Laws in Taiwan
How Taiwan 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 (broad reasons) Abortion is permitted on broad grounds including economic or social reasons.
- Suicide Laws
- Not a crime
Money & Games
- Gambling Age
- 19–20 Minimum age to gamble: 20.
- Cryptocurrency
- Banking ban / restricted Cryptocurrency is legal to hold but banks are barred from handling it.
Daily Life
- Public Smoking Bans
- Comprehensive ban Taiwan extends smoke-free areas to almost all enclosed workplaces and public places.
- 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
- Banned Taiwan's ban on cosmetic animal testing went into effect in 2019.
- Dog Meat
- Banned Consumption, slaughter, and sale have been illegal since 2017.
- Plastic Bag Bans
- Taxed / charged Plastic bags are legal but carry a mandatory charge or tax.
Civic & Family
- Voting Age
- 19+ The voting age is 20.
- Compulsory Voting
- Voluntary Voting is voluntary.
- Minimum Working Age
- 14–15 Minimum working age: 15.
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
- 16–17 The age of consent is 16.
- Sex Work
- Illegal Prostitution is illegal nationwide as no special zones have been opened.
- Divorce
- Legal Divorce is legal and generally available by mutual consent without fault.
- 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 Insulting the national flag or emblem of any country is a criminal offense in Taiwan.
- Conversion Therapy
- Partial ban Conversion therapy is effectively banned for medical professionals under the Physicians Act and Ministry directives.
Justice & Weapons
- Death Penalty
- Retained / in use Retained in law and used.
- Gun Laws
- Restrictive Handguns are licensed only at the authorities' discretion, or only to club members or existing owners.
- School Corporal Punishment
- Banned Corporal punishment in the school system was made illegal in 2006.
- Military Conscription
- Active conscription
- Jury Trials
- Limited use / mixed courts Citizen judges participate alongside professional judges in certain felony cases under the Citizen Judges Act.
Substances
- Cannabis
- Illegal Cannabis is illegal for all purposes.
- Drinking Age
- 18–20 Minimum age to buy alcohol: 18.
- Smoking Age
- 19+ Minimum age to buy tobacco: 20.
- Psilocybin Mushrooms
- Illegal Psilocybin is a controlled substance; possession is a criminal offence.
- Khat
- Illegal Khat is illegal and classified as a narcotic drug in Taiwan.
- 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.