Laws in Germany
How Germany is classified on 45 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
- Assisted dying only Active euthanasia is illegal, but assisted suicide is legal following a 2020 court ruling.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
- FGM Laws
- Specifically banned FGM is banned by a dedicated law or an explicit criminal provision.
- Surrogacy
- Banned Surrogacy is completely prohibited in Germany under the German Civil Code.
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 18 Minimum age to gamble: 18.
- Cryptocurrency
- Legal Cryptocurrency is legal to own and trade.
- Online Gambling
- Varies by region Only Schleswig-Holstein allows online gambling licenses, while other states ban it.
Daily Life
- Jaywalking
- Offense / fined Crossing within 30m of a crosswalk is an offence subject to fines.
- Drinking in Public
- Legal Drinking in public streets and parks is legal; some cities and operators ban it on public transport.
- Public Smoking Bans
- Varies by region Smoking laws differ by state, with some having strict bans and others allowing designated smoking rooms.
- Driving Age
- 18+ Minimum age to drive a car: 18.
- Homeschooling
- Illegal Homeschooling is prohibited.
Animals & Environment
- Fur Farming
- Banned Fur farming is banned.
- Cosmetic Animal Testing
- Banned Cosmetic animal testing is banned nationwide under EU regulations.
- Dog Meat
- Banned Slaughtering and selling dog meat are prohibited nationwide, though consumption itself is not explicitly criminalized.
- 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
- Under 14 Minimum working age: 13.
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 Germany, including brothels and advertising.
- Divorce
- Heavily restricted Divorce is legal but requires a long period of separation.
- Non-Binary Recognition
- Limited recognition Germany recognizes indeterminate sex on birth certificates for intersex individuals.
- 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 Defamation of religious convictions is a criminal offense punishable by fine or prison.
- Holocaust Denial
- Criminal offense Holocaust denial is a criminal offence under Section 130 of the Criminal Code (incitement to hatred), punishable by up to five years in prison.
- Flag Desecration
- Criminal offense Reviling or damaging the national or state flags in public is a criminal offense.
- Conversion Therapy
- Banned Germany banned conversion therapy for minors and coerced adults nationwide in 2020.
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 in schools is a criminal offence in Germany following a 1993 court ruling.
- Military Conscription
- No conscription
- Jury Trials
- Not used Jury trials were abolished in 1924; serious cases are heard by mixed panels of professional and lay judges.
Substances
- Cannabis
- Legal Cannabis is legal for recreational use.
- Drinking Age
- 16–17 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 14.
- Smoking Age
- 18 Minimum age to buy tobacco: 18.
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Illegal Psilocybin is a controlled substance; possession is a criminal offence.
- Salvia Divinorum
- Illegal Possession of salvia divinorum is a criminal offence.
- Khat
- Illegal Possession, sale, and purchase of fresh khat are illegal in Germany.
- 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.