Age of Consent in Cambodia

The Criminal Code says the legality of sex is determined from the age of 15 (Article 239). Sex with anyone under 15 carries five to ten years in prison, whatever the younger person says (Law on Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation, Article 42). An indecent act such as sexual touching carries one to three years, and repeat offences bring double the prison term (Article 43). The same 2008 law treats anyone under 18 as a minor (Article 7).

There's no close-in-age exception. The law's only age exemption spares an offender who is under 15 themselves, so a partner aged 15 or over has no defence on age grounds (Articles 42 to 44).

For anything paid, the line is 18. Child prostitution means sex or any other sexual conduct with someone under 18 in exchange for anything of value (2008 law, Article 23). Giving or promising anything of value for sex with a 15-, 16- or 17-year-old, whether to the minor, a go-between or a parent, carries two to five years in prison, and with a child under 15 seven to 15 years (Article 34).

Procuring child prostitution, or running or tolerating it in a business, carries seven to 15 years (Articles 25 to 33). Under the Criminal Code, obscene acts with a child under 15 carry two to five years when payment is involved (Articles 341 and 342).

Tourists must not take part in child trafficking or child sexual exploitation, and one who does can have their visa cancelled, be expelled and be banned for up to five years or for good (Law on Tourism, Articles 50 and 68). A court can also ban a convicted foreigner from entering or living in Cambodia, with expulsion at the end of any jail term (Criminal Code, Article 67).

These laws are used. In June 2026 a Phnom Penh court jailed a 27-year-old American teacher for ten years for procuring child prostitution, and he will be deported after serving his sentence (Cambodianess).

Your own country's law travels with you. A US citizen or permanent resident who pays anyone under 18 for sex abroad, or commits a sexual act with someone under 18 that would be a federal sex crime on US federal territory, faces up to 30 years in US federal prison (18 U.S.C. § 2423). The Justice Department says the reason for the trip doesn't matter (US Department of Justice).

A UK national who does something abroad that would be a listed sexual offence in England and Wales is guilty of it there, even if it was legal where it happened (Sexual Offences Act 2003, section 72). Paying for sex with anyone under 18 is one of those offences (section 47). Canadian citizens and permanent residents who commit a listed sexual offence abroad against anyone under 18 are treated as if they did it in Canada (Criminal Code, section 7). That includes paying for sex with anyone under 18, which carries up to 14 years and at least six months for a first offence (section 286.1).

Australia draws its line at 16. Its citizens and residents face up to 25 years for sex with a child under 16 anywhere outside Australia, and sex with a 16- or 17-year-old is covered when the adult is in a position of trust or authority, such as their employer (Criminal Code Act 1995, Division 272).

Tips cross borders. In February 2026 Cambodian police arrested a Swiss national, later charged with sex with a child under 15, after a tip that began with Australia's Queensland Police (Phnom Penh Post via Asia News Network).

Minors are banned from adult entertainment venues (Law on Tourism, Article 56). Managers and licensees must take reasonable steps to keep minors out and must check young customers' ID cards (Article 57), with fines of 1 to 10 million riels, doubled for a repeat (Article 70). The Tourism Law doesn't define 'minor'; the 2008 law sets it at under 18 (Article 7).

Anyone who keeps a minor under their supervision or control is presumed to know the minor's age, unless they prove they reasonably believed the minor was 18 or older (2008 law, Article 7).

Cambodia is rated Tier 3, the lowest grade, in the US State Department's 2026 Trafficking in Persons report (Phnom Penh Post via Asia News Network). The State Department reports child sexual exploitation in the tourism industry (2025 Trafficking in Persons report). The Child Helpline on 1280 is free from anywhere in Cambodia, and also takes SMS on 017-985-810 (MoSVY). The general police number is 117 (UK travel advice). From the US, you can also report suspected child sex tourism to NCMEC's CyberTipline at report.cybertip.org or on 1-800-843-5678, 24 hours a day (NCMEC).