surrogacy
- Banned Surrogacy arrangements are void and illegal in France, with intermediaries facing legal sanctions.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Legal Cryptocurrency is legal to own and trade.
- Online Gambling
- Legal & regulated France proposed new laws to regulate and tax Internet gambling in 2009.
Daily Life
- Jaywalking
- Offense / fined Crossing outside designated crossings within 50 meters is an offence in France.
- Drinking in Public
- Restricted areas/times Public drinking is generally legal but subject to local bans in certain areas or times.
- Public Smoking Bans
- Comprehensive ban Smoking is banned in all indoor public places and has been extended to many outdoor public areas.
- 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
- Phasing out A fur-farming ban is enacted but still being phased in.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- Banned Cosmetic animal testing is banned nationwide under EU regulations.
- Dog Meat
- Slaughter/sale restricted Dog meat consumption is legal but slaughter and sale are 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
- 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 15.
- Sex Work
- Buying illegal (Nordic model) France criminalizes the purchase of sex under the Nordic model, while selling remains legal.
- Divorce
- Legal Divorce is legal and generally available by mutual consent without fault.
- 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
- No blasphemy law The remaining blasphemy law in Alsace-Moselle was repealed in 2016, leaving no active blasphemy laws.
- Holocaust Denial
- Criminal offense Holocaust denial is a criminal offence.
- Flag Desecration
- Criminal offense Desecrating the national flag in public places is a criminal offense.
- Conversion Therapy
- Banned France officially published a nationwide ban on conversion therapy in February 2022.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Fully abolished Fully abolished for all crimes.
- 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 is explicitly banned in schools and homes in France under the 2019 law.
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
- Jury Trials
- Limited use / mixed courts Juries sit with professional judges to determine guilt and penalty, indicating a limited role in the justice system.
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.
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Illegal Psilocybin is a controlled substance; possession is a criminal offence.
- Salvia Divinorum
- Legal / unregulated Salvia divinorum is legal or unregulated.
- Khat
- Illegal Khat has been prohibited in France as a stimulant since 1957.
- 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.